Hardware cloth or plexi on ROPS when brush hogging?

[Teikas Dad]

I got my Woods rotary cutter and before I use it I want to make sure I'm taking reasonable safety precautions.

I'm going to get a woodcutters helmet with face shield and ear protectors to wear while cutting brush.

I'm also thinking about adding either a sheet of plexiglass or welded steel hardware cloth (1/4" opening) to the back of the ROPS as an added safety measure.

The other thing I thought about, at least on the lower half of the ROPS is to get some of the thick rubber mat that TSC sells. Figured cut it to the width of the ROPS and zip tie in place.

Any suggestions, comments or advice? Does one method work better/safer than the other?

Thanks

 

[whistlepig]

All of these are excellent safety precautions. I have safety chains on the front of my Woods rotary cutter and I have never hit anything that got past them.

 

[creekbend]

Whatever choice you make, please don't apply a method that will diminish your rear vision. Just a thought.

 

[Teikas Dad]

All of these are excellent safety precautions. I have safety chains on the front of my Woods rotary cutter and I have never hit anything that got past them.

Mine came with the rubber flaps - is it better to have the chain guards or are the rubber guards as good?

 

[Teikas Dad]

Whatever choice you make, please don't apply a method that will diminish your rear vision. just a thought.

That's why I was thinking along the lines of hardware cloth. Won't scratch or hold on to dirt and dust the way plexi will.

 

[whistlepig]

Mine came with the rubber flaps also. I didn't like them. There was no way for the heavy grass to get out and it was constantly choking down the mower. I like the chains much better. They allow the cutter to throw out some of the heavy grass but won't let anything fly out high out of the mower. You can try the rubber flaps. I just know after about one hour of mowing with the rubber flaps that they just weren't going to work for me.

 

[newbury]

Mine has heavy metal screening attached.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd make a brush guard that ran in front of the mower and warded the opening from throwin stuff at me.

 

[1bush2hog]

Plexiglass or wire mesh on your ROPS is a good idea especially if you are hogging brush and trees by backing your tractor into and lowering your cutter, however replacing those rubber guards with chain guards on the front and rear is also a great idea. You may find using the chain guards on the cutter will be sufficient.

 

[compact]

In my brief experience most of the stuff that hits me has bounced off the back side of my front tires first, and comes in from the front of the machine. I have a 5 foot RC2060 with chain gaurds.