Using rotary cutter for hay - clogged tailwheels?

[Probity]

Quick questions from a novice hay cutter:

In previous years, a local cutting crew cut/raked/bailed my 20+/- acres of Bahia. Due to health issues (the "youngster" on the crew is in his late 70's) they aren't working this year, and others I contacted weren't interested. So out of necessity I've recently mowed it (1st cutting this year) using my XR4046H LS tractor and 6' HD King Kutter lift mower with dual tailwheels.

No real issues but after 2-4 hrs of cutting, around the time I needed to stop anyway and put more diesel in (and clean the grill area to prevent overheating), the tailwheels got so clogged with grass that they'd stop rolling. So after re0fuel and grill cleaning I'd have to spend another 30-45 minutes clearing grass from the tailwheels with needle nose pliers, hammer and chisel.

1) Is there a modification I can do (weld some guides/covers/whatever) around the wheel forks to prevent this? Or will I just have to live with the problem?
2) The rotary cutter does NOT have a removable side panel; if I had a "proper" rotary cutter to use on hay would this prevent the tailwheel clogging problem?

 

[Dave M7040]

A couple of thoughts for you with little idea if they would work in your situation.

The following photo shows two features around the wheels of a pull style mower.

First, the arms supporting the wheel are made so there is little space around the wheel axle for stuff to get wound around.
Second, the "finger" placed just near the surface of the tire would be wiping anything stuck to the tread off.

Perhaps if you welded a small piece of flat steel to each of the two arms supporting the wheel in a way that they are just above the wheel axle and thus are continually wiping the axle area clear of junk.

If you don't have a welder you could use a U bolt. The idea being to test if this will work for you.

If I am not making myself clear plse ask more questions

Dave M7040

 

[flusher]

Quick questions from a novice hay cutter:

2) The rotary cutter does NOT have a removable side panel; if I had a "proper" rotary cutter to use on hay would this prevent the tailwheel clogging problem?
View attachment 521670View attachment 521671

I'd just grab my 4-1/2 inch angle grinder with a cutoff blade and make a removable side panel. A 30-minute job.

I got tired of crawling under my 6-ft Hawkline brush hog to sharpen the blades. So I cut a removable access door to do the job from above the mower.



It took me about an hour to finish the mod.

Good luck

 

[Spanner]

30-45 mins? (!)
Undo the nut and pull out the axle bolt. The wheel will fall out... Pull off the debris (both sides). Grease the axle. Reassembly is a reversal of the above.

You don't need wheels for a roughing mower. Adjustable skid-plates mounted on the sides are 'uncloggable'.

'Flusher' has a good idea. Cut a side eject panel. Use the cut-out piece to fill the rear discharge gap.

Edit: One type. Made here. Available to you there:

Fieldmaster Sabre Rotary Slasher - Fieldmaster - Harvesting Equipment - New Equipment - Midwest Machinery Ltd

 

[jeff9366]

Undo the nut and pull out the axle bolt. The wheel will fall out... Pull off the debris (both sides). Grease the axle.

SPANNER, If you run for President, you will have my vote.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

How well does grass cut by a rotary cutter bale up?

 

[Spanner]

SPANNER, If you run for President, you will have my vote.

LOL Jeff.

How well does grass cut by a rotary cutter bale up?

Better than grass cut by a flail mower.

 

[Spanner]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/haying/385525-cutting-hay-rotary-cutter-clogged.html#post4868031

 

[stuckmotor]

My Woods Cadet trailer type mower came with a removable hay cutting pannel on the LEFT hand side. I never had the problems you've mentioned.
I always assumed the pannel was on the left because the rotation of the mower threw it out better on that side.
My grandfather used to secure a sheet of screen wire to the tractor's grill to keep trash out of the radiator. It was nothing fancy and worked well for him and for me too when I tried it.