INFORMATION ON HOOKING UP A BRUSHOG

[BillyP]

Yes Richard, if you don't have the swivel for the top link, you need one or chains (if you plan on lifting the cutter for transport). As far as the cutter dragging the ground without the top link, the rockshafts will hold the cutter up. The only two adjuctments for heigth are the tail wheel and the rockshafts. The tail wheel adjusts the back (done first), then the 3pth control adjusts the front.

 

[Bird]

Trial and error, Richard, trial and error until you find out what works best for you./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Different rotary cutters have different designs for the top link. I've never used a chain in place of the top link on the tractor, but in 1995, I bought a new Bush Hog Squealer that had a chain from the top of the "A" frame to the rear of the deck (bottom legs of the "A" frame could swivel on those two bolts). That was what allowed basically the same movement as using a chain for a top link on the tractor. I'm not sure I've been able to describe it so you can imagine what it looked like, and Bush Hog no longer uses that system; they now have the two metal straps from the top of the "A" frame to the rear of the deck. My 1999 Bush Hog finish mower had the top link swivel as shown in the picture someone else has posted. And my 1999 Howse 500 rotary cutter had slots instead of round holes for the top link to attach to. The Howse manual recommended using the "float" position on the three point. I tried it; it works, but it seemed to me that puts a considerable compression stress on the tractor's top link as well as the metal braces from the "A" frame to the rear of the deck on the rotary cutter. And I eventually settled for merely adjusting the rear wheel height to what I wanted, then setting the front height level, or slightly lower, with the 3-point hitch, with the top link adjusted so there was no stress or tension in either direction on level ground. And now I'm not at all sure you can understand what I've described without pictures./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[BB_TX]

Like Bird, I use a Howse (6'). I set the rear wheel at the height I wanted and lift the front so that the deck is about level. Most of my pasture is fairly flat and it does a good job. Picture attached.

 

[Bird]

Yep, worked well, and while I don't have a picture of the hookup, I do have this little picture.

 

[Soundguy]

You will probably need to adjust your tail wheel down a bit, and sounds like you may need to lengthen your toplink just a tad if your tail comes off the ground alot. Also, many of these brushcutters have a slightly moveable ( pivotable? ) area for the toplink to connect to.. in other words, it is not a rigid connection.. there is usually 3-4" of play to let the cutter conform to the terain without being stiff against the tractor constantly. This will also help with the tail off the ground problem a bit.

As for cutting, there are many techniques that deal with how the cutter is angled.

Generally rear higher than front gives you a lower cut, while front higher than rear gives you more mulched debri, and less big chunks of material.. possible a better looking cut..

soundguy

 

[djradz]

The attached pic uses the check chains setup in combination with a flexible top link on the cutter. My mower is shown but my brush hog has the exact same setup except without the small turnbuckles for fine adjustment. Note that the top link on the cutter does swivel, much like the picture from rdbrumfield. Others have replaced the tractor top link with a chain, and that's where you've heard some folks get concerned. I know I'm a little bit biased, but after trying all the different methods, none come close to the level cut you get with the check chain setup. No gouging and no constant adjustment. KK does sell many hogs with the flexible link, so see your dealer or just have someone fab one up for you. I guarantee, yes guarantee, you won't be disapointed.

 

[djradz]

I probably should have added that the lower arm control is set all the way down, but as you can see the chains support the front of the deck. This setup keeps the deck riding fairly constant with the rear tractor tires, but without the bouncing, lifting and falling that would occur by using the lower arms by themselves to set level.

 

[WSchubert]

I purchased a brush cutter last fall and looked at the kingkutter. It, like a lot of the less expensive cutters, does not have a swival, but instead has an oval shaped hole the top link attaches to. This does give the top link some room to move, but not nearly as much as the swival.

 

[trailertrash]

here's a little something you might read,some darn good advice in here.

http://www.ytmag.com/articles/artint57.htm

 

[Soundguy]

I'm surprised... I knought a 5' KK just last year and mine came with the swivel... though I did see some blue ones over to the side with the oval cut you mention.

Soundguy