bush hogs

[shakin]

what is the proper way to set up you're bush hog for general cutting. i have a squealer 148 with a top link no chain and a solid real wheel. i guess what i'm saying is do i try to keep the unit level? lower it till the wheel touches and adjust top link to maintain. or do i allow the skids to contact the ground.

 

[greenmule]

I have mine about level,4 1/2 to 5 inches off ground,I use a chain for top link.

 

[TerryJ]

Keep it as level as possible. This usually means that the front skids will be around 4"-6" off the ground.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Hopefully your tailwheel is adjustable and you can mow with the skids anywhere from 1 inch off the ground up to however high you want to cut. I mow my yard with my bush hog squealer 720 it doesnt cut like a lawnmower but with the high lift blades ,side skids about 1 inch off the ground and tailwheel adjusted to let mower run level it cuts plenty good enough. Thats one of the advantages of living on the farm and not the country club.

 

[shakin]

it does have the adjustable rear wheel, right now i have it set at the highest position. i find that on uneven terrain i have to keep adjusting the 3 ph as i will look back and the whole rig tail wheel included is off the ground. or all of a sudden i'm mowing dirt.

 

[greenmule]

Well than,try a chain for top link,set it up about level about 4-5 inches off ground[bottom of deck,not wheel],than adjust that chain so its got 2-4 inches of slack[you just gotta mow and adjust chain to see],now keep in mind that even with mower up 4-5 inches,going over rough whoopdy doo's front can dig in ground,so go slow on the rough areas till you get the height/chain adjusted right,at this point about the only thing the chain is doing for you is stopping the back from dropping down so far that drive line comes apart,it may let you raise it 4-6 inches[wheel that is off ground] with 3 point lift.Also keep in mind that rear can come up,so don't be backing into hill or brush.

Just take the top link off and mow some on fairly smooth ground,you'll see,than put a chain on it and play with adjustment of it,you'll see,and do it however you want,just telling you how I do it and what to watch out for.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Did you get an operators manual with your mower? I read mine and it says for better results in heavy cutting conditions run the front 2" lower than the rear and when fine shredding is desired run mower level or 1" lower in the rear, also where you hook up your third link to the mower does your mower have the slack link on the mower? if so I have found that by leaving a fair amount of slack in third link my mower doesnt come off of the ground as you described in your earlier post, the only downside is when 3 ph is lifted all the way up the rear of the mower is barely off the ground, so when you get ready to leave the field you have to tighten up the third link, really not a problem. Hope this helps.

 

[BlacknTan]

Did you get an operators manual with your mower? I read mine and it says for better results in heavy cutting conditions run the front 2" lower than the rear and when fine shredding is desired run mower level or 1" lower in the rear, also where you hook up your third link to the mower does your mower have the slack link on the mower? if so I have found that by leaving a fair amount of slack in third link my mower doesnt come off of the ground as you described in your earlier post, the only downside is when 3 ph is lifted all the way up the rear of the mower is barely off the ground, so when you get ready to leave the field you have to tighten up the third link, really not a problem. Hope this helps.

That's what the manual for my Woods said also.. a couple of inches lower in the front.. I can tell by the floating link..

 

[greenmule]

Yeah thats what my kk manual says too,...but,unless you did a modification to tail wheel it ain't going to work,cause your front will be digging into ground,level works fine,just got done cutting about 3 acres of grass that was thick and 3-4 ft tall,in 4th low range,always leaves a few bunches sticking up here and there in spring,but for that tall that thick,did good job,and the blade ain't been sharpened in the 7 years I've had it.Tractor never lugged a bit,[course I got a kioti]!!

You try and set one of those king kutters up like book says,you will go crazy. [maybe other brands are different?],thats why I tell people set it up about level 4-5 inches high,and use a chain instead of solid top link,...experience.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Greenmule if I set my mower up 5" to 6" high that would be leaving the grass 8" or so inches high which is definately higher than what I want, I guess it depends on how close you want the cut. My manual says that my mower will cut down to 1and1/2 inches but I think you would have to have perfect conditions for that ie level like a football field. How low will that KK cut?

 

[workmytractor]

,thats why I tell people set it up about level 4-5 inches high,and use a chain instead of solid top link,...experience.

When you say 4-5 inches high, is that measuring from the front skids, but with the back wheel still touching?

I have another question about sheer bolts. I have been using the cheapo bolts from Lowes for my shear pins and I go through them way to fast. What grade bolt do you guys run? Mine uses a 1/2 inch bolt. As soon as I hit some dirt or any heavy underbrush I shear a Pin. It is getting old fast.

 

[greenmule]

I 'm talking about from bottom of deck,all four corners and already said with wheel on ground.

If you set it as low as it will go,yeah,probably an inch or less,but your dragging it more than any thing,you gotta remember,this ain't a finishing mower.

No,if you set it 4-5 inches measured as I said,you will be cutting about 4-5 inches.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Greenmule, I thought you were talking about measuring from the skids, didnt realize you were talking about measuring from the bottom of the deck. Shakin sorry about getting off the subject wasnt trying to hi-jack your thread, hope some of this info helps you get your mower set up to suit you. Good luck.

 

[SCDolphin]

Rotary cutter is more versatile. I can cut low enough that it looks about the same height as my riding mower. If you put a sharp edge on blades I think you could get close with more versatility. Rotary cutters are supposed to be blount so it shatters what it hits. That way you don't create punji stakes all over your property.

 

[mjncad]

I have another question about sheer bolts. I have been using the cheapo bolts from Lowes for my shear pins and I go through them way to fast. What grade bolt do you guys run? Mine uses a 1/2 inch bolt. As soon as I hit some dirt or any heavy underbrush I shear a Pin. It is getting old fast.

Use the el cheapo Grade 2 (no markings on the head) for your shear bolts. Unless the manual states otherwise, using Grade 5 or Grade 8 bolts is setting yourself up for expensive repairs in the tractor's transmission.

 

[shakin]

yes good info coming. green i'll give it a try when i have an area where i think i can run it without a top link. no manual i bought it used from a local dealer it came from an estate very little use. i have picked up a brochure from the bush hog dealer i guess i should search the bush hog site and try to get an operators manual. i was just thinking maybe i had something setup wrong and i wasn't allowing it to move like it should. when i tighten up my top link the front of the hog dosen't do what you would think it should.

 

[shakin]

the bush hog brochure calls for grade 2 shear bolts. sre you sure of what you are buying. look at the heads of the bolts for markings. funny thing about the bush hog brochure the 5' foot and up units call for a metric grade 8.8 shear bolt i'm guessing that must be equilivant sae grade 2.

 

[have_blue]

what is the proper way to set up you're bush hog for general cutting. i have a squealer 148 with a top link no chain and a solid real wheel. i guess what i'm saying is do i try to keep the unit level? lower it till the wheel touches and adjust top link to maintain. or do i allow the skids to contact the ground.

For a nice low cut, set up so the front of the skids are around 1-1.5" off the ground (measured on flat hard surface). the rear of the skid should be 2-2.5" high. Be sure the left and right skid heights are set equally, using the leveling screw. When the bush hog is down in mowing position, the tail wheel should have full weight on the ground, and the top link should be slack. Squealers are capable of surprisingly smooth cuts when the blades are kept sharp.

 

[Slatecreek]

have blue has the right idea!! The Bush Hog manuals are also easily obtained on their website. Good luck with finding what works for you.

 

[Jeff52]

I don't know how everyone else feels, but mjncad has a sweet sprayer. Sorry to get off topic but I couldn't help it. My sprayer is home built with a wooden skid as a frame with a carry all to attach to my JD790. The hose reel is something I was entertaining and will scour the local Harbor Freight for ine tomorrow.

MJNCAD - do you have too much time on your hands?????? What a cool sprayer setup.