convert a pull-type to 3-point

Soundguy · Nov 29, 2005

If you are on a hill that steep.. for the mower to drift.. My guess is it is too steep a hill to mow side to side.. IMHO..

Soundguy

RobJ · Nov 30, 2005

Actually not, gravity, doesn't take much to move a marble on a table, same thing but just more weight.

Plus if the wheels were swivel the mower would never track straight, mow in some sand, loose dirt, small rocks it would kick it side to side all over the place. And with a one point hitch there is nothing to stop the movement into the wheels if its close enough.

If you have a FM, hook it up to your tractor with a chain and see what happens on flat ground. With a draw bar it can move side to side all it wants. Found that out this past weekend when I moved it inside with the ATV. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Farmwithjunk · Dec 1, 2005

( If you are on a hill that steep.. for the mower to drift.. My guess is it is too steep a hill to mow side to side.. IMHO..

Soundguy )

Easy to say for a FLATLANDER! Us "hill-folk" here in Kentucky see anything less than vertical as use-able ground. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Dec 1, 2005

( Actually not, gravity, doesn't take much to move a marble on a table, same thing but just more weight. )

Um.. sorry.. not the same thing.. a marble is unfettered.. no hitches... and no pulling forces effecting it.

( Plus if the wheels were swivel the mower would never track straight )

If there is a single connection point at the front, that is swivel, to allow a bit of flex, the rear will act like a trailer.. and will track the mower... may not be perfect.. but it will track.

Besides.. you guys quit beating up the 'if' statement... KK can and -does- make their 5' 3pt rotary mowers to be setup as pull type.. and they have a swivel rear wheel.. it's in print.. the instructions are right inthe back of the manual.. depending on how you put the parts together you either get a 3pt mower or a pull type...

Obviously this hypothetical 'tracking' issue doesn't amount to much problem in real life....

Soundguy

Toolguy · Dec 1, 2005

Gotta agree with RobJ. If the rear wheels swivel the implement will want to go down hill whether it is being pulled or not. Even an implement with stationary rear wheels will not track straight behind a tractor on a sidehill. Gravity will always have an affect and will pull the implement off line in direct proportion to the steepness of the hill. I would definitely want stationary wheels on the rear of a pull type cutter. Something has to maintain straight line stability. Otherwise, the implement will wander all over the place and it will be impossible to cut in a straight line even on flat ground.

Soundguy · Dec 1, 2005

I disagree.. for a couple reasons.. 1.. application... As i said before.. if you have a grade that is enough to make the mower slump.. you should be mowing up / down.. not side to side.

Next.. look at a ztr.. with front uni-spindles and rear driven wheels.. now look at one drive in reverse... they don't wildly canter around and zip the mower all over the place... they 'play nice' and track behind the 'pull' force...

I believe the design of the swivel bracket has an effect that is being overlooked as well.. the swept back bracket tends to face the direction of pull.. stabilizing the wheel... you never see a swivelcaster with a swept back bracket, with the 'wheel' side facing 'in' toward a 3pt mower when it is being pulled... the wheel is always straight back.. even though it is 100% free to rotate.. etc.

Like I said in my other message.. if it was such a bummer of an idea.. I doubt a major manufacturer wouldn't be setting their mowers up to use it.

soundguy

Newblue · Dec 2, 2005

I didn't mean to cause friction between good people on this site. -- Sorry. If I ever get a chance I'll have to try a pull type cutter with swivel wheels to see what actually happens. Unfortunately I only have access to the 3 PT type.

Soundguy · Dec 3, 2005

If it's a KK.. flip to the back of your manual if you are curious.. it's only about an hour job to setup as pull type.

No friction.. just difference in opinions.. which is the american way.

Soundguy

Iplayfarmer · Dec 23, 2005

(Next.. look at a ztr.. with front uni-spindles and rear driven wheels.. they 'play nice' and track behind the 'pull' force...)


Help me out here. Any ZTR I've seen is all one unit. There's no single point pivot between the drive wheels and the casters like what you'd have in a pull type mower. As I see it, in order for the deck to whip around like you're saying, it would have to drag the drive wheels with it. This is why you don't see it happening.

bncsauve · Dec 23, 2005

I wonder how someone can back up a pull behind mower with swivel wheels? Its hard enough backing up my flail mower with fixed wheels (short wheelbase makes it difficult) Seems like it would be near impossible with swivel wheels.