Rotary Cutter New to rotary cutters, have questions, help please

[Soundguy]

Both sides have to be trimmed.

Yep.. determine the amount to trim.. then trim half off each side.

soundguy

 

[N80]

But make sure you trim the right ends!

 

[StrangeRanger]

Adding some pics... if you look at the pic showing the PTO shaft you see about the distance I need to make up. It's not exact, but close. Do you think that is too much to make up using a PTO extender?

My local TSC didn't have a PTO shaft that would fit. All the shafts they had did not have an end that would fit on the mower. But I did notice the PTO on my blower I think is the same, but it's such a biotch to get off & on I'm trying to avoid that. But, that would be the free/cheap way to go. Any tips on getting PTO shafts off easily?
j

 

[N80]

I don't have any additional advice for you, but that thing is amazing! I might be wrong but it looks homemade. I do not understand why whoever made/manufactured it didn't just have the PTO shaft fit directly onto the gearbox? The belt, pulleys etc seem redundant to me unless it was needed to increase blade speed over what the gearbox could provide. I guess it also serves as a sort of slip clutch.

Does the mower-end pto shaft have a different spline count than a standard pto shaft? You can get this sort of thing from various suppliers:

FARMEX/SPEECO 16061000 PTO SPLINE ADAPTER 1-3/8" x 3-7/8"

I would also agree that the bungee cord might not be sufficient as a spring tensioner. You can get springs of assorted lengths and tension at any Lowes, etc.

I'd also have to say that that thing looks past its useful lifespan and maybe even a little hazardous. How much money and/or risk are you willing to invest in it?

At the very least I'd have all bystanders get way way away from it.

 

[JoeinTX]

Wow........look at that thing.

I can't say that I've seen anything remotely resembling that set-up. Like N80 said it looks like a homemade, one-off kind of outfit and probably not worth too much time or effort.

I too can't see the reason for that. Slip-cluch sorta? Reduction gearing? A drunken bet?

Not being flippant, but, good luck and let us know what happens, SR.

 

[StrangeRanger]

That adapter you linked to would probably work. And yes, I'm actually a little nervous of using it. Still haven't made up my mind if I should or not. But my weeds/brush are driving me insane and I really don't have the $$$ to buy something new or travel hundreds of miles for a used item. Hmm....
j

I don't have any additional advice for you, but that thing is amazing! I might be wrong but it looks homemade. I do not understand why whoever made/manufactured it didn't just have the PTO shaft fit directly onto the gearbox? The belt, pulleys etc seem redundant to me unless it was needed to increase blade speed over what the gearbox could provide. I guess it also serves as a sort of slip clutch.

Does the mower-end pto shaft have a different spline count than a standard pto shaft? You can get this sort of thing from various suppliers:

FARMEX/SPEECO 16061000 PTO SPLINE ADAPTER 1-3/8" x 3-7/8"

I would also agree that the bungee cord might not be sufficient as a spring tensioner. You can get springs of assorted lengths and tension at any Lowes, etc.

I'd also have to say that that thing looks past its useful lifespan and maybe even a little hazardous. How much money and/or risk are you willing to invest in it?

At the very least I'd have all bystanders get way way away from it.

 

[studor]

Just a couple of thoughts --
it looks like the pto shaft is just a round shaft that would fit in a u joint and be fastened with a shear pin bolt -- is that round shaft an odd size?
For the spring -- buy a short stiff one and then use a turnbuckle like someone else suggested to adjust the tension.
Since it has no stump jumper I would take it easy in terms of cutting size and rough ground -- I would also take a close look at the bolts and bracket holding the blades to make sure those do not come off -- for cutting weeds and grass I would be tempted to sharpen the blades ( is one bent?)
Yep -- I think a tail wheel is needed
After all that remember that a light duty 4 ft rotary cutter is about $500
But having said that I believe that that thing will cut weeds

 

[Soundguy]

You can get long pto extenders made for 'thru' pto pumps .. as long as your shaft doesn't bottom out after that.. etc..

As for why the pully? well.. it;'s easy to figure what a large pulley driving a small pulley does.. however.. that small pulley don't have alot of belt contact area. Perhaps made up so that the user could mow at a lower engine speed.. yet still achieve 'pto speed'.?? Deffinately looks like it is made to 'slip'

I've seen old mowers that had a tire drive system.. interesting things to look at too!

interesting to say the least... Rube would have been proud!

soundguy

 

[MarkLeininger]

Hi,
It looks like it might have had a gerry rigged rear wheel at some point in its life, but it is long gone. Any reason I can just run it w/out a wheel. I'm simply using it to cut down mostly weeds along the drive and in a field. So I figured I can just set the height w/ the 3pt and leave it there.

Rotary cutters aren't designed to be used without a rear wheel. Normally you would disconnect the top link, or have a flex link, to allow the cutter to follow the terrain independently of what the tractor is doing. Without a rear wheel you're also going to be putting quite a load on the 3PH that's bouncing up and down. You'll need a pretty heavy tractor I think. Make sure your health insurance is paid before you fire this thing up, maybe call the ambulance first so they'll be on the way.

 

[StrangeRanger]

You guys aren't helping If you're this scared by just seeing the pictures you'd prolly poop yourselves if you saw it in person

Dang it, I was hoping this thing would work out. But now I'm thinking it's going to be a death wish to fire it up. *&^&*(*&^$!!
j