How Much Slack Do You Give Your BrushHog?

Jim_Fisher · May 25, 2004

( OkieG, I think I see the problem. You have the rear of the mower too low. )

Good catch!

OkieG · May 25, 2004

John & Jim,
I think you are right about the tail wheel being adjusted so the rear of the deck sits too low. I need to fix that. But, I don't think that would keep the deck from touching the PTO shaft when the tailwheel or back of the deck gets blocked while backing.

But Jim, you are right..."good catch" to John. Thanks guys.

OkieG

KiotiJohn · May 25, 2004

( But, I don't think that would keep the deck from touching the PTO shaft when the tailwheel or back of the deck gets blocked while backing.)
A combination of things may cause the problem you have. The rear being too low, top link adjusted incorrectly, along with having a PTO shaft that was not measured properly before cutting can all cause the problem. My deck came close to hitting before I raised the rear of the mower. If you have ever read an owner's manual on a PTO shaft, you may have seen that they mention cutting the shaft so that it does not contact the deck. I think you may have a combination of these. Adjust the rear, adjust the top link so that when lifted, the rear is MUCH higher in the air than the front. I can easily see in your picture that that is NOT the case on yours. John

beenthere · May 25, 2004

Per the question in the title of this thread, I think the answer is there is too much slack if the leading edge of the deck contacts the PTO drive shaft. Take out enough slack so they don't make contact when raising the rotary cutter (should be able to raise the 3pt and get the rear wheel off the ground). It will then not contact the PTO shaft when backing up and 'kinking' at the pt of attachment to the 3pt arms.

Probably the trick is to set the hyd. top link at a safe position and not changing it out of adjustment.

My PTO shaft never contacts the deck unless I have the top link set too long. Once it is set right, there is no problem, either when lifting the cutter or when backing into something. Care must be taken when backing into an object so the rear wheel will not bind up and break something on the cutter.

OkieG · May 26, 2004

A combination of things may cause the problem you have. 

John,
The more I think about it, the more I know you are right. Adjusting the tail wheel to raise the back of the deck would offer some protection. That's a good project for tomorrow evening. Thanks.

OkieG

OkieG · May 26, 2004

I think the answer is there is too much slack if the leading edge of the deck contacts the PTO drive shaft. 

Of course, you are right. Operator inexperience, allowing the contact, is certainly a factor. Hopefully, I'm climbing another notch on the learning curve.

OkieG

OkieG · May 26, 2004

Thanks Jerry,
I think I'll sharpen "the big drill bit" and get after it.

OkieG

Glenn9643 · May 26, 2004

Have you read the owners manual for the bush-hog? I believe the settings on the tail wheel are intended for determining the height of cut. Depending on the type of cut you want and what you are cutting you can raise or lower the front of the cutter. Operating with the cutter nearly level will result in the cut material being shredded and gives a pretty good cut in grass or other light jobs. In heavy cutting you can lessen the load on the tractor by raising the front of the cutter a few inches, but it gives a rougher fishish to the job.
One of the inherent hazards of a hydraulic top link is that it gives you the ability to make drastic changes on the fly and you'll need to adjust to that. As you stated, it's best to raise the tail wheel a little and back over the stuff.

choreboy · May 26, 2004

Thanks Jerry, Okie, Glenn and all for the intensive short course on toplinks and brush cutters!

I've been fooling around for a few weeks now and your photos and input were all helpful to me to be able to operate my 7' Woods more efficiently. ( The first time I had it out the toplink was way long and I was not able to raise the rear of the mower....)

Good input from all, and reassuring as I continue to get the job done with a mower I was told was 'too much' for my tractor....

JerryG · May 26, 2004

Thanks Jerry,
I think I'll sharpen "the big drill bit" and get after it.
I think that should that care of the vast majority of your problem. This is a problem with almost all mowers when attached to compact tractors. It looks like dealer would make more of an effort take care of the problem before delivery, but time is money. As many compacts as there are sold now, you would also think that the manufactures would place alternate holes on more of the attachment. Some have in the past, my old Woods M5 did have alternate holes in the right place.