Bush Hog SQ172 forward rubber deflector replacement

[new jersey mike]

I have been doing some extreme mowing of well over grown fields and ripped off the forward deflector on my bush hog and wanted to know if anyone has ever replaced theirs with baler belt from TSC? They sell a 7" wide for 7.40/ft which is actually 1 - 2 dollars more expensive then a replacement from an online parts dealer. The baler belt is 1 or 2 inches wider ( I have not measured it yet) and I thought it would be a benefit to have it hang down lower. I thought about the chains but I do not think the chains would add the sound muffling that the rubber does.

Any thoughts or am I just over thinking this?

 

[leonz]

Hello Mike,

No you are not overthinking this issue at all. You can use the wider belting, but it may wear on the bottom a bit sooner is all; you could double up the thickness and increase the strength of the rubber strip to reduce the chances of having thrown material exit the rotary cutter.

The major issue is stiffness of the material as a single thickness will bend more easily.

 

[sweep]

Mike
I also have a SQ172 and made a front belt from mining belt which is very similar to the TSC belt. The problem I had with the extra thickness was it tended to act like a plow and stuff such as grass clipping/leaves/debris etc from prior passes would be pushed forward by the thicker belt and once it go so thick it would finally go under the mower but it made clumps in that spot.

Also keep the belt at the same dimensions. If it hangs down lower than the BH belting the extra thickness tends to bend/break over the grass and the grass does not get cut as well and it pops back up once you drive over it.

I went back to the stock BH belting and bought the BH chains to hang down in front and have never went through(as in tearing up) a stock BH belt yet.

 

[new jersey mike]

Thanks for the input. I decided to go with the stock part from bush hog BUT through an online dealer 46.00 and change and 9.00 in freight but I do not have to drill any holes.

I know the holes are not difficult, it's just less I have to pack in my car and less work to put it on.