I have a pretty good idea but I'd like to hear from more experienced operators. I have a SQ480 shredder I use behind my B7300. I want to know how you set the cut height. I know about setting the height of the crazy wheel but is there anything about setting the 3pt height? I set the top link so the shredder picks up to an adequate height when transporting the shredder without cutting (lifted position). I normally just lower the shredder till the crazy wheel carries the rear weight then continue lowering till the shredder is level. Is this the proper way?
Setting shredder height?
- Thread starter bikerdib
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ritschner
Silver Member
I set mine the same way and then set the lever stop. Of course living in the hill country I have a few rock outcroppings that I have to lift the mower over and the stop allows me to set the mower back down to the original setting.
johnrex62
Platinum Member
I have the 3pt set with the lever stop marking the lower limit with the shredder about an inch off the ground and the rear fully on the wheel and the side rails about 3 inches off the ground. This gives me a 3" cutting height and is the lowest cutting position I would want to use. The lever stop makes it easy to drop to this point when cutting the yard like areas. My 3pt arms rise about 2.5-3 inches per number on the lever, so it is easy to change the cut to whatever height I need.
I keep the front an inch or two lower than the rear because the manual says to, the majority of experts in these forums said so, and because it seems to work very well that way.
My shredder is a rear discharge, so it makes sense to keep the rear up to permit the debris easier exit from the deck. The slight height diff does not cause an uneven cut and creates less load for the tractor in high grass.
I keep the front an inch or two lower than the rear because the manual says to, the majority of experts in these forums said so, and because it seems to work very well that way.
My shredder is a rear discharge, so it makes sense to keep the rear up to permit the debris easier exit from the deck. The slight height diff does not cause an uneven cut and creates less load for the tractor in high grass.
MMagis
Veteran Member
I set it wherever I want it. Nothing special. Sometimes I want to almost scalp the dirt, sometimes I'm cutting 12" off the ground. Try not to over-think it.
See, I told you I had a pretty good idea.
Johnrex62; I've always set shredders up with the front lower than the rear. I've used both tow behind with lift-able wings like the Terrain King (they still in business, they used to make some great machines) and 3pt hook up type. Setting it up this way makes it less work for the tractor since the blades are trying to cut only once at the front. Plus, if you hit something solid there may be less chance of doing major damage since the blades only hit in the front. In fact, I have the mower deck on my JD lawn tractor set that way also.
Johnrex62; I've always set shredders up with the front lower than the rear. I've used both tow behind with lift-able wings like the Terrain King (they still in business, they used to make some great machines) and 3pt hook up type. Setting it up this way makes it less work for the tractor since the blades are trying to cut only once at the front. Plus, if you hit something solid there may be less chance of doing major damage since the blades only hit in the front. In fact, I have the mower deck on my JD lawn tractor set that way also.
I assume you have some kind of flexible link, or you're using a chain. I don't think you want to leave a rigid top link in place while you're mowing unless you're mowing a sod farm.
I mow my pasture grass at about 9-10". The longer the grass the deeper the root system, so you'll survive the dry spells better. Of course the neighbors might squawk if you live in a subdivision and have 9" long grass in your front yard.
What the man said about not over thinking it is right on,make it as level as you can side to side,mine doesn't really cut any different if fronts lower than rear,generally just eyeball it about level,front to back,I generally cut about 5-6 inches high,sometimes a little higher,sometimes a little lower,I use a chain for a toplink too.
My shredder has the swing link (flex link) on the top. I wouldn't use it without one because I'm mowing at my weekend cabin in the woods and the ground was never leveled.
I'm kinda kicking myself because I just mowed down to about 5 inches and we are coming into the intense heat/dry season. I probably killed my bahia grass.
I'm kinda kicking myself because I just mowed down to about 5 inches and we are coming into the intense heat/dry season. I probably killed my bahia grass.
MMagis
Veteran Member
Why are so many people so scared about something that they clearly don't have any experience with? How did some of you become convinced that it's not safe to use a rigid top link on uneven ground? That's how these things are DESIGNED to be used. I can't understand how using a chain ever became an accepted practice, to the point of scaring people out of using a cutter how it was designed.
I use a flexible link because when I had my B7100 with the cheap line of King Cutter sold by TSC I used to sometime get in a bind enough that the tractor would spin, the blades would chop the ground or some other form of havoc. The flexible link lets the shredder float more easily over uneven ground. Besides, it was already on the shredder I now have.