PaulB Rotary

[JimBinMI]

PaulB,

Please let us know, after you use it awhile, of course, how you like your new 4' rotary cutter. I'm really interested in how it works for you since we have similar sized tractors and I want the same size rotary. Hope it does a great job behind your Kubota!

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[PaulB]

Jim - will do. Just got it yesterday, have not even assembled it yet. The 4 footer sure "looks" small, so small I "think" I could have gone with a 5 footer, but as I said I have yet to use the thing. Will cut 5 acres this weekend, post early next week.

 

[JimBinMI]

Re: Rotary

PaulB,

Thanks! I can imagine that it looks small, My TC18 is not rated for a 5' finish mower but the salesman said he had sold several for TC18's and the owners were happy so I went with it and like it, really works well. However, I am rated for a 4' rotary and that's all I think I want to put on there, don't want to beat my tractor up! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The rotary will probably look small next to the finish.

I'm sure you'll be able to mow faster with the 4 footer and the weight won't be as much of a problem. I don't have a front end loader for weight so I have two suitcase weights, total 180 lbs. on front, that helps me when I carry around the finish mower which weighs close to 600 lbs.

Did you go with the TSC rotary? Whichever you bought, let us know how you like the quality too!

Thanks, JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[PaulB]

Got the cutter assembled last night, going to use it this morning. One problem so far - the mower sits high relative to my tractor, so just to hook up the lift arms of the 3 point to their posts on the mower I need to elevate them to position 6 or so (out of 8 on my position control lever). I got the mower hooked onto the 3 point alright, but because the mounting pins are so high, all I have left is about 3 inches of additional lift on the 3 point before the lift arms are at their maximum height. This will lift the mower into a perfectly acceptable mowing position (with a few inches to spare so I can set the front of the mower level with, below, or above the rear as I wish), but even at maximum height I can not lift the mower off the ground. I was hoping to be able to do this so I could transport it without the rear wheel on the ground, and also so I could use the hydraulics of the tractor to help me get blocks underneath the mower when I needed to work on the blades. As it is set up now, no way can I lift the mower high enough to do this. Is this an unavoidable consequence of the relative high mounting points on the mower and the relative low height of my tractor, or is there some way to adjust this? Almost seems like the only fix would be to drill new mounting holes for the 3 point pins lower on the frame of the mower.

 

[Bird]

PaulB, the lower links should have more than one hole you can attach the lift rods to. If you move them to holes closer to the tractor (farther forward) you will increase the lifting height, although reduce the weight capacity. And if you shorten the top link, I think that should enable you to lift the back of the mower well off the ground.

Bird

 

[JimBinMI]

PaulB,

In addition to what Bird said, on my TC18 I have 3 adjustments on my left lift arm for up and down (bolt adjustable) then my right lift arm is screw adjustable, does your B1700 have this? If you do, it will help unless it's already in the highest lift position. Good Luck

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[RickM]

PaulB,
I have 2 rotary cutters. A 4' light duty M&W for the B6100 and a 5' light duty deere for the 8N. After reading your post I measured both of my cutters from ground to the lower arm mount point. 16" (give or take 1/2") was common to both. I can raise the rear wheel off the ground of either one at least
8 - 12 inches. Is your mount point higher than 16"? There is a specification for Cat. 1 3-pt. implement design somewhere, I've seen it before. Maybe someone will remember where. If you get into a bind i.e., hitting high spots, stumps, rocks etc., you will need more lifting height than you describe. One thing for sure however is that you should be able to use that new shredder like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Bird]

PaulB, RickM's comment made me curious, so I went and measured mine, too. With the front of the brush hog sitting on the ground (actually a concrete floor), it's about 15.5" to the center of the pins.

Bird

 

[PaulB]

Bird, Jim, and Rick - you were all correct. My mower pins are 16 inches off the ground, just like you said, and my 3 point has all sorts of adjustability to it that I have simply never explored. By playing with the length of the top link I can get the rear of the mower off the ground, just like you guys said. Only problem then is that my manual specifically says to leave some play in the top mount so the mower can ride up and down with the terrain, and if I have the top link adjusted short (to allow me to lift the mower) the linkage binds, so I can have it so the linkage works OR I can lift the mower, but not both yet unless I figure it out. To see how the linkage is set up, go to wallacemfg.com, click on manuals, and look up the picture of the top link assembly and you will see what I mean. Jim, I will submit a detailed report on the maiden voyage of my mower tomorrow or Monday as time allows.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Bird]

Ooops, PaulB, did I forget to tell you that I shorten up the top link on mine to transport it, then lengthen and adjust it for mowing? That's one of the reasons I wish I had the hydraulic tip and tilt./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird