chain guard?

19th_VA · Feb 6, 2003

How important do you all think a chain guard is for a rotary cutter that will be used to clear around 8 acres of pretty ugly multiflora/cedar/other saplings up to 3". The land was clearcut 20 years ago and hasn't been touched since. Thanks.

VermontDeere · Feb 6, 2003

I would say it is pretty important. If there are no houses or cars or people around, you may be ok. I cleared an untouched portion of my property last summer. Some of the stuff was up to 2". Even with the chain guards on my MX5, I still had debris flying everywhere. For me, the part that I was clearing was at least a 1/2 mile away from anything breakable, so I could have gotten away without guards. I would get them.

Bird · Feb 6, 2003

Personally, I wouldn't want a rotary cutter without the chain guards. Even if you stay away from everything breakable, it just might hit something that it drives into one or both of your tractor tires.

MikePA · Feb 6, 2003

No matter where the land is, i.e., ten feet away from your patio sliding door or hundreds of yards from the nearest house, there's a pretty important, as well as breakable, item sitting five feet in front of the rotary cutter......YOU! Not to mention the tractor itself.

Last summer I used the toothbar on my FEL to rip out a short forsythia hedge. When all five bushes were ripped out, I had a rather large pile of debris, I backed into the pile with my Woods BB60. Little pieces of forsythia were flung out in all directions. Not a lot, but enough that if I had been chopping up anything thicker, I would have installed a chain guard.

19th_VA · Feb 6, 2003

Have gotten great info in these forums but none so clear and unanimous. Will do!

stnickstoys · Feb 6, 2003

I would not operate a mower without one! I saw rocks and chunks of wood fly both in front and to the rear of my mower when I tried using it without. I did not pay the extra for one, merely bought a roll of chain, clipped it into 6-7"lengths, and welded them to angle iron. I mounted them in front and to the rear of the mower openings. Works great!
If you have kids, pets, etc or any other thing you value including yourself, its a cheap investment in safety!
Nick

Anonymous Poster · Feb 6, 2003

( Have gotten great info in these forums but none so clear and unanimous. Will do! )

I also will make sure I have a chain guard on the rotary cutter I plan on buying this spring...this thread just reinforced what I became convinced of here at tbn by reading earlier posts...cheap insurance.

I remember reading reports of someone having something thrown and not realizing it had punctured his arm...something puncturing a rear tire...probably forgot more examples than I remember...

Rather safe than sorry!

Henro in Pgh, PA...AKA Bill /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

soarkrebel · Feb 6, 2003

Stnickstoys hey can you post a picture. i would like to see yours . i was thinking about making my own cause my rubber guard is tearing fast. i have repaired it twice now.
if you can . i don't have any idea how to post a picture cause i never have done it.
what size chain did you use?

Anonymous Poster · Feb 6, 2003

( ... i don't have any idea how to post a picture cause i never have done it.
what size chain did you use?

soarkrebel,

Posting a photo is pretty easy.

You fist need to have a photo that is less than 100K in size. You might have to use some software to resize the image if it is greater than 100K

Then you put the image on your hard drive somewhere and remember where it is.

Then after hitting the continue button, you select the bowse button next to the little window that gives you the option to attach a file. Go to the location where you put the image you want to post, and click [double click?] on it.

Then if I remember right, you hit continue and the picture is posted along with the text of your message...

Hope this makes sense!

Bird · Feb 6, 2003

I did the same thing Nick did (and I just looked and don't have a good enough picture to post). On the first set, for my 4' Bush Hog, I cut up and used some old tire chains I had on hand. They served the purpose, but I don't think those twisted cross links were the best thing you could use. On the second set, for the 5' Howse, I used 5/16" chain, and think that's what I'd recommend for a brush hog of the size you'll use with your tractor; however, if you go to one of the bigger heavy duty brush hogs, then I'd recommend going to 3/8" chain. Just my personal opinion of course.