Rotary Mower Guards

   / Rotary Mower Guards #11  
JimBinMI

This is really getting complicated. You don't wear your seatbelt, but your wife makes you wear an intercom and helmet. And you fold the ROPS down to mow. You really do need to take a real close look at that manual. It probably is not for your tractor - it must be for a BLUE 4 wheeler. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Seriously, though, NO NO NO. I do not ever fold the ROPS down! If you do, the manual says that you SHOULD NOT wear a seatbelt with the ROPS folded down.

YES if it was a lawn that you had mowed for 10 years with a finish mower (and you probably don't even know what a prairie dog is) you have my permission to not wear your seat belt. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I simply mow around the trees, back the Bush Hog up to mow up to the tree trunk or if he limbs are really low, go get the riding lawnmower.

Steve Carver offered the best advise I have run across. He said to trim the trees to the ROPS height rather than even consider folding the ROPS. Good advise. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards
  • Thread Starter
#12  
Wen,

That is good advice that you offered and now I believe we are speaking the same language.

By the way, my TC18 IS my riding lawnmower! Once I get done with work around my new barn, it will mow lawn, rotary cut the field and move snow in winter and probably move mulch and stuff around with the rear scoop.

I do have a lawn boy self-propelled but when I sit on it and try to use it as a mower, the steering gets a little funny! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #13  
I have done the prunning of branches as far as the pruner would reach. Evergreens and the like. I too like Steve's idea on ROP'S hieght decidious.

BUT what is wrong with walking? Let me explain. Jamie's Dad out back (Pop) retired as Bethleham's scrap buyer and purchasing agent here in the Seattle area. We got scrap and hazzards everywhere!!! Everytime I went out with the MF35, I had to walk thru the area first. This also saves tires. I do understand what the difference is in a area you do regularly. Just watch out for the people who go there behind you. I've a bunch here that believes in gravity. You know that old law, where they dropped and left it?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Yes, be safe.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #14  
PaulB,

And worried you should be.

You can buy the belting material and it is not very expensive. You can make the chain guards with some angle, a 3/8 rod, and some 3/8 chain. Look at the Bush Hog as they did it right. Rhino's is easier to copy, but it will bend when you back into something, then the chain will get caught in the blade and that makes a lot of noise. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #15  
I finally got around to putting rubber belting guards on the rear of my Woods M5 cutter. What a differance it makes. When I hit a rock now, very little if any is thrown out. It works so well I may put it on the front of the mower this week. JerryG
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #16  
Smart move. Yes, put it on the front so the rocks don't get thrown at you and the tractor, too. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif You might post what the belting material cost and where you got it for others with the same problem.
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #17  
Putting a guard on the front may save you from buying a new tractor tire someday.

Bird
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #18  
The belting material that I used was throw away from a rock crusher. It was 3/8 thick and 4' wide. But, I saw bulk rolls of belting that is not to expensive at my tractor dealer. It is for use on large round hay bailers. You might get it free, the ones they take off for replacements. JerryG
 
   / Rotary Mower Guards #19  
I have some experience with a rotary cutter that I pulled with a Ford 8N. Notice I did'nt say good experience. Even with chain guards I am not comfortable using one on my rocky and logged over land that has not been cut in 50 years. I've settled on a flail mower and, much to my wife's delight, found out how expensive the darn things are. The used one I am thinking of buying needs only a little work--a fresh coat of BLUE paint.
 
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  • Thread Starter
#20  
Bigfinn,

At least it's the right color, or it will be, that's a great start! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif Beautiful tractor you have there too!

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!
 
 
 
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