Rotary Cutter Rotary Cutter

[jgbanshee]

I just bought a John Deere 503 5" rotary cutter to pull behind my Ford 2N. When I raise the 3pt hitch while using the mower, the pto shaft hits the top corner edge of the mower. Is this common? Is there anything I can do? As of now I can only raise the 3pt hitch to max when the pto is disconnected. Is there tricks to using a rotary cutter with an N that I should be aware of? Thanks.

 

[beenthere]

Your top link is too long and needs to be adjusted shorter, so the deck can be lifted and move to the top of the 3pt lift, without the PTO hitting the deck. Simply a matter of adjustment.
In addition, check that the front lift pins for the 3pt arms are located in the lower holes on the Deere cutter. Mine came in the top holes, which are for larger tractors with bigger tires. Putting them in the lower holes may help solve your problem along with the adjustment to the top link.
I also removed the flat steel braces that connect the top point of the lift frame to the rear of the rotary cutter deck, and replaced them with chains. Works much better when the rear of the deck needs to ride up such as when the tractor wheels go through a dip, or when I back the RC up an incline.

If you would show a pic, more help might be suggested.

Is your deck a Deere 503, or a 513?

 

[RoyJackson]

The comment about the top link being too long is correct, of course. Mine also hits the cutter when raised completely.

If you're just moving in transport for a short distance, just don't lift the cutter all the way up. The tail wheel may not be completely off the ground, but for a short distance that shouldn't hurt. That's how I always do it unless i get off and shorten that top link.

If you've got to transport the cutter any distance beyond a few hundred feet, I suggest you adjust it for transport (shorten the link), then lengthen it for usage when you're at your destination.