Cutting hay with rotary cutter - clogged tailwheel fix?

[Probity]

Quick questions from a novice hay cutter:

In previous years, a local cutting crew cut/raked/bailed my 20+/- acres of Bahia. Due to health issues (the "youngster" on the crew is in his late 70's) they aren't working this year, and others I contacted weren't interested. So out of necessity I've recently mowed it (1st cutting this year) using my XR4046H LS tractor and 6' HD King Kutter lift mower with dual tailwheels.

No real issues but after 2-4 hrs of cutting, around the time I needed to stop anyway and put more diesel in (and clean the grill area to prevent overheating), the tailwheels got so clogged with grass that they'd stop rolling. So after re0fuel and grill cleaning I'd have to spend another 30-45 minutes clearing grass from the tailwheels with needle nose pliers, hammer and chisel.

1) Is there a modification I can do (weld some guides/covers/whatever) around the wheel forks to prevent this? Or will I just have to live with the problem?
2) The rotary cutter does NOT have a removable side panel; if I had a "proper" rotary cutter to use on hay would this prevent the tailwheel clogging problem?

 

[Phillip w]

I think if you took some small strips of say 10 gauhe of 3/16 metal and welded them to your mower, it would at least help. I have a five foot brush hog and I have the same issue in tall stuff. I would look at the scrapers/cleaners on an old disc and kind of copy cat that pattern to get the best anti-clogging effect.

 

[Tx Jim]

If ground is fairly level one could remove tail wheels just when utilizing as a "hay cutter"

 

[M5farms]

lots of old timers used bush hogs to cut hay and a lot of them had a removable side for discharge. If your going to continue cutting hay with a rotary mower remove the side , before you do add some angle iron and bolt holes so you can reattach it and the mower will be dual purpose

 

[Spanner]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/385528-using-rotary-cutter-hay-clogged.html

 

[Phillip w]

If ground is fairly level one could remove tail wheels just when utilizing as a "hay cutter"

I really to agree here. This idea slipped my mind. And on my brush hog it only takes a simple pin to remove or replace the wheel. That maybe the best way to go.

 

[Texasmark]

Okaye, guys. I'm always looking for a better way to skin the cat....as the saying goes. What about removing the side of the mower? If you are haying you need length, especially for a roller machine. In the regular rear discharge machine what comes out is obliterated. Does it retain much more of it's length if side discharged?

Sometimes I don't want to get my side cutter out, especially on short Bermuda fields that are already stretching the limit on length. Would like to have something different to try.

Comments,
Thanks,
Mark