Replace blades w/chains on rotary mower?

[Doug990]

I have lots of rocks on our 80 and have broken several blades on heavy rotary brush mowers. Does antone know if chains would work instead of blades? Thanks, Doug

 

[beenthere]

I don't have any solid reason to feel this way, but I'd be a bit uncomfortable with chains flying around under there, thinking that a few links would be propelled out from under the mower at high speed.
Just thinking that a blade might not be as likely to 'come' loose when being held with 3/4" bolts vs a chain that may have only 3/8" steel in its links.
Notwithstanding that the chain wouldn't be very 'sharp' but would still wear and at some point need to be removed (or remove itself).

But, my mind isn't made up that it won't work. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Taylortractornut]

Ive seen a few conversions like this one differnt brush cutters. I know ive seen some in Farmshow and also seen a few on RFD tv's Prarie Farm Report Inventions. chains were used on a side shifted trimmer for mowing near metal structures and around rocks. It worked pretty good. I recorded the episode if i run across it on tape i can get their number.

 

[Dachshund]

I know a guy who has "80 acres of rocks". He replaced the swinging blades with ones made from used road grader bits. Stay sharp, durable, and pretty indesructable.

 

[jhburke]

My brothers auto truck spring shop would have farmers to ask for lengths of used spring leaves. They would drill holes in one end and sharpen one edge for their bush hog mowers. They said they lasted a long time.

 

[Syncro]

Are you familiar with a flail type mower? It uses a row of chains that run vertically and is designed to safely run through rocks etc.

 

[Scozz]

I second the flail ... I picked one up this season cus I got tired of buying spindles on my finish mower (lots of exposed ledge on my property) .... It cuts great ... I can mow areas I could never think of with the finish or rotary mower ... Scozz