Brush hog check chains

[RussH]

I spent ~4 hours brush hogging this weekend with my old FMC brand brush hog (with new blades . I got the cutter used with the house last year. The cut was great and I had no problems other then keeping the height constant. Since the rottary does not "float" on the ground every dip and bump changes the height as well as going downhill versus uphill.

I was reading in the manual about "check chains" that are supposed to help out this situation. I thought I might get a set but I actually found them in the barn after reading about them in the manual (lucky find!!). I always wondered what those yellow chains were Anyway I can't really understand how to hook them up. The manual really does not show how to hook them up. It only says it removes the weight off the of the hydraulics by directly tieing it to the tractor (where/how). Anyone have any good advice on how to attach them? Sorry for the dumb newbie question but in 20 years I think the implement manuals have improved a bit!

Funny story the blades were so worn down before I replaced them that the new ones were ~5" longer, all the cutting edges were gone!

Thanks in advance,
Russ

 

[W5FL]

Check chains are not necessary and do not help if your Kubota has good position control. That is you can put the stop on the control and the 3 point goes to that position and stays there and does not leak down or change.

Check chains normall have two metal brackets that fasten on to the mower and two brackets that fit either side of the 3 point pin for the top link. These brackets are slotted so you can adjust the link of the chains. You lift the 3 point a little and drop the chains in the slots and then let it down to see if that is the height you want. From then on just push the 3 point all the way down and the mower will go to that position. I like mine set about 1 inch off the ground in the front and in the rear. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've seen chains on tractors that connect from the lower 3pt arm to a stationary part of the tractor. The ones I've seen were part of the tractor though, not the mower. Their purpose is to limit how far down the arms can go. My tractor (New Holland TC29D) has "position control", and as far as I can tell it does the same thing, but internally in the hydraulics instead of using chains. What kind of tractor do you have? Does it have position control? It might just be something as simple as changing the stop location if it does have it. If not, then try hooking up the chains like Wen said. By the way, where did you get the parts for the FMC? Do you know if they still make FMC mowers and who sells them?

 

[RussH]

My position control works well (no leak down or change in height), so maybe the chains won't make a big difference. My problem is that I adjust the stop on the position control for level mowing it will be too low for up hill and too high for down hill (my land is very hilly) so I am constanly adjusting everytime I turn (gets old).

Thanks for the description I think I get it. My chains only have brackets on one end the other end bolts to the "A" frame I believe. So the top link pin goes through both brackets at the tractor, <smacking my head with my palm>! I see. I keep thinking that the chains attaced to the lower arms but that did not make sense. It says in the manual that you can eliminate the "solid" top link and replace it with a chain if you want when using the check chains so that it floats better. The slot for the upper link in the "A" frame is only 1" or so alowing for pivoting movement.

I will try them out since I already have them and see if they help.

Thanks again!
Russ

 

[RussH]

Yes my Kubota B7200 has the chain you are refering to on the left hand lower arm. There is a slot above the top link that you can trap the chain to limit the amount that arm is allowed to drop.

Yes my Kubota has position control (meaning I can set my stop and always drop to the same place every time). See my other response on setting the stop.

FMC parts were not very hard to get, I went down to the local John Deere superstore and brought in my manual with all the part #s. I needed a blade bushing in addition to the 2 blades and they were able to get all the parts no problem. The gear box is a very common one (can't remember the name right now) and I was told I can get any part I want. Not sure if they are still making implements or just stocking parts. The parts guy had to go back to the "factory" to get my bushing so maybe they are still around. It must be made pretty tough as it is ~20 years old and has been used a great deal. With new blades it works like a champ. The gear box doesn't leak a drop.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[oldgeezer]

My position control works just fine, but if you set the position control stop at any point above the bottom, it is held there & does not float as it does with the check chains. These chains are to connect to the tractor (Kubota L3240) at the point where the top link connects, but in one of the other (there are 4) holes. The other end of the chains hook up at each side of the front of the hog. You can then place the position control in the lowest position & the chains will "check" the hog at the same place every time, letting it "float" up & down from that point. My problem is that the pto gaurd on the tractor sticks out so far that the chains do not have a direct route from the tractor to the hog. The pics in the maual picture it hooked up that way, but in the picture, the chains are clear of the pto guard.