MODIFY BRUSH HOG SOME MORE

[quicksandfarmer]

This looks like a cool project, but I have one concern that stems from the way I use my mower. I use my mower a lot to back over things that are too big for the tractor to drive over. When I do this, the rear wheel takes the brunt of the abuse -- if there's something hidden in that bush, the wheel is going to be the first to find it. I'd worry that the hydraulic cylinder would be exposed to damage.

What would be really cool is if it were designed with a "backing mode" so that when the cylinder is fully retracted the wheel lies flat on the deck, out of the way, and the weight of the mower is just held by the 3 point hitch. The wheel isn't really useful anyway when doing backing, and this would allow you to get the back edge of the mower closer to things like walls and trees.

 

[3RRL]

Your brush hog deck can now be raised and lowered in front by the 3ph, tilted by the TNT, and now raised by the rear. Cool. Rather than lowering the rear wheel does your hydraulic top link not allow you to lift the rear of the deck by shortening it?

Hi Joe, and thanks.
Yes, I can lift the rear of the deck via my hydraulic top link.
But I'm not crazy about the idea of cutting with the rear end of it in the air suspended by my top link and lift arms only. I'd like the tail wheel on the ground. That also allows the "float" slot on my cutter to work. This idea is to be able to change the cut height from the tractor seat without having to get off to do it manually.

 

[sandman2234]

Dual wheels and 3pt hitches don't work well together. Most of the ones with two wheels are using the drawbar.More later...
Hours later....
I kept looking at your drawing with the dual wheels, and then I remembered that your famous for your avatar sized pictures, so I clicked on it, and presto, a full sized drawing that I could read!
If your dual wheels swivel, then fine, if not, they will not corner worth a durn. Larger heavy duty bush hogs that are pulled with the drawbar usually don't have swivel wheels, which is what I thought you were going after when I caught this post on my way out the door earlier. Glad to see it appears not so!

David from jax

 

[3RRL]

This looks like a cool project, but I have one concern that stems from the way I use my mower. I use my mower a lot to back over things that are too big for the tractor to drive over. When I do this, the rear wheel takes the brunt of the abuse -- if there's something hidden in that bush, the wheel is going to be the first to find it. I'd worry that the hydraulic cylinder would be exposed to damage.

What would be really cool is if it were designed with a "backing mode" so that when the cylinder is fully retracted the wheel lies flat on the deck, out of the way, and the weight of the mower is just held by the 3 point hitch. The wheel isn't really useful anyway when doing backing, and this would allow you to get the back edge of the mower closer to things like walls and trees.

Thanks quicksand,
I know what you mean about the tail wheel getting in the way when cutting in reverse like that. It's that way right now.
With this raising feature, it looks like they will be not only sucked up higher, but closer to the mower. So maybe it will help in situations like that. The cylinder I chose has a 1-1/2" rod diameter, so it is pretty beefy. After considering what you said, I might be able to make the width of the linkage arms so they touch when folded up, making them solid to the stationary frame? Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[3RRL]

Rob,

Another brilliant modification project to keep you off the golf course. I love it! Did the thought cross your mind to put wheels on the front? Not that it matters, you can use the TPH to set front cutting height to match rear cutting height. Just wanted to throw that out there as another possibility. Do you need any parts plasma cut? Or maybe there is some way I could install an electronic sonar device to automatically set cutting depth and to lift it when approaching a rock or something?

The self leveling wheels is just another day at the drawing table for you isn't it? Very impressive.

I look forward to seeing this all come together and the video of you moving it up & down on the fly.

Cool Project

Larry

Thanks Larry,
I really appreciate your offer for the sonar and plasma cutting. If you are serious, I'll take you up on both. I'll email you dxf files later. You'll have to tell me what's involved with the sonar device though.

I did think about adding wheels to the front, but that would blow my budget. They are $135 bucks a set! Plus, I though they would get in the way up front there, and I have the 3pt controls anyway.
Your offer is too kind.

 

[sandman2234]

Considering the cost of consumables associated with a plasma cutter and the amount they use in a days operation, that indeed is a generous offer.
It would be cool to be able to cross the mountain and go see him cut them for you, or maybe he can make a video of it also!
David from jax

 

[3RRL]

Dual wheels and 3pt hitches don't work well together. Most of the ones with two wheels are using the drawbar.More later...
Hours later....
I kept looking at your drawing with the dual wheels, and then I remembered that your famous for your avatar sized pictures, so I clicked on it, and presto, a full sized drawing that I could read!
If your dual wheels swivel, then fine, if not, they will not corner worth a durn. Larger heavy duty bush hogs that are pulled with the drawbar usually don't have swivel wheels, which is what I thought you were going after when I caught this post on my way out the door earlier. Glad to see it appears not so!

David from jax

Hi David and thanks,
Yeah, those are thumbnails I post in the thread to give the guys on dial up a break. You need to click on them to enlarge the photo. I should have mentioned that before. You are correct in seeing that those wheels can fully swivel 360 degrees. I saw the heavier duty RC's made by Howse had them like that.

OAN...I just found out that my hydraulic cylinder has been lost by FedEx! Crap. The tracking showed it was on the delivery truck Sept 1st and today is the 6th, so I called them to see what the problem was. FedEx told me it was lost and I need to contact the shipper. Now I have to take it up with the eBay seller and PayPal. So now I don't know when I'll get it. Geez, what a bummer ... not what I wanted to happen...

 

[GuglioLS]

I am serious about the Plasma cutting, the sonar feedback control system would blow my budget, so maybe I can add that at a later date after I win the lottery or something.

I just went to see the Plasma cutter dude today, and had those cylinder protector plates cut, (the ones you designed for the grapple). The plasma cutter is still working to perfection, so they are happy about that.

I can get any size or shape of metal cut for you in a jiffy, plus the place is located in a real convenient location for me to get to.

If you do decide you want something cut, just send me the usual file. Oh one more thing on those auto cad DFX files you send, in the future - put a scale drawing of the part with no reference or centerline point lines, doing that will make it even easier to just copy the actual part shape into the plasma cutter software with no additional work to take those lines out. The plasma cutter software wants to cut those center lines and reference point lines

Bummer about the cylinder

These are my "favorite" shipper logos, they are all experts on how to loose the important tractor stuff

Larry

 

[3RRL]

Larry,
Hahaha....I see what you mean now.
Here's some good news.
I emailed the eBay seller and they replied right away. They sent an email back telling me I could pick up another cylinder from. They are in Ontario and only ten minutes from my house, so I drove down there just now and picked it up. What a great seller!

Next week I'll start with the fabrication of the frame and such. Look for photos then.

 

[Rowski]

nice idea.

I like the drawings... some day I would like to learn how to design on a CAD type program.

Few questions:

How would you return the rear tail wheels to same cutting height? Some sort of gauge like on a loader for bucket position.

Pilot valves to keep cylinder from creeping?

What about side loads? Seems (for me) that the tail wheel take an a beating especailly when turning and catching rocks logs ect.


I can't wait to see the finished product.