How tight do you hitch your rotary?

[Fallon]

I left my side links right all the time. My hydraulic toplink was left in float. It wasn't uncommon for the flex link on the mower to pop loose from the top hook on my Quick Hitch. I'd get around to fixing it, essentially hooking the top link back up hours later or whenever I needed to lift the mower, whichever came first. The toplink is really useless when mowing & only needed when transporting a rotary cutter.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I think a little slop magnifies the force put on the stabilizers and such. Think of the extra force you put on a chain when you jerk it vs a straight pull. It has been my experience that side to side movement should be limited as much as possible.

 

[CobyRupert]

I leave some side-to-side play.
Seeing how I've mashed the mower deck walls into the blades at least 3 or 4 times (One h*ll of a racket; but I've gotten pretty good using come-alongs on bending them back. ). I want some flex* when I back into that hidden sapling or fence post when I'm doing stupid things and barreling into places where I shouldn't.

*: Flex in the connection: 3pth sway; before the sides of the mower start flexing!