Rotary Cutter Hookin' Up That Rotary Cutter

[MikePA]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

<font color=blue>I have also removed the PTO shield from the back of the tractor to make hookup faster.</font color=blue>

My biggest problem is with the plastic shield around the end of the drive shaft. The shield on the tractor has never caused me a problem. Interesting to read of the different experiences.

 

[hazmat]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

<font color=purple>My Rhino 5 ft cutter has a collar that twists instead of pulling back. </font color=purple>

I just had to quote Ed in purple /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. My landpride RFM has the twist collar too. Very easy to hook up. I use JMIII's procedure.

 

[cj7]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

What about using a fast hitch system?

 

[WVBill]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

I added the Kubota ROPS to my B6100 which replaces the PTO shield with the ROPS attachment structure - so now I've got a 1/4" thick steel PTO shield. There is NO room around the plastic shield on the end of the PTO shaft for my PHD. If it wasn't plastic and bendable I would not be able to get my fingers past it to slide it onto the tractor's PTO drive. Nor would I be able to raise the 3PH up with the PHD connected - when I do now, that plastic shield, which ends up inside the PTO shield/ROPS structure, compresses against the top of the shield/structure. I'm thinking of just removing that plastic bell shaped shield on the end.

 

[Freds]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

My 4' KK has the twist style locking ring which is much easier to deal with than the pull back type. Especially when you start getting grease on your fingers.
I set it on a wood pallet when I disconnect and it slides around pretty easy and stays put for the next hook up. So far it has gone on quicker than the PHD (barely) and RFM (a lot). I only have a dirt floor and my RFM casters like finding their way back where I just moved them from. I like the FEL for fine adjustments idea, I wish I had known about that yesterday when it was time to mow again.

Fred

 

[beenthere]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Anyone think of a good reason, or even a safety reason, for keeping the plastic bell-shaped collar on the tractor end of the PTO shaft of a rotary cutter? Seems to me the primary reason for this shield is to protect a user when working around the running PTO shaft of equipment not like the rotary cutter, such as a feed grinder or a PTO powered wagon used when unloading hay silage, or something similar. As a boy, we had a lot of PTO driven equipment on the farm that often had no shield, and stepping across the running PTO was a no-no (unless one wanted to risk getting ones clothes peeled off quickly, along with body parts if luck was running against you at the moment). But in the 50's, safety shields were becomming onto the scene. Now they are plastic covers that don't rotate, over the rotating shaft within.

But has it become just the norm, such that even a rotary cutter has the full-blown safety shield protection, when in fact no one is ever standing on or around the cutter when it is operating. I think removing the bell-shaped collar on the PTO shaft at the tractor end would do no harm.

However, is there a chance that tall grass, or brush, or grape-vines might wrap up around the universal joint that is under that bell-shaped plastic shield? I suspect wrapping things around the shaft shouldn't be a problem, and removing the collar will make attaching and un-attaching the PTO much more convenient. I believe it just slides on with some locking hooks to hold it. And if not, a sharp utility knife will remove it.

 

[OverlyRun]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Harv,

My Landpride 60" has a spring-loaded pin that requires firm thumb pressure at the same time you twist the PTO shaft a small amount to align the grooves and a healthy push to get the pin past the notch on the PTO....and of course this is done in the dark at the back end of the tractor in the recesses of the barn...

Hazards: 1) cuts on fingers from spring as thumb slips, 2) pinched finger as PTO shaft finally slams onto the PTO 3) bruised rear upon tripping over 3-pt arms as slammed hand is waved in air.

With practice the whole routine (including abbreviated hand waving) can now be accomplished in about 30 seconds. This minimizes opportunities for kids and wife to observe....recommending I think the pin over the collar.

Chas

 

[Slamfire]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

I've got a tow behind I'll trade for your 3-point. It is a whole lot easier to hook up. That is the only thing about it that is easier thougth.

 

[Harv]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Just to catch up a little --

The comments posted here have been more interesting than I had expected. Seems like there's a number of different perceptions about where the difficulties lie in hooking up a cutter. Obviously, my own problem was just getting into a good position to connect to the PTO. I have no trouble lining up the tractor or making the micro adjustments for hooking up the 3-pt arms. I just use my micro adjuster tool -- a 6-foot prybar. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

I have no experience with any of the fast hitch systems, cj7. Do they give you better access to the PTO?

Sounds like there's several different PTO attachment systems, too -- the pin type, the twist collar, the retractable collar, etc. I didn't mention it earlier, but the collar on mine seems to have some kind of detent which holds it in place once you pull it back. Then when you shove the yolk onto the PTO spline far enough, it snaps into the lock position. Now, it's possible I'm jumping to conclusions, and I can't check it for sure until I get back up to the property in a couple of weeks, but I think that's what's happening.

From previous threads, I'm also conscious of protecting the yolk/collar mechanism from dirt particles when the cutter is not being used, so since I store mine outdoors I've added one step to my disconnect procedure, and that's to fasten a plastic bag over that part before I cover the whole thing with a tarp.

The good news is that after this whole discussion, I'm actually looking forward to hooking up the cutter for another round of brush cuttin'.

 

[vtfrank]

Re: Hookin\' Up That Rotary Cutter

Hi harv, tell your wife that I think you're a genius. I will definitely try your idea. I was in even worse shape than you in connecting up- because I hook up the pto last after the top link and the two bottom links are already hooked up. thanks vtfrank