Rotary Cutter bush hog tracks

[botakix]

i have a kubota l3130 with loaded r4 tires, and pull a 5 ft squealer bush hog. my field always look bad after i cut, because the heavy loaded tires smash down the grass and then the clippings lay in the tracks. my neighbor has a to 30 with r4 tires and a cheapie bushhog and his field dont seem to look like this. i know a bush hog is not a finish mower, but i guess my question is, is it my tractor or maybe the hog i am using. any help woud be great

 

[KennyV]

You can get medium or high lift blades for most mowers... they will give a better cut, but in sandy or dry dusty places they can be very dirty...
You could also check with your neighbor and swap mowers to see if it is your mower set up or if his set up works better on your tractor...

 

[savageactor7]

Re: bush hog problem

botakix I take it you already tried mowing in low gear and still weren't satisfied?

Well many times I use reverse when using the brushhog...not for the problems you mention, but I'm thinking it might help.

High lift blades get maximum lift when the mower deck is on the ground...the higher you raise the deck the less grass suction you'll have.

Also take a look see under the deck it may be so packed with old wet grass that it's running interference in lifting the grass.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

i have a kubota l3130 with loaded r4 tires, and pull a 5 ft squealer bush hog. my field always look bad after i cut, because the heavy loaded tires smash down the grass and then the clippings lay in the tracks. my neighbor has a to 30 with r4 tires and a cheapie bushhog and his field dont seem to look like this. i know a bush hog is not a finish mower, but i guess my question is, is it my tractor or maybe the hog i am using. any help woud be great

I had the same problem with new bush hog squealer 720, it came with brush blades, went back to dealer and got a set of lifting blades and installed them and my mower cut much better. I have also found that if I cut back against the way that I made my first round my mowing job looks better. Try the blade change I wont tell you it will cut like a finishing mower, but it wont miss it by much.

 

[smitty9266]

Any one or number of factors can account for the difference between yours and your neighbors bush hog. Some are deck skirt height and rubber, chain or no front deflector, chain, metal band or no rear deflector. You may not keep your blades as sharp as your neighbor does. He might have high lift blades you don't. he may keep his deck level yours is tilted down in th front.

I have a squealer 720 best mowing of grass less than 8 inches...sharp high-lift blades front rubber deflector, rear metal band and a level deck.

In taller grass my bush-hog 295 cuts MUCH better due to a taller deck skirt. The grass will pop-up higher after being pushed down and not be pushed back down by the front rubber deflector (has chains)

Jeff

 

[MarkLeininger]

Re: bush hog problem

I think the weight is the issue. I've used my neighbor's JD which is much larger than my B2710 and it does the same thing. I also have turf tires instead of lugs on mine, which also helps avoid making ruts. Not sure what you can do other than attach some helium balloons to help hold the tractor up a little.

 

[Bird]

Some may notice the two different titles in this thread. That is because two different threads in two different forums have been merged.

 

[kthompson]

It was pointed out the direction of cut could be an issue, don't miss that. Some rough cut mower lay the clippings more to one side more than the other. You want to be cutting back over the side they lay on. Hey, almost forgot, running low rpms helps to cause this also. The blades are turning slow enough they don't cut up the debris and it is all large just laying there. Not small nor spread out. Be sure you are running at 540 RPM for the PTO.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Lots of contributing factors, but the blades are #1. Use high lift blades....

Weight of the tractor isn't so much important as one might think. ANY tractor, with or without added ballast is heavy enough to bend grass to the ground. I've got mowing rigs that scale over 10,000lbs and they don't leave tracks.

There is SOME difference in mower deck design. They actually need a reasonable amount of air movement and flow that sealing them to the ground won't allow. (ie rubber guards) Good air flow and lift type blades will raise the bent grass/weeds to be cut off level.

 

[pitt_md]

Lots of contributing factors, but the blades are #1. Use high lift blades....

Weight of the tractor isn't so much important as one might think. ANY tractor, with or without added ballast is heavy enough to bend grass to the ground. I've got mowing rigs that scale over 10,000lbs and they don't leave tracks.

There is SOME difference in mower deck design. They actually need a reasonable amount of air movement and flow that sealing them to the ground won't allow. (ie rubber guards) Good air flow and lift type blades will raise the bent grass/weeds to be cut off level.

Can you cut brush with the high lift blades or will it tear up the blades?