Dumb question - can you offset a rotary cutter?

[M5farms]

I think its galvanized , There was a company that was making them with galv metal I just don't remember the name at the moment

 

[bcp]

Yes, it was galvanized.

Here's another Chinese offset method.



This looks like a 2-way sliding offset:



You can find some of these with a search of alibaba.com.

And a TBN modification:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...pt-hitch-bushhog-post2569267.html#post2569267

Bruce

 

[CMV]

I wouldn't need to modify anything - just as far as it can reasonably go as is would be plenty for what i want. Just didn't want to break anything just because I could physically set it there.

 

[TerryR]

Can you offset a rotary cutter/bush hog far to the left or right adjusting stabilizers to keep it that way to make it easier to mow against fences or keep tires a little further away from drop-offs? Not so far that you're rubbing a rear tire, but enough that you're notably far to one side.

Asked a couple people this morning and they agreed "oh no! you will quickly destroy your gearbox if the PTO shaft isn't straight".

If so somebody forgot to tell my rig.

I've been running it for 20 years pulled as far to the right side as the sway links will pull it in order to get it wider then the tire on one side. Haven't had an issue with the gearbox or the u-joints in that time.

Truth is you can't pull it all that far to the side, and the drive line on a rotary cutter is pretty long so the angles can't get very sharp. I am more careful to align my PTO leaf vac since the drive line isn't much over a foot long so the angles get sharp quickly.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Unless it's an extreme angle, just grease it often and don't worry about it.

SR

 

[BHD]

I have done it with a small 5 foot woods mower, to mow in between trees, I offset to clear the tires on a old 1970 JD 4020 tractor, I rebooted the hitch and put the pins in such a way to off set it,

I worked well for what I needed,

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normally your PTO shaft is not straight as usually there some angle on it from the height of the PTO and the shaft on the gearbox, (does the U joint know if it a down angle or a side and down angle),

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks, Bruce.

 

[ptsg]

Rotary cutters with hydraulic offset are quite common here in Portugal. A fairly bit expensive than the regular ones. For a 4 ft cutter, the regular ones go for around 700€ (830$) and the offset ones go for 1300€ (1500$). I think it's worth the money if you can justify it.

Here is a couple of pics:

 

[countrybumpkin]

Bush hog has been doing it for years with there 7 ft twin spindle.

 

[CobyRupert]

This seems interesting:
Handy Hitch Manufacturing Ltd.