Rotary Cutter Hinges on BUSH HOG DECK????? Good IDEA or DUMB??????

[Boeing]

Fellas, my older bush hog needs a new deck. I have bought two steel plates 1/4" thick, much heavier than the original, and intended to weld it on as the orig is.....
But....I had a epiphany last night (scary) and remembered how difficult it is to lift the hog, put jack stands under it, lay on my back and grind the blades over my face.....
What if.....these new heavy deck plates had long piano type hinges down the center like a T-Model Ford so that they could be propped up or chained up so I could sharpen these blades from above....hmmmm
Tell me where this is a dumb idea....(I've had them before...) Thanks:confused3:

 

[horses2]

I would wonder if the plates not being welded would affect the structure and rigidity (sp?) of the unit. My bushhog is in similar shape. Age has cought up to her, and while the gearbox is good, the body needs some repairs.

 

[amaxwell]

I would think you would have a hard time keeping them latched down on the opening side ,with all material a rotary cutter slashes between the blades and deck. I sure would NOT want a large piece hurled at me , if the deck came open under pressure .

 

[CobyRupert]

Shorten your 3pth top link when sharpening so the mower raises higher & you don't have to lay on your back.

 

[KubotaToy]

Looks like you had the blades find their way to the deck a time or two. I would not be as worried about structural integrity as much as what amaxwell stated about keeping them closed.l Maybe use bolts around the perimeter instead of a hinge, kind of like an inspection plate.

My Rhino has a hole in the deck to line up the blade bolts, I just take the air gun and pop my off to sharpen. I do not like climbing under to sharpen, just too hard to clean up the blade.

I have seen folks unhook the top link and use a come-along to the ROPS to pick the mower up high enough to work on it. Might do that on a small mower, nothing bigger than 4', I don't trust come-alongs that much.

 

[bigtiller]

It's certainly worth thinking about, but i am a little lazy, so i think i would cut about a 16" hole in the deck for sharpening and bolt your 1/4 steel plate to the deck, covering the hole.

 

[bcp]

Use any convenient hill to remove your blades for sharpening.



No one was hurt, tractor was remote control.

Tractor Overturn, H.J. Sommer III

Bruce

 

[bcp]

At several of the dealers around here, cutters are stored standing vertically on their front end. I see groups of them being shipped that way, too.

Why not use your FEL or boom to stand the cutter on edge or end for blade access? If you can't keep the vent high, unscrew it and put in a plug. Just be sure it is secured so it can't fall on you when you work on it.

Bruce

 

[brown40]

Well I think its a great idea, but not the piano part. It'd bind up with the first good whack. 2-4 heavy pinned hinges, and you'd be on your way to a homemade tree cutter. Brown manufacturing has some pictures on their website, but I sure don't have the tractor for it. Check out the size of their gearboxes and drivelines--and 4 blade carrier. Whole thing seems a bit hazardous, but it'd sure be fun.