Rotary Cutter Can I?

[4570Man]

Again no one said to scrape going backwards. That wouldnt even make sence. Your cylinders would be pulled appart not compressed thus no risk in bending a cyl.

The cylinders are pulled apart going forward and compressed while going backwards.

 

[nyone]

Thanks for clarification on what i said

 

[oosik]

Huhhhh - - well, fall-de-rah. I have never had that problem cutting a path. I have a big 'ol Stihl F-350 weed whacker with large high carbon steel free swinging blades on a special head. I can easily cut a three foot path thru one inch saplings. Never damaged a single tire. Cut everything off right at ground level. Zip-zingy!!!!

 

[N2DFire]

No one said anything about going backwards. And i guess i should have a mountian of bent cylinders by now...yet i have none and a 61yr old tractor.

Glad it works for you. But it痴 a bad idea especially going backwards. Plenty of people have bent cylinders doing it. You probably aren稚 going to change your ways and I don稚 care but now at least the new unsuspecting tractor owner has been warned.

Easy gentlemen - there's common ground to be found here.

A 61 year old tractor was/is built substantially beefier that modern SCUTs/CUTs are today. Most of them used pretty much the same size/strength components that modern industrial equipment has - therefore it can probably do things that we newer tractor owners shouldn't / can't do.

For the education of the OP and others, this is what 4570Man is talking about and even if you don't bend / break cylinders you can still damage other components of your FEL.
(I know because before I learned I shouldn't be doing this I put a couple of kinks in the "Boom Linkages" on our KL130 loader (and I'm not the only one https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/371830-kioti-kl130-loader-c-bracket.html)

Now back to the original question

On our hunting property we have found a wet weather hole (mini-eden) that we want easy access to. Its about 25-30 ft from a hunt plot but a lot of scrub stuff. About the thickest most of it is about the thickness of the little finger and about 3-4 ft tall. Pretty thick, just walking through is labor intensive. I tried going thru with my Mahindra 1526, but I'm nervous about tearing something at the undercarriage area. Would it hurt to back the rotary mower thru first backing in low 1st and the first cut real high? No stumps that we can see just scrub whatever it is. Your thought?

In your case the chance of a sharp stump that will get a tractor tire with material that small a diameter is small but still possible. The greater concern to me would be any ATV tires if you plan to ride across this path when you're done.

If you're just clearing for a walking path then hook up the rotary cutter and go at it.

If I knew FOR SURE there was nothing in the way I'd just mow "normally" (but I was taught by a man who's motto was "If the tractor can run over it, the mower will cut it" )

Otherwise, I would back in with the cutter raised and running just to the depth of the cutter and lower it slowly mowing to ground level then raise, back up, and repeat.
I've done acres of blackberry and briers along with scrubby Fir and Pine like this over the years with no issues.
​

If you're planning to make this an ATV access trail (or you want no stumps & stobs because you're clumsy like me and will trip over them)

My advice would be to bite the bullet and get the Piranha Tooth Bar (PTB). That way you can push, shear, and grub till you're hearts content & have a much better path going into your site.

There are others who would suggest a Ratchet Rake (RR) instead. I have no hands on experience with it but from reading here I have no doubts that it would not work as well. Just given the different ways the RR and PTB mount to the bucket and the fact that you can't dig with the RR attached, I opted for the PTB instead (and I love it, next to the grapple it's my second favorite attachment).​

Obviously there's more than one way to skin a cat (or clear some undergrowth) so best of luck whatever you chose, just be safe.

 

[Stancoll]

Easy gentlemen - there's common ground to be found here.

A 61 year old tractor was/is built substantially beefier that modern SCUTs/CUTs are today. Most of them used pretty much the same size/strength components that modern industrial equipment has - therefore it can probably do things that we newer tractor owners shouldn't / can't do.

For the education of the OP and others, this is what 4570Man is talking about and even if you don't bend / break cylinders you can still damage other components of your FEL.
(I know because before I learned I shouldn't be doing this I put a couple of kinks in the "Boom Linkages" on our KL130 loader (and I'm not the only one https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/371830-kioti-kl130-loader-c-bracket.html)

Now back to the original question


In your case the chance of a sharp stump that will get a tractor tire with material that small a diameter is small but still possible. The greater concern to me would be any ATV tires if you plan to ride across this path when you're done.

If you're just clearing for a walking path then hook up the rotary cutter and go at it.

If I knew FOR SURE there was nothing in the way I'd just mow "normally" (but I was taught by a man who's motto was "If the tractor can run over it, the mower will cut it" )

Otherwise, I would back in with the cutter raised and running just to the depth of the cutter and lower it slowly mowing to ground level then raise, back up, and repeat.
I've done acres of blackberry and briers along with scrubby Fir and Pine like this over the years with no issues.
​

If you're planning to make this an ATV access trail (or you want no stumps & stobs because you're clumsy like me and will trip over them)

My advice would be to bite the bullet and get the Piranha Tooth Bar (PTB). That way you can push, shear, and grub till you're hearts content & have a much better path going into your site.

There are others who would suggest a Ratchet Rake (RR) instead. I have no hands on experience with it but from reading here I have no doubts that it would not work as well. Just given the different ways the RR and PTB mount to the bucket and the fact that you can't dig with the RR attached, I opted for the PTB instead (and I love it, next to the grapple it's my second favorite attachment).​

Obviously there's more than one way to skin a cat (or clear some undergrowth) so best of luck whatever you chose, just be safe.

Thanks!!!!

 

[4570Man]

Easy gentlemen - there's common ground to be found here.

A 61 year old tractor was/is built substantially beefier that modern SCUTs/CUTs are today. Most of them used pretty much the same size/strength components that modern industrial equipment has - therefore it can probably do things that we newer tractor owners shouldn't / can't do.

For the education of the OP and others, this is what 4570Man is talking about and even if you don't bend / break cylinders you can still damage other components of your FEL.
(I know because before I learned I shouldn't be doing this I put a couple of kinks in the "Boom Linkages" on our KL130 loader (and I'm not the only one https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/371830-kioti-kl130-loader-c-bracket.html)

Now back to the original question


In your case the chance of a sharp stump that will get a tractor tire with material that small a diameter is small but still possible. The greater concern to me would be any ATV tires if you plan to ride across this path when you're done.

If you're just clearing for a walking path then hook up the rotary cutter and go at it.

If I knew FOR SURE there was nothing in the way I'd just mow "normally" (but I was taught by a man who's motto was "If the tractor can run over it, the mower will cut it" )

Otherwise, I would back in with the cutter raised and running just to the depth of the cutter and lower it slowly mowing to ground level then raise, back up, and repeat.
I've done acres of blackberry and briers along with scrubby Fir and Pine like this over the years with no issues.
​

If you're planning to make this an ATV access trail (or you want no stumps & stobs because you're clumsy like me and will trip over them)

My advice would be to bite the bullet and get the Piranha Tooth Bar (PTB). That way you can push, shear, and grub till you're hearts content & have a much better path going into your site.

There are others who would suggest a Ratchet Rake (RR) instead. I have no hands on experience with it but from reading here I have no doubts that it would not work as well. Just given the different ways the RR and PTB mount to the bucket and the fact that you can't dig with the RR attached, I opted for the PTB instead (and I love it, next to the grapple it's my second favorite attachment).​

Obviously there's more than one way to skin a cat (or clear some undergrowth) so best of luck whatever you chose, just be safe.

I find a tooth bucket is quite affective at cleaning brush. A PTB is probably better. I wouldn’t have much use for a RR either.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Brush cut off with a saw or axe a couple inches from the ground can leave stumps that will puncture a tire. Especially if cut at a angle. Advantage of the brush hog is that normally it shatters the stump top. Does not leave a sharp end. Leaving a small diameter stump 6 or 8 inches tall allows a tire to bend it over.

 

[tcreeley]

Sometimes it seems like people are more worried than they need to be. I've used my tractor or a lot. Had the bucket in all sorts of position, pushing, back dragging. I just use it. I've spread a lot of gravel, scraped up and moved sod. Either my 30hp tractor is tougher than most (and I don't think that) - or people worry too much. Just use it.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I have personally seen more numerous messed up tractors due to operator error / abuse than I have read about online. I suspect not many advertise the expensive mess ups online or at the local coffee shop On the other hand, tractor forums such as this has probably been where I have learned more about what to be careful doing than anywhere else.
I do agree with the idea of “use it”.

 

[4570Man]

Sometimes it seems like people are more worried than they need to be. I've used my tractor or a lot. Had the bucket in all sorts of position, pushing, back dragging. I just use it. I've spread a lot of gravel, scraped up and moved sod. Either my 30hp tractor is tougher than most (and I don't think that) - or people worry too much. Just use it.

I’ve personally seen one cylinder bent doing it and see dozens more bent from doing it in this forum. Now drilling a hole in the ROPS is a non existing problem.