Afraid of the Rotary Mower

   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #1  
M

mundamanu

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2003
Messages
156
Location
Schoharie, NY
Tractor
TC40A, Ford 8600, MF65
I am going up to my new property this weekend to mow the pastures with a Woods XT172 mower.

I have never hooked anything up to a pto before, let alone a rotary mower that can take my head off with thrown rocks, and quite frankly I am rather frightened of it. The pastures have only been out of use for about six weeks, so I am not worried about finding anything dangerous with the mower blades, but I am nervous nonetheless.

The previous owner walked me through hooking the mower shaft to the pto shaft (you pull and hold back a rubber sleeve and push the mower shaft onto the pto shaft whereupon a little silver ball on a spring clicks into place), but I find it hard to believe that that little ball thingy can actually hold the two shafts together.

Anyway, assuming that the little ball does its job, what is the order for attaching the mower? Pto shaft first, or top link and sway arms first, or does it not matter?

How do I adjust the length of the cut? Should the mower be level or should the front end be raised a little?

So many questions! So much danger! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Oh yeah, I am mowing 15 flat acres with the 6-foot mower. How long should I expect it to take?

Thanks in advance!

I also forgot one more question: The previous owner said that he used to mow at about 1600-1800 RPMs, however, the "pto mark" on the gauge was at like 2200 or something, I don't remember exactly. Do I need to run the RPMs at PTO speed or can I run it slower?
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #2  
<font color="blue">... but I find it hard to believe that that little ball thingy can actually hold the two shafts together. </font>
I assure you, they will.

<font color="blue"> I am mowing 15 flat acres with the 6-foot mower. How long should I expect it to take? </font>
I'd guess 5.5 to 7 hours depending on how long it is.

<font color="blue"> Do I need to run the RPMs at PTO speed or can I run it slower? </font>
Run it at PTO RPM's -- for my tractor, it's 2000 RPM's.

I run a pull-type mower, so hopefully other's can answer your top-link questions.
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #3  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( hard to believe that that little ball thingy can actually hold the two shafts together )</font>

Yes, it will, but when you hold that collar back and slide it onto the tractor's PTO shaft, push it on all the way, release the collar and pull back on it. Make sure it snaps into place and the collar slides back forward. Then try pushing and pulling on the driveshaft to make sure it's solidly connected.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( what is the order for attaching the mower? Pto shaft first, or top link and sway arms first, or does it not matter? )</font>

No, it doesn't matter, as long as everything gets hooked up. For me, personally, the easiest order was to hook up both lower links first, then the PTO driveshaft, and finally the top link.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How do I adjust the length of the cut? )</font>

First you need to adjust the height of the tail wheel (and if it's been used for that purpose before, it may already be properly adjusted). Then raise or lower the front of the mower with the 3-point hitch. Slightly higher in the front end will do more "mulching"; i.e., chop things up smaller. Slightly lower in the front end will eject the clippings out the back faster and let you mow a little faster (that's my preferred method). Of course, level works, too.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How long should I expect it to take? )</font>

That's anybody's guess. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif We don't know how fast (ground speed) you're going to run the tractor, how much overlap you'll use, how many obstacles, trees, etc. you have to go around, and how thick the stuff is you're cutting. I'll guess at least 7 hours and maybe 9.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do I need to run the RPMs at PTO speed or can I run it slower? )</font>

You can run it slower, but if you do you may have to drive slower (take more time) to keep from lugging the engine, and you may not get as clean a cut. I always ran at PTO speed. I figure that's the speed the manufacturer of the tractor built it for and that's the reason for the "pto mark".
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #4  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...what is the order for attaching the mower? Pto shaft first, or top link and sway arms first, or does it not matter?)</font>

I usually attach the lower arms first. These are the hardest, and need to be aligned properly (Pats quick hitch is in my future), then the PTO shaft while the top link is still outa the way, then the top link. Snug the lower arm chains, then raise it up just off the ground and use the lower arm chains to center it on the rear of the tractor. Make sure the chains are tight when done as this will keep the mower from swinging around on the rear of the tractor.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...How do I adjust the length of the cut? Should the mower be level or should the front end be raised a little?
...)</font>

On a level area, lower the mower until the rear wheel touches the ground and the front of the mower is 1" or 2" lower than the rear. This is the optimum HP setting. If you level the mower front to rear or raise the front a little higher, it requirers more HP to mow, but wil shred the cuttings more. finally with the mower still lowered adjust the slack in the top link. You want the floppy part of the top link on the mower to be at about a 45 deg. angle from vertical. This allows the mower to "follow" the contour of the ground. If you snug the top link up, then the back of the mower will raise everytime the front of the tractor goes down a dip.
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #5  
It is good to be a bit apprehensive of the rotary cutter, especially when you have no experience using one.

Couple thoughts...take a grease gun and grease the shaft and check gear box oil...before you do anything else. Turn the tractor off and put the key in your pocket before hooking up the PTO.

You may want to cut a little on the high side the first time, just to be sure you know what is out there...

Many, many hours have be spent on tractors using rotary cutters without and harm coming to the operator...so you likely will not suffer from thrown debris. Still you never know...so you might eventually want to fab up some kind of guard behind you for protection...Better to have protection you never need to use, than to not have protection when you need it.

Until it hits something other than grass/weeds/light brush the rotary cutter if properly maintained really is almost as quiet and smooth as a finish mower. You will soon be comfortable with it. Don't worry about that. If you hit something big/hard/heavy you learn new respect for the rotary cutter...that experience is something words do not convey well.

Make sure the engine is near idle when you engage the cutter. Does it have a slip clutch? If not, you may want to have some shear bolts with you...

Most of all...enjoy what you are doing. Imagine how much work that would be if the tractor was not doing it for you...
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #7  
Achieving 80% with a rotary cutter is pretty difficult -- but at least it gives you a ballpark figure.
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #8  
Don't be afraid of it. But certainly do respect it. It will not take long to begin to get comfortable using it.
I agree with all the other guys above. Here is what I do.
Get a 4'-5' piece of 2x6 as a "persuader". Raise the 3ph arms higher than the mower pins and slowly back the tractor up to the mower lining up the 3ph arms as close as possible to the pins on the mower. Lower the arms til they rest on the pins and back up until the holes are slightly behind the pins. Shut off the tractor. Now you can easily hook everything up. I do the PTO shaft first but that's personal preference. Now the arms. Whichever is closest to aligning do it first. Use the 2x6 to nudge the deck back as you slide the arm on the pin. Then do the same to the other side. That takes all the work out of it. Then hook the top link and you are ready to go.
I generally run at 5-6 mph when mowing in a straight line. But with the slowing to turn and some going over already cut areas, I doubt I average 4 mph overall.
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower #9  
The little ball doesn't carry the torque of the pto, it just keeps the spline from sliding off. It would have to be crushed to powder before the spline could slide free.

In the orchard I wear a leather cowboy hat to shield against scratches from overhead obstacles. (and move slowly to allow reaction time.) If you are concerned about mower shrapnel you might use a similar hat plus get an old heavy motorcycle jacket ($5 from a thrift store) to provide some body armor.
 
   / Afraid of the Rotary Mower
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thank you all for the replies. As always, my question was answered and then some.

From that chart, it looks like I am in for a long day! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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