RSKY
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,444
- Tractor
- Kioti CK20S
Finished mowing 24 acres of CRP ground at one farm and moved seven miles to the next 18 acres to be mowed. The west boundary of this farm is Clarks River and the bottom ground floods about every four years and can easily get out of control if not mowed yearly. My brother in law mowed it last year with a large batwing until he got stuck in the wet area, the wrecker called to get him out got stuck, and a neighbor's four wheel drive tractor finally got them out. So the hillside got mowed but the flat land was badly overgrown with brush and 12'-15' tall trees. This year I am mowing it with a 45-year old Ford 4600 and a brand new BushHog 6' mower. The 7 acres in the flat land had to be mowed in low range 2nd gear instead of the normal 4th gear. So 2-1/2 mph instead of 6mph. Makes for a long day. The rest of the ground is on a hillside with a couple acres being seat clinching steep.
Anyway.
Made the first pass Saturday chopping up 1" to 2" saplings and brush so thick that no grass was growing under. Started making the second pass and I noticed a sapling trunk standing straight with all the limbs and leaves off. So I angled over to chop it off. Leaned over to the right and watched the front axle push it down and waited for the rear tire to catch it before it slipped off the front axle.
I miscalculated badly.
The sapling slipped out from under the front axle and snapped upright catching me right between the eyes on my safety glasses. (Never, NEVER ever mow without them!!) That hurt! I had to stop and get the tears out of my eyes before I could continue. Figured I would have a black eye but didn't. Still sore today. I have been mowing since I was 14-15 years old and I know better. I could have easily lost my left eye and with no center vision in my right I would not be able to drive.
Be warned. Mowing is dangerous even if you have been mowing the same ground for fifty years.
Also the brush is so thick that after 30-45 minutes the radiator gets clogged and the temp starts going up. Being a mile from the nearest house I have to load a generator and air compressor in the truck to blow the radiator out.
Be safe!
RSKY
Anyway.
Made the first pass Saturday chopping up 1" to 2" saplings and brush so thick that no grass was growing under. Started making the second pass and I noticed a sapling trunk standing straight with all the limbs and leaves off. So I angled over to chop it off. Leaned over to the right and watched the front axle push it down and waited for the rear tire to catch it before it slipped off the front axle.
I miscalculated badly.
The sapling slipped out from under the front axle and snapped upright catching me right between the eyes on my safety glasses. (Never, NEVER ever mow without them!!) That hurt! I had to stop and get the tears out of my eyes before I could continue. Figured I would have a black eye but didn't. Still sore today. I have been mowing since I was 14-15 years old and I know better. I could have easily lost my left eye and with no center vision in my right I would not be able to drive.
Be warned. Mowing is dangerous even if you have been mowing the same ground for fifty years.
Also the brush is so thick that after 30-45 minutes the radiator gets clogged and the temp starts going up. Being a mile from the nearest house I have to load a generator and air compressor in the truck to blow the radiator out.
Be safe!
RSKY