Relearned two old lessons on bushhogging

RSKY · Oct 13, 2017

Mowing the CRP land this week. Only 24 acres but it can only be mowed, in 50-60' wide strips, every other year. B-I-L did it last year while I was down with a knee replacement. Either he missed some or the saplings popped back up after the 1086's wide tires passed over them because there were some trees bigger around than my arm. This year I'm mowing with the 4600 Ford. The lesson I relearned is that a sapling that big can pop back up after the front axle pushes it over. This happens when you make the second pass and have the twelve to twenty foot high trunk cut down to half size. First one got me on the right thumb which was resting on the fender. A limb on the second one took off my hat, glasses, and earplugs. That one HURT. Hat and glasses both landed on the mower deck which was good because it would have ticked me off greatly to have to buy new glasses.

Second lesson is that a thick growth of honeysuckle and blackberry vines on a slight slope can turn a 6-8000 pound tractor downhill even if it is being steered uphill. That was scary because I wasn't expecting it and was in low 4th gear moving pretty fast. I always keep my foot on the downhill brake so the tractor can be spun if it starts to go over. Yes, I had that happen once when much younger and much dumber. So I couldn't get on the other brake quick enough to keep it straight. Just made a big circle and took off again.

Yep, I'm using a 41-year old Ford tractor and a 45-year old Ford mower once again. The old mower has been welded, bolted, chained, sledge-hammered, and cussed for years but it still chews up anything the tractor can push over. The top decking is nearly rusted thru in places and I'm going to replace that next year before it throws a chunk thru the deck and up onto the driver's seat. Those old mowers bring a good price still because they are so tough.

Because this is the sixth year of a ten year signup I've got to get the disk out, hasn't been used in three years, and disk the fields in 50-60' wide strips. I should have been able to get this all done in two days but gonna take me three because I broke a brace on top of the mower and had to repair it.

Tractors are FUN!!

RSKY

oosik · Oct 13, 2017

Wow!! Sounds like - as long as you still have undamaged body parts - you are having way too much fun. Continue your fun - be safe.

ch1ch2 · Oct 26, 2017

RSKY said:
I always keep my foot on the downhill brake so the tractor can be spun if it starts to go over. Yes, I had that happen once when much younger and much dumber. So I couldn't get on the other brake quick enough to keep it straight. Just made a big circle and took off again.
RSKY

I learn things every time I come to TBN.

EddieWalker · Oct 26, 2017

I'm impressed with how fast stuff grows there, but I've seen how the jungle will take over if you give it a chance. I missed mowing my bottom land for two seasons while building my parents house. Started in the summer, worked all year on it every evening, every weekend, and finished the following summer. Then tried to catch up on my mowing and found out that everything grew up so big down there that I need to pull it all out with the backhoe again and haul it to the burn pile. Hate having to clear land twice!!!!

Creamer · Oct 26, 2017

That sounds like a good challenge! Enjoy and make sure you don't have to re-learn a bad lesson.

Texasmark · Oct 27, 2017

RSKY said:
Mowing the CRP land this week. Only 24 acres but it can only be mowed, in 50-60' wide strips, every other year. B-I-L did it last year while I was down with a knee replacement. Either he missed some or the saplings popped back up after the 1086's wide tires passed over them because there were some trees bigger around than my arm. This year I'm mowing with the 4600 Ford. The lesson I relearned is that a sapling that big can pop back up after the front axle pushes it over. This happens when you make the second pass and have the twelve to twenty foot high trunk cut down to half size. First one got me on the right thumb which was resting on the fender. A limb on the second one took off my hat, glasses, and earplugs. That one HURT. Hat and glasses both landed on the mower deck which was good because it would have ticked me off greatly to have to buy new glasses.

Second lesson is that a thick growth of honeysuckle and blackberry vines on a slight slope can turn a 6-8000 pound tractor downhill even if it is being steered uphill. That was scary because I wasn't expecting it and was in low 4th gear moving pretty fast. I always keep my foot on the downhill brake so the tractor can be spun if it starts to go over. Yes, I had that happen once when much younger and much dumber. So I couldn't get on the other brake quick enough to keep it straight. Just made a big circle and took off again.

Yep, I'm using a 41-year old Ford tractor and a 45-year old Ford mower once again. The old mower has been welded, bolted, chained, sledge-hammered, and cussed for years but it still chews up anything the tractor can push over. The top decking is nearly rusted thru in places and I'm going to replace that next year before it throws a chunk thru the deck and up onto the driver's seat. Those old mowers bring a good price still because they are so tough.

Because this is the sixth year of a ten year signup I've got to get the disk out, hasn't been used in three years, and disk the fields in 50-60' wide strips. I should have been able to get this all done in two days but gonna take me three because I broke a brace on top of the mower and had to repair it.

Tractors are FUN!!

RSKY

Your comment about turning down hill when you are at/near/think you are fixin to have a roll over. My farming education has been from Hard Knocks U. Nobody taught me anything because I didn't have anybody around to do that. However, rollovers have been high on my list of what to avoid, both to the side and over the rear.

I moved my tires into a 6' spacing as in downsizing I have set up everything on 6'. On my cab tractor that can get iffy on slopes so on the couple of times I was worried, I just turned down hill immediately to stop whatever may have been fixin to happen and re approached what I was doing. It works.

Creamer · Oct 27, 2017

Texasmark said:
Your comment about turning down hill when you are at/near/think you are fixin to have a roll over. My farming education has been from Hard Knocks U. Nobody taught me anything because I didn't have anybody around to do that. However, rollovers have been high on my list of what to avoid, both to the side and over the rear.

I moved my tires into a 6' spacing as in downsizing I have set up everything on 6'. On my cab tractor that can get iffy on slopes so on the couple of times I was worried, I just turned down hill immediately to stop whatever may have been fixin to happen and re approached what I was doing. It works.

All depends on what is down the hill.

navy1 · Oct 27, 2017

Agriculture is still a hazardous occupation. Years ago I lost a friend who was pushed over the back of his tractor while bush hogging. He was no kid, had farmed for a long time. How many of us know a farmer with a hand missing? Just as in factory machine operation, familiarity can facilitate dropping your guard. One thing that can help, is to re-read the instruction manual (s).
After a Navy enlistment, 48 years as a machine repairman, and millwright in factory environments, I have seen amputations, bones crushed and broken, serious burns, and acid splash burns,
Be careful, go home in as good condition as you left for the field or the job in town. Your family cares and needs you safe and alive.