Finish mower chains

[Ginormous]

As long as the grass has somewhere it can exit, it will. If not, it will be a super "mulching" mower. It will need a lot of power to run and will have a hard time with tall grass. My guess anyway...

 

[winston1]

This Woods mower is pretty new to me so I can't speak with any certainties about it. It has a high blade tip speed and will for ever more cause a dust cloud when on dry ground. I have mowed one yard of thick "to tall" grass and had to take a real slow ground speed to keep from slipping the belt. This was before the chain addition. From my experience with finish mowers I believe grass is to be kept mowed like a yard and not a pasture. The less expensive Harbor Freight mower I had with the chain guard did a good job but could also be overloaded. I don't believe any overload was caused by the chain guard. I do know depending on side or rear discharge the baffles are different in these mowers. I guess you might use a side discharge for a rear discharge but not sure how effective it would be. In East Texas the rear discharge seem to be the most popular. Not sure why.

 

[Roonabeck]

I thought I should post a picture of the factory woods chains on my slightly smaller RFM, but I didn't get around to taking them until today. The chain links are as close to each other as they can be, while still being allowed to hang freely.

 

[Ginormous]

I just finished making a chain guard for my Woods 4' rotary mower. I used about 22' of 1/4" galvanized chain -- yes, my hands hurt from making all of those cuts with a bolt cutter -- metal stock with holes every 3/4" and SS hardware (all from Lowes.) I used 2" bolts which allowed me to space the chains out from the mower deck. I made certain the chain can NOT reach the blade tips. To hang the pieces, I cut a link, spread it just enough to get it over the sheet metal and into the hole, then squeezed it with my big pliers to make the gap too small for it to get off again. Notice what I did at the corners between the straight pieces. I hung a piece of chain to make the corner and then hung length of chain from that. I could have left a gap there, but I decided not to. The first picture is part way done and the second is with it completed. I like it! :thumbsup:

... and now I need to finish the paint job on the mower.

 

[clemsonfor]

Dang you got a lot of tool boxes. That 2x8 with the custom V shaped tool box so that your implements can still raise. You must keep tons of chain etc in there.

 

[clemsonfor]

I just finished making a chain guard for my Woods 4' rotary mower. I used about 22' of 1/4" galvanized chain -- yes, my hands hurt from making all of those cuts with a bolt cutter -- metal stock with holes every 3/4" and SS hardware (all from Lowes.) I used 2" bolts which allowed me to space the chains out from the mower deck. I made certain the chain can NOT reach the blade tips. To hang the pieces, I cut a link, spread it just enough to get it over the sheet metal and into the hole, then squeezed it with my big pliers to make the gap too small for it to get off again. Notice what I did at the corners between the straight pieces. I hung a piece of chain to make the corner and then hung length of chain from that. I could have left a gap there, but I decided not to. The first picture is part way done and the second is with it completed. I like it! :thumbsup:

... and now I need to finish the paint job on the mower.

Im not trying to dog you design and dont know what you use yours for, BUT... That would not last on my bushhog. The way you have it hanging out with the bolts i think it is prone to bend, esp the way i use my cutter. Again, not sure how use use it so it may not matter. But, i have many brusshy overgrown field edges and i back into those spots sometimes if i cant drive into them due to branches tight spot etc. Often times this will include backing over a 1-2 inch sweetgum or cedar, i would be afraid that this rear mowing will bend that chain holder all up.

Again just something i noticed that if a person contemplating this mod like i am may want to think about. Im just trying to bring the point up incase someone dosent notice this if considering this design.

If all you do is mow pastures in a circle or parallel lines it will prolly never matter.

 

[Ginormous]

Good point on backing over stuff. You're right, those pieces of metal stock would bend easily. It should work out for me because I just have a field I want to keep down. I never back up and I refuse to turn left.

 

[284 International]

Ginormous, you must not be a NASCAR fan if you refuse to turn left....:laughing:

 

[Ginormous]

I would definitely be a hazard on the track! People watch mainly to see the crashes, so I expect ratings would go up. :thumbsup:

 

[Ginormous]

I also reserve the right to show up in a MUCH BIGGER tractor. :shocked: I'll eat those little NASCAR cars for lunch.