Rotary Cutter Flex Hitch Rotary Cutter

[Yota_85]

KK makes one of these and it claims to "flex" 15 deg. left & right, allowing the cutter to conform to irregularities of the land. Anyone know if this actually works?
I haven't seen it with a slip clutch, just a shear pin. The regular KK cutter is avail with a shear pin or slip clutch. Wondering if the "flex hitch" is worth taking over a regular one with a slip clutch.

BTW: use is mowing field. Mostly tall grass with very light brush (1/2" diameter).
Occasional rock mines planted by someone who apparently was trying to be funny. Some I've dug out, others are too large (underground, think iceberg) to bother with.

Am looking at the 6' model KK to match my Kioti DK35se.

 

[Yota_85]

Anyone?

here's the link to the cutter:
King Kutter Incorporated

 

[devildog1]

I have one that is a 72" Woods Hertage RFM. It has an anti scalping roller up front and does flex up and down to follow the slopes of or your lawn. Not sure of the degrees but it flexes about 2 to3 inches each way, works real good.
DevilDog

 

[beenthere]

Anyone?

here's the link to the cutter:
King Kutter Incorporated

Without at least a couple wheels on the rotary cutter, seems the "flex" would be controlled by the skids on each side, and not sure that type of flex would be good. The deck would always be leaning to one side or the other.
I'd stick with the solid hookup on the front 3 ph when/if there is just one trailer wheel on behind. Then the deck is changing positions relative to the rear tractor wheels and the ground.

But, others may have experience with the KK you have in mind.

 

[KU Gator]

I would agree with Beenthere, that without some guide wheels in the front, like on DevilDog's RFM, it doesn't make much sense. Usually you don't want the front to be on the ground. Most of the general information and I think even the information that came with my rotary mower said they are best used for cutting the grass at least 4" or higer. I guess if you were mowing along and an outside edge came to the side of a ridge that the tractor tire was not on, it would allow the mower to twist, but again, it would be dragging on the dirt.

 

[devildog1]

The picture I posted doesn't show what I call flex, sorry I'll try and take photo latter. Yes I to believe you need wheels all the way around or front of cutter will contact ground.Maybe the correct word is not flex but free movement up and down, if you follow in the picture where the top link goes all the way down to the cutter. There is plates on each side that allows the cutter to follow the layout of the ground without allowing the wheels to loose contact with the ground, is that flex?
DevilDog

 

[beenthere]

That is what I'd call front to back flex (or float would be what I think would be more definitive in my little mind). The flex built into the KK is what I would call allowing it to "twist" relative to the tractor rears.

But I think I'd also want the those wheels at least in front, if the deck was allowed to twist.

There was a pic recently of wheels on the front corners of a rotary cutter. They were the size of wheelbarrow tires (or similar) and I wondered if the blades would throw enough debris at them that they wouldn't last long. Might need the hard solid rubber wheels or rollers.

I've thought about rollers (or wheels) for my rotary, but didn't want to add to the width, as I fairly often get close to things I don't want to cut, to cut the things I do want to cut.

 

[Yota_85]

Thanks for the input. Will focus on getting the slip clutch non-flex model then.

Anyone know how the gearboxes are rated? I mean should a 40HP gearbox on a cutter be used on a 40HP max tractor, or does i refer to 40 PTO HP max? I have 38HP, though only 27/28 PTO. I'd think the slip clutch is designed for the HP rating of the gearbox.

 

[beenthere]

The slip clutch is adjustable to specs in the manual. It would be independent of HP of the tractor, and dependent on the forces the cutter requires to make the cut.

Adjustment is done by backing off the springs, to where the clutch will slip. Then so many turns to tighten up on the springs. Good idea to make these adjustments annually (which reminds me that I need to do that )

You should be good with your PTO rating.

 

[sweettractors]

Our Tarter cutters have had the flex hitch for as long as I can remember. Ken Sweet