bush hog windrowing

[Anonymous Poster]

Glennmac, "We ask the same questions over and over--half the time we give the right anwers, half the time we give the wrong answers, half the time we dont know the answers, and half the time we forgot the previous answers. As you can see, it rarely adds up." - If that's not a classic it should be! Did you come up with that yourself?

Also, do all bush hogs rotate the same way, clockwise as seen from above?

 

[glennmac]

Danny, thanks. But, NO, I dont know which direction the various brush cutters actually rotate. In fact, I do have a catalog for the new Woods brushcutters, which says they all rotate CCW. My Landpride and Deere literature doesnt seem to indicate the direction.

I was just hypothesizing a direction to see if we could figure out what's going on under the deck. Of course, at the beginning of this thread I said that I really couldnt detect any windrowing with my cutter at all.

Maybe if we all knew which direction our cutters rotated and were sure which side the windrows appear, if at all, we could figure out the dynamics of what's going on underneath.

 

[Joesgoats]

I just check the parts manual for my Landpride, and based on the picture of the blades, it too rotates CCW. In that case the windrows, based on my little theory, should be on the right side, which agrees well with the one data point we have from theboman.

Joe

 

[Bird]

This has been an interesting thread, to say the least. The blades on my Howse turn in a counter clockwise direction (as viewed from the top) and what windrowing is done is on the left side, which is one reason I do most of my mowing in a clockwise direction around the field. Imagine the blades coming around and catching the grass at the front of the cutter and carrying it around the left side, so the left rear corner is the first opportunity for the blade to push it out the back. Anything the blade hits at the back or right side of the mower will be pushed toward the front since the blade is moving in that direction.

Bird

 

[glennmac]

Now, wait a darn minute. Those of us who know which way our cutters rotate are all saying CCW. But Bo says he's got windrows on the right, Bird on the left, and I don't see any windrows. What gives here?

I wonder if any of this is related to the side that discharge chutes are put on finish mowers. They almost always seem to be on the right side. What way do those finish blades rotate?

 

[theboman]

I'll look again on what side. I bush hog in all directions so I may have my left and right on the right and left or just backwards to that. I really ain't got much a clue on what direction my blades spin but "thought" it was clockwise (I get paid to be on time, not smart).
With discussions with my dealer he mentioned the deck design has lots to do with windrows, such as an open front vs closed.

Again, no wagering...

Bluegrass, Pick It Up!

 

[Bird]

Glenn, you'll notice I said <font color=blue>what windrowing is done</font color=blue> and it's very darned little, too. But I do know I get just a little more discharge to the left of center than to the right. As for the finish mower, yep, the blades on every one I've ever used turn clockwise; just the opposite from the brush hog (and I have no idea why). Even my rear discharge finish mower has the blades turning clockwise as viewed from the top.

Bird

 

[glennmac]

Well, as things now stand, we may have two different theories: the Bo theory and the Bird theory.

Assuming we have a CCW brush cutter, I think the Bo theory is that some of the cut grass gets carried past the left side, past the back, and then piles up on the right side when it contacts the uncut grass that is constantly entering the front of the cutter. The Bird theory seems to be that the cut grass tends to bunch against the first side it hits, the left side.

Now, if these theories apply to finish mowers, couldnt they be tested by looking at a rear discharge finish mower and seeing which side has a larger build up of clumped grass? Or are the dynamics of a three spindle finish mower too different to compare?

 

[TerryinMD]

I've only used a rotary cutter once. Couldn't even tell you the brand name as I borrowed it from a neighbor and it is just one big pile of rusted steel. I did not see any windrowing at all. I cut weeds, high grass, and brush and it just beat everything to a pulp. Had small piles of stuff in random areas.

I quickly scanned this thread and I did not see anyone mention anything about how sharp the blades might be. Is that a factor??

 

[Bird]

Glenn, my opinion is that this will not be completely resolved because we're talking in generic terms about "brush hogs" and some of them have decks that are shaped a little differently. On my Howse, the sides of the deck angle toward the rear, with the lower edge angling up toward the straight open section on the rear (and of course, I have homemade chain guards), while the newer Bush Hogs have a rounded rear deck and sides. And I never meant to imply that mine windrowed to the left; only that there's a little more to the left than to the right. Actually, most of the discharge is in the middle (most open part of the deck). As for the dynamics of the 3-spindle finish mower, there are some differences between brands under the deck, and of course, a side discharge deck is different from the rear discharge. My rear discharge mower has a rounded "baffle" on the right side, but not on the left side. I understand why, but doubt that I could explain it without "show and tell."

And being a pragmatist, I don't worry about all this deep thinking and theories; just does it work the way I want it to?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird