Rotory cutter bottoming out

[rcmike]

Hello Everyone.

I have a 4' KK rotary cutter that I recently bought for my 4010 and am having trouble keeping it out of the dirt. I have a pretty rough area that I had been using my MMM to cut but it was taking a beating from the rocks and if I didn't get to it every time it would get too thick to mow. The rotary cutter is doing good except for one problem. There are several bumps that I have to go over and if the front of the tractor goes up on one, the cutter goes down into the ground. I know I can't mow as close as with the MMM but I have to keep it really high or constantly adjust it to keep it off the ground. I would have to keep the cutter at least 6 or 8" off the ground to keep it from bottoming out on the humps. I have thought of attaching some wheels to the front of the cutter to keep it off the ground. Maybe some like on a mower deck but larger that I can remove when I don't need them? Any suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[beenthere]

Sounds like you are mowing pretty rough ground, and my suggestion for long term would be to level it (with something other than the rotary cutter /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) and then plant grass so you can mow with the MMM.

Otherwise, that 3pt lever is to lift the rotary cutter using the 3pt arms so the rotary cutter doesn't bottom into the dirt.

I mow some pretty rough acres with my rotary cutter, and don't have that problem, mowing at about 4" height. The rear wheel carries the rear of the cutter, and the 3pt arms carry the front. The front wheels have to go up a pretty steep bump to get the front of the cutter deck into dirt. If I encounter such a rise or bump, I just pick up the front of the rotary cutter - no problem. I'd think this could or should work for you too.

Wish you luck.

 

[MMM]

Shorten toplink all the way and add short length of chain so RC can pivot on lift arms.

 

[Soundguy]

I saw a guy weld a 3/8 bolt on to each sode of the front of his mower.. and then slid some cheapy lawnmower wheels on it. He used a bolt with a smooth shank long enough for the wheel to ride on.. and matched the bolt od to the wheel id.. then added a locknut.. seemed to work decent as he could more or less drop the mower for smooth close mowing on flat ground.. or leave it lifted a bit when cutting brush.. and if it encountered a bump.. it 'generally' followed it. Sounds like a 15 minute 12$ job.. guid wheels are like 4.99 at HD and 2 bolts and two lock nuts?2 bucks? Add 2 seconds of welder time and you are ready.

Soundguy

 

[OkieG]

Re: beenthere
<font color="blue"> my suggestion for long term would be to level it </font> ...Yup.

<font color="blue"> 3pt lever is to lift the rotary cutter using the 3pt arms so the rotary cutter doesn't bottom into the dirt. </font>...Yup.

I like Soundguy's idea too. Front of the deck guide wheels is a project I've been thinking about for a while.

OkieG

 

[rcmike]

I have leveled part of it up(the real rough stuff). It isn't really as bad as I made it sound. Currently I am lifting it and lowering it as I go but was wondering if there was an easier way. One problem I have with the 3PH on the 4010 is that it lifts too fast. When I come to a bump it is hard to just lift it a little. I have to lift it up and then lower it to where I want it. I know this is another topic but is there any way to slow that down?

Soundguy, were they regular wheels or did they swivel? I guess they don't really need to swivil if they are only on the ground when encountering a bump. I have some regular wheels and was thinking of doing what you described. I know I can't keep it off the ground completely that way but it would definately help.

Thanks for all the help guys. I have had my tractor for a couple of years but have just started to use it for more than just mowing.

 

[sweettractors]

I like all the other ideas suggested and just to stir up things, Here are 2 more ways to help with that problem? 1--Weld extentions on the skid runners of the cutter (maybe 1 inch)--2--Use blades with less offset in them--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 3 Point Backhoes starting at $4300 Email [email="glsweet@scrtc.com"]glsweet@scrtc.com[/email]

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There are several bumps that I have to go over and if the front of the tractor goes up on one, the cutter goes down into the ground. )</font>
By driving straight over the top of your "bumps", you're high-centering the rotary cutter. A no-cost solution would be to cut half of the mounds at a time. That is, run the tractor wheels over the CENTER of the bump, cutting the other half on the next pass.

If the appearance of straight-line passes is more important, consider check chains. They cost about 30 bucks (make your own for less), and connect the implement lift pins with the tractor end of the toplink bracket. When set into the proper keyslot, they stop the front of the mower from dropping any lower that the level to which you've set the chains.

//greg//

 

[kensfarm]

" I would have to keep the cutter at least 6 or 8" off the ground to keep it from bottoming out on the humps. "

If you extend your top link.. this allows you to raise the front of the mower higher w/ the 3pt w/out the rear wheel coming off the ground.. if your still bottoming out.. raise the height of the rear wheel if it's adjustable.

 

[have_blue]

Yea, that's a weakness of an RC. They don't follow terrain like a MMM. In fact any implement stuck on the rear or front of a tractor doesn't follow terrain worth a hoot.

Invest in an hours work and level the whoop-de-doo's and grub out the high rocks. You'll be glad you did.