Rotary Cutter How to "carry" a rotary cutter?

[prosperity]

How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

Just picked up a King Kutter XB 4' rotary cutter for my JD2210. I have a question as I've never run one before.

I think I have the lift arms and top link adjusted correctly. Have my rear wheels where I want them. When I lower the mower to the ground, I stop when the wheels first touch the ground. This leaves the deck pretty level. I realize that the rear should be a little higher than the front. Being that my tractor has no draft control, I have to be quick on the lever to get it just right. So, I have my rear wheels on the ground, deck almost level, and off I go - right? I tired it out in my lawn a little today (got soaked again). It feels pretty good, just see it picking up a little when I go over some mild humps.
Just want to be sure I'm set up right. Have about 5 acres of field grass to mow with it tomorrow.

 

[BillyP]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

prosperity,

I may be doing it all wrong but I set the cutter where the tail wheel is all the way on the ground (carrying the total weight of the rear of the cutter). Then I adjust the front of the cutter with the 3pt hitch adjustment lever.

I used to cut with the front of the cutter 1' lower than the back (as stated in the manual) but I found out a level cutter works better for me.

What works for me, may not work for you. Good luck...

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

Also review... Brush Hog Basics...

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

More Brush Hogging Basics…

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

I got a 5 ft. kingkutter,and it just has one rear wheel but the principal is the same. You need to be on level ground,a cocrete floor is better yet.Your rear wheels on your mower adjust up and down,or mine does any ways,you need to adjust these to what height you want to mow along with your lift,I got mine almost level and it works fine,back is about 5 1/2",and front is about 5,anyway its about level,I'm cutting mostly grass and weeds very little brush. Now you should have a postion stopper on your lift handle to stop it from going any lower than where you set up your mower to cut,mine does and I believe most do,so you can raise it and than when you lower it,it stops at the same spot every time.Now I've been using a chain for a top link to let it follow the ground conture better and most of the time no toplink at all but you got to be carefull if you try this by not trying to pick it up with no top link. I was also given a U swivel thing that goes on the top connection of the mower to alow up and down movement of the cutter when mowing,but that thing did not allow much movement and the next thing I went to was the chain,but you will just have to do a little experimenting,to see what and how it works,and do a search on hooking up brushogs and you will get all kinds of info., some usefull, some not,but remember,all that top link does for sure is let you pick the back of the cutter up,whether its you regular top link or a chain,or toplink and U swivel combo. RICHARD GAUTHIER

 

[Bird]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( should have a postion stopper on your lift handle )</font>

Richard, that's only on tractors with position control. I don't think his tractor has it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

O.K.,wrong again, RICHARD GAUTHIER, No little stop block on that model tractor,you reckon you could rig one up some how?

 

[prosperity]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

Thanks for the link johnmiller3 - excellent reading and I learned a couple things I had set up wrong.
And, yes Bird - no draft control here.

Anyway, I had my top link adjusted wrong. I had it pulled tight so the deck couldn't "float".
I also looked again, and can't seem to be able to use the check chains as suggested in the link. My PTO shield sticks out too far.

I took some photos of the hitch set up with descriptions and questions (pictures say 1000 words?). If you guys would be so kind as to indulge me, please visit the link below (click on the thumbnails for the larger photo with descriptions).

hitch setup

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

Check the A-Frame on your rotary cutter… is this assembled correctly? (It should be perpendicular to the deck, not “tilted back”???

Also...You Don’t want it adjusted this way… Look at your PTO shaft near the cutter deck...

 

[Bird]

Re: How to \"carry\" a rotary cutter?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( you reckon you could rig one up )</font>

Nope, can't do that either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif On those without position control, the lever is centered; move it forward and the 3-point lowers and continues to lower until the lever is centered again or it is all the way down. Move it to the rear and the 3-point raises and continues to rise until the lever is centered again or it's all the way up. The distance you move the lever only increases the speed with which it raises or lowers; no stop possible like tractors with position control.