How Much Slack Do You Give Your BrushHog?

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> Put a chain in place of the toplink </font>
I have run a chain for several years. If you are mowing rough terrain, a chain is the only way to go. For a long time, I tried to us a third arm, but after bending it three times going over rough areas, I replaced it. There has been several here in the past that have though that the chain would allow the mower to flip up. But in all the years of being around equipment, I have yet to talk to, hear of or see anyone that actual had one flip up because of the chain.
A chain is a good addition if you have rough ground to mow, but you still need the pins moved to provide the correct geometry.

 

[OkieG]

<font color="blue"> chain would allow the mower to flip up. </font>

Yes Jerry,
There was something in the back of my mind about chain toplinks. The "flip-up" concern was what I was trying to remember. I can see how the length of chain you use would limit how far the tail would drop and not limit how far it could raise up, but what happens when you back into brush or saplings and the tailwheel gets stalled. Won't the front of your deck raise up? Your chain must reach it's limit before deck-to-PTO contact occurs. Is a point just short of contact the way you gauge how long to make the chain?

OkieG

 

[normde2001]

I don't have a picture, nor do I have access to my equipment now; however it is very similar to the King Kutter as described by MARKV. If you have a nearby TSC store, stop by for a look-see. My "CRS" has set in and I can't remember the brand name, but it's the "Razor" built in Ga.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> I can see how the length of chain you use would limit how far the tail would drop and not limit how far it could raise up, but what happens when you back into brush or saplings and the tail-wheel gets stalled. Won't the front of your deck raise up? </font>
All the chain is used for is transport and stopping the mower from drooping to far. You just have to watch it and not let it raise up to far when backing up brush. The reason that I use a chain is because I bent my top link three times in about two months going over rough ground. I have never had any problem with it what so ever.

 

[OkieG]

<font color="blue"> You just have to watch it and not let it raise up to far when backing up brush. </font>

Thanks Jerry,
That's what I wanted to hear. Things are better for me now, with a hydraulic toplink. When backing, I just take out the slack and there'll be no contact. My 5' BushHog Squealer is probably lighter than your unit, and light enough to let brush, etc push it around when backing. Really, I'm very pleased with the solution hydraulics has brought to my situation. But, still wanted to get some TBN input, and plan to check out and reposition the brush hog lift pins if necessary. Thanks a lot for your input.

OkieG

 

[RoyJackson]

"Won't the front of your deck raise up?"

This occasionally happens when backing into brush even with an upper link. Mostly, it's a matter of operator awareness of what his equipment is doing. IMHO, the biggest potential problem is having the cutter rise enough to hit your rear tires. That wouldn't be good... Potential back flip if that happened.

Backing into brush occasionally results in the cutter tail wheel trying to climb up the brush or saplings. Time to stop backing up then, I should think.