gwtx
Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2010
- Messages
- 26
- Location
- near Goliad,TX
- Tractor
- Hesston(fiat) 466DT/ Kubota7060/Ford 3400/KomatsuD20 Modern AG 15' batwing
I recently bought a new 15' "batwing" shredder/mower. It has the Bondioli(sp) driveshaft shields with chains to attach to keep the shields from spinning. It looks to me like a good way to wear out the shields sooner so they can sell new ones, or have to replace the nylon bearings frequently.
I have been running an old TerrainKing for over 20 yrs which had no shields whatsoever when I bought it used. I made some out of pvc drain pipe to keep dirt out of the sliding joints on the shafts, and to keep limbs(tree limbs) and branches from wrapping up in the spinning shafts. The pvc shields spun with the driveshaft, but if anything touched them, they stopped. No danger of them "grabbing" you and pulling you into the driveshaft. So, is there anyone who has taken the chains off and run the shields without them? Initially, I did and didn't see any ill effects. I put them back on until I could do some research on the matter. I'm more concerned about "down the road"expense than I am about being "grabbed" by one of the spinning shields. I don't get off the tractor until the shafts are completely stopped. I don't like the fact that I can't quickly tell if one of the slip clutches has disengaged and is destroying itself. When I look back it looks like everything has stopped,,,until I squint into the openings between the shield and slip clutches. I am running a "cab and air" tractor for the first time in my life and I like the quiet and the cool and the clean, but, I am used to being more "connected" to the tractor and shredder. I know there are safety concerns, and I am aware of those. I am asking for input from anyone who is running the shields "unchained". What are the opinions/pros/cons/ etc. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to make clear the information I am looking for. I have read other posts which were more safety oriented, and did not quite answer my question. Thanks, Gary
I have been running an old TerrainKing for over 20 yrs which had no shields whatsoever when I bought it used. I made some out of pvc drain pipe to keep dirt out of the sliding joints on the shafts, and to keep limbs(tree limbs) and branches from wrapping up in the spinning shafts. The pvc shields spun with the driveshaft, but if anything touched them, they stopped. No danger of them "grabbing" you and pulling you into the driveshaft. So, is there anyone who has taken the chains off and run the shields without them? Initially, I did and didn't see any ill effects. I put them back on until I could do some research on the matter. I'm more concerned about "down the road"expense than I am about being "grabbed" by one of the spinning shields. I don't get off the tractor until the shafts are completely stopped. I don't like the fact that I can't quickly tell if one of the slip clutches has disengaged and is destroying itself. When I look back it looks like everything has stopped,,,until I squint into the openings between the shield and slip clutches. I am running a "cab and air" tractor for the first time in my life and I like the quiet and the cool and the clean, but, I am used to being more "connected" to the tractor and shredder. I know there are safety concerns, and I am aware of those. I am asking for input from anyone who is running the shields "unchained". What are the opinions/pros/cons/ etc. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to make clear the information I am looking for. I have read other posts which were more safety oriented, and did not quite answer my question. Thanks, Gary
