KK brush hog

   / KK brush hog #1  

foggy1111

Elite Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
2,649
Location
Nisswa, MN
Tractor
Kubota L 3560 HSTC, 805 Loader
I have been opening up some brush areas on my land with my lite duty 5' KK rotary cutter. The cutter has done a great job on small and large brush (up to about 3"). I know some of the brush I am cutting is abusive to this lite duty cutter....but it seems to tackle it quite nicely.

MY QUEStiON: My ground is also quite rough.....and I am always digging the leading edge of the cutter in the ground....which then levers the back end up before it breaks free and the back end again falls to the ground. This seems hard on stuff...but I also want to clip the brush low to the ground. It seems the lead edges of the cutter dig into the ground too easliy thus creating the problems. Any operating suggestions???....or is this just part of the game on new rough ground?

I bought this cutter new for a good deal ($550.00) and so far have beat the tar out of it. It has not even sheared a pin...yet. But I need to wire all the pins on my three point in place (or replace with bolts) as I keep losing them in the thick brush.:( Sometimes it feels like the rotary cutter is also part tiller....as I sure have scalped allot of sod and tilled allot of ground with it.
 
   / KK brush hog #2  
I don't really have an answer to your question, but I have also overworked my 5'KK in thick brush and it hasn't had a single problem to date either.
 
   / KK brush hog #3  
How far off the ground is the rear of the cutter when you are skidding the leading edges? If the angle is too severe I can see how it would bite into the ground and raise the back end easier. Your tail wheel might have the rear end raised too high for the low cutting you at doing.
 
   / KK brush hog #4  
I never run with the leading edge of my cutter on the ground. I'm not saying it's wrong to do that but I don't have the problem of the cutter digging in. Might try to keep it an inch or so off the ground.
 
   / KK brush hog #5  
You need to raise the front up,enough,to where it don't.
I got mine set about 4-5 inches high all around,if that wouldn't be high enough to keep front edge from ramming into ground,would raise it up futher,I also use a chain instead of top link,positives and negatives to that,but it makes a more even cut on rough ground,aloows rear to go down,and front to come up,BUT,if you run a chain,you DON'T want front end hitting at all,or back will come up,quick,and high.
 
   / KK brush hog
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks for the tips.....but......I TRY to keep the leading edge of the cutter a bit off the ground....but the land has too many dips and swales and changes to avoid....and I want to cut the brush short. I have the rear of the cutter about two inches higher than the front and the tail wheel does a good job.

Maybe some wider skids at the front would provide some float for the lead edge.....but this isnt exactly normal duty for a cutter.
 
   / KK brush hog #7  
Thanks for the tips.....but......I TRY to keep the leading edge of the cutter a bit off the ground....but the land has too many dips and swales and changes to avoid....and I want to cut the brush short. I have the rear of the cutter about two inches higher than the front and the tail wheel does a good job.

Maybe some wider skids at the front would provide some float for the lead edge.....but this isnt exactly normal duty for a cutter.
That's similar to how I use mine as far as height goes. Mines a heavier model though and maybe the weight helps keep it grounded when the front skids try to dive. I know what you mean about dips and swales. My ground is fairly firm too. If yours is soft and loamy, it could really dive into the loose ground I'd bet. Wider skids would be worth a try. Just tack them on to test.
 
   / KK brush hog #8  
Well,theres your problem my good friend,make mower level,set it about 4-5 high[from bottom edge,all around,]and try that,other wise you can want all you want,but it ain't going to work right for you.

By the way,these ain't tips,its how you use a brush hog.
 
   / KK brush hog #9  
My King Kutter brush mower would not mow low at all. (If I tryed to cut lower the front skids would dig ruts and pull rocks out of the ground).
I cut the leading edge of my cutter up 2" and tapered it back about a foot. Then welded on new skids.
It works so much better now. I can cut/mow much lower and the leading egde no longer digs into the ground
 
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   / KK brush hog
  • Thread Starter
#10  
DK35Vince and ford850 has pretty much summed up my situation too.....thanks!! I think I will try to modify the lead edge to get a little more "floatation" as you describe. Getting some slope on the lead edge and making wider shoes should solve the issue here....too bad they aint that way to start. My ground is pretty rough (deer food plots).....but the land is sandy loam.....so the cutter really can dig in as it stands now.

THe knee-action top link that KK provides does a pretty good job (sorta like a chain) of allowing the cutter to float up.....but when the lead edge pushes throught the dirt and lets the cutter down it can have a pretty big load to chew up and that makes me a cringe a little. :eek:


All in all...it's working pretty good....but I feel as though I am abusing stuff.
 
 
 
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