Why so much clearance at ends of my brush hog blades?

[tjc1989]

My brush hog is a 5 foot model. I have had it since new, and always felt that it took forever to get 13 acres mowed with it. I always assumed it was cutting 60 inches. Until this afternoon. I measured it across blades from end to end, and its just cutting 56 inches. There is 4 1/2 inches clearance around the blade tips to the housing. Why is that? Could I find some replacement blades that were longer, and that would leave just one or 2 inches clearance? If I could, that would extend my cutting width to 63 inches ( an additional 7 inches cut ) if I left one inch clearance from blade tip to housing.

Pros and cons on this??

I realize that the obvious comment will be to buy a bigger brush hog. But, I would rather hang on to this one for now. For one, I really like it. Its galvanized, and doesn't rust, and has an 85 HP gearbox. Its really stout.

For some of you that have a 6 or 7 foot shredders, how much end claerance do you have?

 

[kebo]

Some of that "void" is there for the cut material to have room to "float" inside until it gets spit out from under the deck. You could probably get some blades that are a tad bit longer and cut a little bit wider swath just fine. Personally, I think you should leave more than 1" between the blade tips and deck though.

 

[tjc1989]

Well, I I could find some that would leave 2 inches end clearance, that would give me a 61 inch cut.

 

[Sprocket]

If you try it let us know how it works out!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

TJC I think kebo's thoughts are on target. If you ever get in stuff that will kill your engine if you do not clutch it from time to time you will see the need for the clearence.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Another thought would be so any big branches or bricks had a way to get out. I would think that a 60" mower should mow 60". If the manufacturer is still in buisness I would give them a call and see what their reply is. I am going to have to measure mine to see if this is common.
Bill

 

[clemsonfor]

i think no mower mows what it is no 5 fter mows 5 feet no 7 foot mows 7. I agree its to let thick tall grass a place to go and not bog the tractor more, it you get into 2'' trees brush it needs that place to ride till it gets out the back.

 

[TripleR]

Yeah, unless you mow only short grass/weeds and no brush, you need the clearance or you are going to be bogging down all the time.

 

[powerpace]

Clearance for the balls of bad stuff to go as it's cut and thrown off. If you have ever had a ball of thick wet material wad up in your mower with the associated vibration you would wish there was more clearance between the blades and deck and at the ends. That's a long sentence! Whew.
Sometimes a bigger mower is not better. Your ground speed will vary with the tractor size and mower size. Bigger mower equals bigger tractor or slower with a smaller tractor. Sharpened and balanced blades will help.