Flexible top link for bush hog?

[Slamfire]

The strapping that forms the supports on my cutter, has about 10" of chain let into the middle of each one. That keeps them from being bent. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[N80]

I have the JD LX-6. It has a fairly complicated floating top link. It is hard to describe but I've attached a picture below. I think it works extremely well and my property is rough. Nothing is flat. Nothing is even.

I can't get my brain around all the geometry but I don't see how a chain set-up would improve on this design much.

I don't use an iMatch or other quick hook-up, just the basic 3 point.

 

[beenthere]

N80
Your top link flexibility should work well, and better than the short 6" plate links that mine came with. Also, yours is fixed up to be iMatch compatible, as the top hook picks up the bushing just under where your toplink is pinned (arrow A is almost pointing to that bushing). Then the flexible link mechanism works the same for you. If I had that, I wouldn't need the chains which do the same thing.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( seem if the back wheel were to raise over a bump that the entire deck would pivot on the lower arms?
)</font>

look at the 3pt geometry.. if the back goes up, the deck cannot pivot on the lower pins due to the rigid 3rd link connection. That's the main reason for the seime rigid link.

My KK mower has one like pictured, and my Howse has a slot of the toplink pin to travel in.. serving the same purpose.

Soundguy

 

[N80]

I tried mowing with the top link disconnected and this works pretty well, even on fairly hilly terrain, since the mower is free to rise and fall. The problem with that is smaller holes, etc that the back wheel can drop into and cause the mower to drop down and the blades to dig in.

I've heard about the possibility (I don't know if it is real or not) for the mower to hit something and bounce up and injure the driver if no top link is attached. Seems unlikely to me, but mowing without it is too hard on my place anyway, so it stays connected to the top link. Without the top link attached the back of the mower would definitely hit my back tires if raised too high.

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue"> if the back goes up, the deck cannot pivot on the lower pins due to the rigid 3rd link connection. </font>

Sure it can, the three point has ball joints at each end of all three links. A top fex joint just makes this movement much easier, preventing undo stress on the rigid struts of the cutter.

I agree it's needed and I can now see why. That said, I also wonder about replacing the rigid 'straps' with chain as this would cause the cutter to rotate on the lower arm pins and not at the ball joints.

It would seem that the best way to allow free movement would be either a chain or other flexable linkage on the top link.

Anyway, thanks to all for shedding some light on this. I'm going to fabricate some sort of flexable top linkage, probably using chain. The vast knowledge bank on this site is a wonderful resource. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Farmwithjunk]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was thinking about using a chain instead of my top link until I read one of the TBN threads that posted an article about someone having the brush cutter going over something that made it flip up and nail the operator. Not sure if this is possible but the way it was explained made me change my mind and continue using my top link.
Farwell )</font>

I'm not even going to try to attemt disproving this ever happened, because ANYTHING is possible. BUT... I'm leaning towards the "suburban legend" idea myself. In all my years of dragging bush hogs over stumps, rocks, and ditches, I've never had one attempt to flip up more than a few inches above normal.

I'd venture to say chains, or some other flexable link is SAFER than forceably holding a mower deck to the ground if and when an obstruction is met.

 

[have_blue]

FWJ,

Can't quite visualize it, but I think most bush hogs would hit the rear tires before they hit the operator.

Edit:
I guess quick hitch could make things a little different though.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( FWJ,

Can't quite visualize it, but I think most bush hogs would hit the rear tires before they hit the operator.

Edit:
I guess quick hitch could make things a little different though. )</font>

I'd guess the PTO shaft would slow it down a bit first, then IF it was to raise up farther, it would find the tires next. Thing is, I don't see it getting that far.

 

[beenthere]

Would this picture help? attached