cutter safety chains?

[BLUEBONNET2]

good afternoon,
seems i saw a post awhile back about safety chains for the front end of a rotary cutter (bush hog) can't find it /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.......
anyone know where to look? does TSC have these? getting a 5' mower and would like to bolt these on....... 4' would work fine for me since i have mostly grass /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.....

thank to all.....

good luck,
bluebonnet2

 

[Glenn9643]

I ordered my bush-hog with safety chains when I bought it and don't know if they're available as generic after-market items. Mine has chains across the front as well as the rear openings. If you had something to look at and go by it wouldn't be too difficult to fabricate. I would certainly recommend them if you're cutting anywhere near civilization.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Most manufacturers do offer this option. They are not completely generic items and each manufacturer I've encountered has a proprietary version specifically for their mower. I know some people on here have adapted one maker's chain set to another maker's mower. A little welding can go a long way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Others here have used truck mudflap material or even old horse mat material and made their own. Still another built a shield that fits behind his tractor seat.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Have you priced the pre-made chain guards? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif They are very proud of them. As Gary mentioned, there have been numerous posts of guys making their own versions. However, I did a quick search and could not find them either. Maybe someone else will remember where they are.

 

[Golfgar4]

Gary,

Here's a link Chain Guard Questions to a previous thread that discussed this very topic. Included in the thread are some pics of things other guys have done.

A lot of good info.! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 5' KK and made mine out of a semi-truck mudflap cut in two pieces ( 4$ ).. and 7' of perfed 1.5" metal angle iron from TSC.. and a handfull of 1/4 inch nuts, bolts washers and lockwashers.

5' of the metal wa sthe front bracket.. the mudflap attatched to it via bolts.. drilled out the mudflap with a drill to start the bolts.

The other two 1' pieces were the bracket to attatch the front piece to the mower. I used the 3pt pin bolts and a small bracket bolt. I drilled out the holes in the perfed metal to 1/2" and then slid on.. added a nut. then hung the front piece on.. made it really adjustable.

If this had been a howse.. the mudflap could have been bolted right to the cutter with predrilled holes added by the manufacturer.

total cost was about 22$ and an hour to build, and about another half hour to install and adjust for tire clearance..

chain ones I see for over a hundred bucks..

my guard

my guard 2

Soundguy

 

[ScottAR]

At the local road dept. they simply weld the chains directly to the mower deck. Just "measure" (hold some chain up there and look) Fold it over and count in one extra link to be welded. Cut the lengths, weld em on.

I suppose one could attach a piece of angle iron to the deck with bolts and weld to that if one wanted to remove them.

 

[soarkrebel]

I made my own. i think about $60 bucks in chain some scrap angle and alot of cutting with bolt cutters. i bolted them up on the front using the hole for the cheap rubber guards.
if you do your own just make sure you measure your chains right. a few of mine got trimmed up by the blades . /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
i think they look better than the factory ones.

 

[green4710]

Soundguy, does your guard setup work to keep all the stuff from blowing out the front end? I have a cutter with chains on the front, and after about a hour of mowing, im covered. Your setup looks like it may keep the debris from blowing out better than just chains.

 

[stnickstoys]

I did both, I posted pics of my chain guard system and then sold that cutter. I didn't really like all if the shredded green stuff that was getting strained through the chains and splattered on my tractor so I made some out of round baler belting. That works much better, nothing flies out at the tractor or me now.
See pics attached. Framework is simply 1 x 1 angle iron
Nick

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Soundguy, does your guard setup work to keep all the stuff from blowing out the front end )</font>

Yes... I've mowed with a chain guard at work.. and tons of dust and fiber sized stuff makes it out.. not to mention, swing around, etc.. there are some pretty big gaps in chain guards.

I mowed this weekend with the 1954 ford NAA, and the operator seat is just a steel pan.. no back protection.. and the geometry of thos tractors pretty much puts you in a 30' arc with the back of the mower.. so pretty much.. lotsa stuff comes out to meet your back and backside.

I mowed some thorny woody weeds, and was pleased to say that nothing flew out at all... didn't even have a dirty shirt afterwards.. unless you count sweat... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also.. given that my project was about 22 bucks.. I'm even more pleased with it... and it is adjustable to fit different tractor sizes.. as I can move the guard furhter in or more out for tire clearance. The mudflap hangs over the top as well, and catches the hi angle stuff. Also.. the 3/8" thick flap is heavy duty, and durable.. and won't rust.. all the hardware is galvanized.. so it looks like it is in business to stay.
If my other tractor and mower setup were similar.. I'd make one for it too.. but as it is.. up on the NH 7610s.. there is no way the mower can spit out something to hit my back..

Soundguy

 

[green4710]

I like that idea. That would be slick. Im just tired of getting covered in pollen, and you name what else. Thanks for the pics and idea, off to get some metal and a mudflap /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Cool.. the mudflap was 4$ from a truck stop.. the perfed angle iron was at tsc.. 15$ or so.. has the holes in it already.. I simply had to ream a couple out to fit the 1/2" bolts on the pre-existing braketry.. but that was easy stuff. The rest of the hardware was a little baggy of 1/4 inch nuts/bolts/washers/lockwashers. I used a drill and small bit to dre drill the holes in the flap.. made it soooo easy. And that standard flap cut down the middle, covered my 5' KK hog perfectly.

Soundguy

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

good evening,
found the chains pre made and drilled for mounting... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
sorry i didn't get the price, but i will tomorrow......

shirley equipment, longview, texas

thanks,
bluebonnet2

 

[quarryman]

The safety chains for Howse brand can be bought thru Northern Tool & Equipment and TSC can order them for you but seldom stock them. Be prepared for about $135.00 at either place for a 4ft mower deck. I work at a rock quarry and we used old conveyor belting which worked great on ours. If you live close by a quarry, asphalt plant or concrete plant most of these have used belting laying around. I have had several of the neighbors around my plant site come in and ask for old belting for various projects.

 

[BLUEBONNET2]

$120 for a 4' chain guard, predrilled, with bolts /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bluebonnet2
P.S. bought one more front weight $31