First Time Brush Hog User with Questions

[OrangeAgain]

I am using a brush hog (John Deere 616) for the first time and have a few questions.

1. Should the front (leading edge) of the hog touch the ground or be some distance above the ground?

2. How will I know the shear bolt has sheared? Sound? Hog stops Cutting?...?

3. There are no "feet" on the hog. Should there be?

 

[TripleR]

I am using a brush hog (John Deere 616) for the first time and have a few questions.

1. Should the front (leading edge) of the hog touch the ground or be some distance above the ground?

2. How will I know the shear bolt has sheared? Sound? Hog stops Cutting?...?

3. There are no "feet" on the hog. Should there be?

1. No, see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-Thfr3fChg

2. Hog stops cutting even though shaft is turning; easy to see missing shear bolt.

3. I don't understand the question.

 

[dusty3030]

1. No, couple of inches off the ground, tailwheel supporting rear of hog, front of hog slightly lower than rear.
2. Hog stops cutting but PTO shaft keeps turning.
3. I don't believe that cutter came with shoes. You can weld on some flat stock if you like. Bend it in a vise and weld it on the leading edge look at pic for example.

View attachment 440383

 

[dusty3030]

I see TripleR types more faster! What he said!

 

[JRobyn]

To add just a bit more detail;

1) the height of the front of the hog (plus the tailwheel) will set the cutting length. If you want a really short cut, set the front of the hog right at ground level. Just beware that this will wear the front edges/skid shoes of the hog faster when it inevitably does drag.

2) you will quickly find that the turning hog blades make a very distinctive sound. So when there is a BANG and then that sound stops, the shear pin is most likely knackered.

3) some manufacturers/models of hog are supplied with replaceable bolt-on skids on the sides, some not. Mine (BushHog 296) are replaceable but I will most likely just weld some new metal on top once they get near to wearing through. Hasn't happened yet in 8 years of use on about 15 acres plus about a mile of gravel road.

- Jay

 

[jeff9366]

I am using a brush hog for the first time and have a few questions.

3. There are no "feet" on the hog. Should there be?

If this a storage question, store your Rotary Cutter on a pallet, with the rear wheel on the ground and wood blocks/bricks/concrete blocks (mine are 6" X 6" pine blocks ) supporting the front of the mower. This allows air to circulate and dry surfaces underneath.

Cover with a cotton canvas tarpaulin. If you buy 18 ounce or heavier weight, you will not have to tie tarp down.

<<Plastic tarpaulin will allow water to a condense on your cutter, leading to rust.>>

 

[bumperm]

Couple of years back, I bought a 5' CountryLine rotary cutter from TSP. Even with the front edge almost touching the ground, I couldn't cut as short as I wanted (yeah, I know it's not a finish mower :c). In an case, I measured from the blade to the bottom of the skirt and it was something like 5 3/4" IIRC. I promptly cut off the bottom of the skirt and welding 3/4 square tubing to reinforce the bottom edge (it originally had a lip, 90 degree bend to reinforce it). Works much better now and the skirt still provides the needed protection from flying objects.

Old Bush Hog Squealer didn't have that problem, but I guess liability is pushing some makers to add taller sides to their mowers.

 

[4570Man]

It doesn't really hurt anything for the front dragging except it makes ugly ruts in the field. It is pretty obvious when a shear pin shears. There was probably a loud bang then the blades no longer spin. The pto shaft will continue spinning because the pin is at the gear box.

 

[bumperm]

It doesn't really hurt anything for the front dragging except it makes ugly ruts in the field. It is pretty obvious when a shear pin shears. There was probably a loud bang then the blades no longer spin. The pto shaft will continue spinning because the pin is at the gear box.

Which is why there's typically some method, such as a Cir-Clip or spring clip in a groove at the end of the gearbox shaft) to make sure the gear box end of the PTO shaft universal joint doesn't come completely off the shaft - - lest the PTO shaft wildly flail hither and yon whilst doing its best to smite you down.