First Choice Vs Kingkutter

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>I use the check chains all the time with my brush hog. It keeps it nice and level, and I never have to worry about it.</font color=blue>

Hi, RichZ. Could you take a picture from behind the tractor with the mower on? I am having trouble figuring out how check chains work. My BrushBull doesn't have them.

 

[RichZ]

Hi, Mike!! Ask, and ye shall receive!!!

By the way, the check chains don't come with implements, you have to buy them seperately.

Here's the picture...

I hope it helps.

 

[MikePA]

RichZ, thanks for the quick reply!

How do check chains work? Wouldn't the lower 3ph arms serve the same function?

 

[RichZ]

Mike, the chains hold the implement in place better than the lower arms. You hook one end of each chain to the ends of the top link pin. Then, you raise the implement on the 3ph. Next, you attach the other end of the chains where the implement connects to the lower arms. You attach just enough chain to hold the implement at the level you want, and you lower the 3ph all the way. The chains hold the implement in place. You don't have to worry about the lower arms slipping over time, or when you hit the inevitable rocks. Nothing could be more stable.

 

[JohnS]

Rich,

The check chains sounds easier then what I had been doing. I was adjusting the cutting height with the arms in the fully lowered position. Adjusting the arms with a wrench goes slow compared to adjusting a link of chain. Field adj would be easier, too. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Chillimau]

Thanks John,

I haven't seen one yet, but got some dealer names. Looking at Woods, Landpride, Bushhog web sites the Brown is equal or better in specs. Just from what you have said in other posts, it sounds like the best bang for the buck.

What other brands/models are comparable? As good as a deere 709? Looks like a 709 is around $4,000. The 709 is more than I want to pay for a mower. I hope to put together a 5x20 series and attachments the first part of next year.

 

[djradz]

See the following post for more info.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin...earchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=138300

(I know you can copy and paste this long string but one of these days I'll have to figure out how to reference a post more easily)

 

[JohnMiller3]

use [] brackets instead of my demo {}

{url=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=139814&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=check%20chains&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=138300}This is where you write a short description of what it's all about...{/url}

and now identical as above, except use square enclosed brackets []

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=139814&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=check%20chains&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=138300>This is where you write a short description of what it's all about...</A>

 

[JohnS]

Thanks for the link. Is there any advantage to check chains, like the one in the link, that attach to the mower vs ones that attach to the pins?

JM3, thanks for the link lesson and saving me the cut n paste.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...Is there any advantage to check chains...</font color=blue>

The major advantage is with older tractors where the hydraulics would "leak down" (chains tied to the top link mount as upside down V)

Using the chains as "flex arms" so they move with the terrain as a number of people do... I find to be very dangerous... at times the cutter can become very violent and will tend to "lift" up in the air... that "little bitty top link assembly" won't control spit by itself... /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[JohnS]

When you are refering to "flex arms", do you mean some people use the flex chains without the lift arms attached to the lift pins? I would agree that sounds very dangerous.

From the link that was provided, the lift arms are still attached to the mower lift pins. The check chains go from the top link attach point to loops mounted on the front of mower. The previous pic from RichZ, had the chains attach to the lift pins. Offhand, I would think there is little difference between the two, but there could be something I'm missing. Figured that making attachment points to all your implements was more work, and someone probably wouldn't have gone through the extra effort, if there wasn't an advantage. I just couldn't figure it out. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[RichZ]

As usual, JMIII is right. I also keep the lower arms attached to the brush hog, as well as the check chains. If you were to detach the arms, and just use the chains, the brush hog would swing around wildly, and sure would be dangerous. I had no idea that anyone did something like that!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

Some people remove these (leveling assembly), in place of chains while brush hogging for “flexing purposes”… not the lift arms… /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

 

[djradz]

John, as you can see, my tractor is not one that I'm probably experiencing "leak-down", at least not yet. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif However, mowing and brush hogging (yes I have the same set-up on my Woods M5 Rotary Cutter) gives me a near perfectly level cut even over varying ground. The chains do not flex as the weight of the cutter is always on them, unless I have used the arms to lift them up. I agree on your point, however if I where chopping trees in excess of a few inches since in this case the mower/hog could pop up a little. However, this is no different than if your not using chains. Your tractor, unless it has down-pressure on the 3-pt, still would allow the deck of the mower or hog to lift when coming upon something as a significantly sized tree or bolder. Thanks for the URL posting tip. I've wondered about this for some time.