Rotary Cutter Help me with Rotary Cutter Poor Performance

[trook]

I am currently using a Frontier Model 2060 (5ft) rotary cutter behind a JD 3320. When I bush hog, much of the grass behind the tractor tires does not get cut. As a result, after bush hogging a field, a lot of grass is still standing. I know the rotary cutter will not give the same pretty look as a finish mower, but it should cut the grass. My cutter does cover the tractor tires.

I believe the R4 tires cause the grass to lay over, but for some reason the grass does not get cut by the cutter. I have tried faster and slower ground speeds, faster and slower PTO speeds, a level deck, slightly lower front deck, sharp blades, semi-dull blades, etc.

Is this something that is caused by the wider R4 tire vs a R1 tire? Is this something inherent with frontier cutters? Please help!!!

 

[J_J]

How does it cut when in reverse? All things being equal, it should cut and sling grass all over. Are your blades turning for sure. You will know by the vibrations, or you can see them turning. Are you cutting at 540 rpm?

 

[Soundguy]

If your wide tires mash down the grass, and that mower doesn't have alot of suction, then you will have to overlap the tire pth track on each row for it to cut tht patch that was laid down previously.

I've no experience with your mower.. but sounds like it doesn't have alot of vacume/lift.

Do yuo hav ethe front of the deck an inch or so lower thant he back.. are the sides reasonable close to the ground?

soundguy

 

[Lineman North Florida]

There are two different types of blades for a lot of rotary cutters, brush blades which are reasonably flat with very little lift and lifting blades which in my opinion are much better for cutting grass, if your looking for quality of cut, the lifting blades provide more suction or lift to stand the grass up for the blades to cut. Hope this helps,good luck.

 

[Willl]

This quote taken from the JD MX5 manual;

Due to direction of blade rotation, the cutter should be operated with uncut portion to the right-hand side.
This allows grass knocked down by tractor tires on previous cut to be picked up and cut on next pass

OMW49246: MX5, MX6 and MX7 Rotary Cutters, Block File: AG_OUO1078_387_19_18FEB00.htm

 

[have_blue]

Is the ground soft? That can cause the grass to lay down a littlel longer.

 

[thatguy]

I have experienced the same situation with my 2320 and the Lx4 cutter.. I found three things seem to help quite a bit 1) Mowing in a clockwise direction (uncut grass on your right - as mentioned several posts up, and 2) slowing down.. 3) cutting it more often.

From my observation - During the spring the grass is still growing which mean wetter and tougher.. later in the summer as it dries out the cutters seems to cut cleaner since the grass is dryer..


Brian

 

[greenmule]

Yeah,I've noticed r-4's mash more down than ag's,just makes sense,but ag's do to when its real tall and not real dry.

First cutting for me are the tallest/thickest and generally wettest,and I leave a few spots here and there but not alot,now next cutting it will look much better.

Don't think it would be sharpness of your blades,I've never sharpened mine in about 8 years. Maybe try going slower,and make sure hog is turning at 540,pretty sure less rpm's won't help your problem.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I am currently using a Frontier Model 2060 (5ft) rotary cutter behind a JD 3320. When I bush hog, much of the grass behind the tractor tires does not get cut. As a result, after bush hogging a field, a lot of grass is still standing. I know the rotary cutter will not give the same pretty look as a finish mower, but it should cut the grass. My cutter does cover the tractor tires.

I believe the R4 tires cause the grass to lay over, but for some reason the grass does not get cut by the cutter. I have tried faster and slower ground speeds, faster and slower PTO speeds, a level deck, slightly lower front deck, sharp blades, semi-dull blades, etc.

Is this something that is caused by the wider R4 tire vs a R1 tire? Is this something inherent with frontier cutters? Please help!!!

I'm thinking the Frontier mowers are made by Woods (????) (anyone know for sure?) I've had simular issues with Woods mowers in the past, being the reason why I've switched to Bush Hog mowers exclusively. AND....Check to see if you can get HIGH LIFT blades for that mower. If so, there's the best answer I know of. I use them on all my mowers now.

One of the biggest differences between mowers (brands and/or models) is their ability to create good air flow, which provides LIFT on the grass. I'm partial to Bush Hog mowers as I mentioned because they do a wonderful job as well as their good, solid construction. I use a BH 286 as a "psuedo-finish mower" to cut 8 acres around my house.

I've heard people blame this problem on the weight of the tractor. Not buyin' that explaination..... I've got 3 tractors that weigh over 9500lbs. They pull batwing mowers all day long (Spent the day in one today!!!) The high lift blades draw the grass up and cut it clean & even with that much weight on the tires, so a smaller tractor should do just as well, if not BETTER. (The 9500lb tractors are running R4's)

 

[trook]

I suppose it could be related to the height of the grass. The grass I was referring to was about 5ft tall and VERY thick. Therefore, I have to keep the cutter several inches off the ground when cutting. Maybe it will look better the next time I cut.