Bush hog problem

[OkieG]

Beenthere,

Even with the brush hog adjusted properly, as you desrcibe, I noticed the plastic shroud on the pto drive shaft would be torn up after a session in the brush.

As a newbie, it took me a while to discover the problem occured when I had to back into brush to cut it. When the rear of the deck stops against thick weeds or brush, the front of the deck will rise as the tractor backs up. Eventually, the pto shaft shroud contacts the deck and gets torn up.

Obviously, it is my poor technique/slow reaction time that allows the problem to happen. Even duct tape and TRYing to be more careful hasn't eliminated the problem. Some of the brush I encounter is so thick I'm afraid I'll get stuck if I drive straight in.

OkieG

[OkieG]

Beenthere,

By the way, when the foliage is obviously going to cause a problem, I now disengage the pto before backing. It's the brush I don't expect will be a problem that bites me. I guess maybe the pto should be disengaged whenever I back up.

OkieG

[normde2001]

Okie, that should never happen if things are set up properly. Either the toplink is still too long or if the toplink hooks to a toggle link on the cutter, possibly it is mounted backwards. It should limit how far the cutter can droop in the back when lifted, to prevent the shaft from coming apart or hitting, as if it were attached to a chain.

[beenthere]

I can see from that picture that you are having a problem. When you back into a place like that, just lift the cutter up when you back in. If you can't get it up, then shorten the top link more. This is better than backing into brush with the PTO off, as it is a big load when trying to start it up with brush in it. Better to start it up with nothing in the cutter (IMO). Your technique will improve with practice.