Rotary Cutter Hookin' Up That Rotary Cutter

[Harv]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Roy -

Glad to hear I'm not alone. Now there's at least two of us with no dignity. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Neil -

<font color=blue>very little to do with tractors has anything to do with ease, cleanliness or ergonomics</font color=blue>

Yeah, it's quite a stretch for a lifetime computer geek like me.

Bird --

I'm sure you're more adept than I am at all things mechanical, but I wonder if the slightly smaller size of your tractor made it any easier. As I recall, you had the exact same cutter that I have.
Hmmm... /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Another thought that might explain it -- when you walk, do your knuckles drag on the ground? /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Wally -

Disconnecting the shaft at the cutter end is something I had not thought of. Seems like an extra step, but I can see where it would make it easier. I never raised the cutter to PTO height, either. Guess I haven't been very creative. Thanks for the input.

Tim -

Your profile doesn't say, but I'm guessing you're too far away for me to borrow your wife whenever I need to do some brush hogging. I liked your story, though.

John -

Your procedure reads just like my manual, but that procedure just plain doesn't work for me. Could be because those extra hands I have are nothing but thumbs. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Jim -

Sounds like you've got some seriously big equipment, which could very well make the difference. I like that better than admitting I'm just a clutz.

Wow! I didn't start out to reply to each and every post here, but y'all had such good things to say.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

ON THE NH 1630 THE PTO SHIELD LIFTS UP SO YOU CAN GET AT THE SHAFT AND THE TRACTOR SHAFT WILL SPIN SO THE HOOKUP IS QUITE EASY

 

[chim]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Of everything I've hitched up, the rotary cutter is the most difficult to deal with. It's so darn heavy and only has one wheel. The RFM's have 4 wheels and scraper blades are light enough to manhandle, lift boom is a featherweight, etc.

The least hassle hooking up the rotary cutter was when I used the FEL to inch the tractor for and aft to get the arms connected. I first connect the lift arms. Just stand the bucket on edge and the "curl" / "dump" control gives you extremely fine control. Of course the engine was stopped before fooling around with the PTO.

With the arms connected, the PTO shaft doesn't need to extend beyond the normal operating length. It could end up being more difficult to deal with if there is some wear or a rough spot that affects pulling the shaft to extend it............chim

 

[Bird]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

<font color=blue>when you walk, do your knuckles drag on the ground?</font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gifAt my age, there's a number of things startin' to drag, but it ain't because of the length of my arms./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

<font color=blue>Of everything I've hitched up, the rotary cutter is the most difficult to deal with. </font color=blue>
I felt the same way until I figured out a 4' long 2x6 solved everything. I just back the tractor up to the cutter and drop the arms on top of the pins fairly close to alignment. Then I hop off, grab the 2x6, slip it under the front of the deck, and move the deck until the pins align, and I am done. No more pushing, kicking, and calling it pet names./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MikePA]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

I agree, Harv. Telescoping links on my TC25D make hooking up the 3ph rather rather easy. It's hooking up the drive shaft to the PTO that is difficult, primarily because you're pulling back on the collar at the same time you're pushing forward on the shaft to slip it over the PTO. Add in the safety shield on the drive shaft and it's a recipe for frustration! Do all rotary cutters have the collars? Do any have the push button type like my post hole digger?

 

[JimMc]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

The locking device on PTO's is dependent on the manufacturer. The most poular methods are the locking collar and the spring loaded pin. There are others as well, but at least in our area, are not seen as often.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

> 1)Hook up left lift arm first
> 2)Right lift arm next (you can now adjust height up/down if
> you have to)
> 3)Slide driveshaft yoke on tractor's PTO spline and lock
> 4)Toplink last (so it's out of your way while doing the rest)
> and adjust accordingly...

Yes. But sometimes I cheat when I'm not lined up real good and hook up the left lift arm, then the top link so I can adjust the top link to get the right lift arm to line up. This might not work with the bigger implements but sometimes saves time.

 

[Knight9]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

The only problem I have hooking up my 5' KK rotary cutter is lining the tractor up good and straight with the middle of the mower. If I do that right, it is a 5 min job at most. The PTO shaft on the KK I got has the spring loaded push-in pin to lock the tractor end to the shaft. It is VERY easy to hook up. I like it a lot better than the sliding collar PTO shaft that is on the Kubota MMM.

Kevin

 

[EdKing]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

My Rhino 5 ft cutter has a collar that twists instead of pulling back. I have also removed the PTO shield from the back of the tractor to make hookup faster. Yes, I know this is considered unsafe, but I never go near the PTO shaft if it is turning, and I accept full responsibility for my actions should I be injured because of this.