Rotary Cutter Modify Rotary Cutter

[bford]

I have a 5' Howse that I am using to maintain about 6 acres of land. Not wanting to spend the dollars on a finish mower right now, the hog is being used to keep the grass real short. It does a great job also.

The issue that I am having is that occasionally the rear of the hog rubs the ground. Has anyone ever cut any of the metal on the rear of the cutter to prevent this from happening (thought I would ask before I pulled out the saw). Thanks!!

 

[Wolfy]

My mower also scalped. I simply put on stopbolt on the 3pt control lever. Park the tractor and mower on asphalt, then when you get the height where you want it, put the bolt up tight to the lever. Some tractors even have an adjustable stop already in place. I would think cutting any metal might weaken the mower.

 

[bford]

I am currently using limit chains (cutter is being pulled by a ferguson to 30) on the tractor. What pains me is that I have found the height that I like but don't like the rear of the cutter taking up clumps of earth..........maybe it is something that I have to live with. Thoughts?

 

[bford]

I might add that the metal that I am proposing to 'trim' seems to be much thinner than what the deck is made of. The metal in question is located where chains are usually found on newer cutters.

 

[leonz]

I have a 5' Howse that I am using to maintain about 6 acres of land. Not wanting to spend the dollars on a finish mower right now, the hog is being used to keep the grass real short. It does a great job also.

The issue that I am having is that occasionally the rear of the hog rubs the ground. Has anyone ever cut any of the metal on the rear of the cutter to prevent this from happening (thought I would ask before I pulled out the saw). Thanks!!

If you do not have an adjustable top link there is little that can be done other than shortening the limiter chains.

Hacking the rear apron is really no no because the blades will be exposed.

 

[LD1]

Some pics of the proposed section you want to cut bay be helpful.

If It doesnt look structural, I'd personally cut it.

The exposed blades dont worry me so much, but you MUST understand the risk involved.

Some cutters even have removable side skirts that allow grass to discharge out the side, and this exposes the blades.

And then I have also seen cutters that dont really even have side skirts. And the blades are exposed all the way around

 

[Soundguy]

I am currently using limit chains (cutter is being pulled by a ferguson to 30) on the tractor. What pains me is that I have found the height that I like but don't like the rear of the cutter taking up clumps of earth..........maybe it is something that I have to live with. Thoughts?

have you adjusted the tail wheel lower?

front of mower should be slightly lower than the back anyway..

soundguy

 

[rankrank1]

Without pictures - hard to say. Another option instead of cutting the deck would be to add some small plastic deck wheels (like for a riding mower deck)to the rear corners while still keeping the original big factory center rear swivel wheel too. This is a relatively easy and cheap option if there is some thick enough metal to simply drill a hole through for the deck wheel axle bolt. No welder or special tools needed. Deck wheels would be rather easy to find new at places like TSC, Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, etc.

Or I have seen where people have moved the center swivel wheel to one side of the deck and then purchased another identical wheel for the other side of the deck so that the two deck wheels are at the corners to prevent scalping. This is still a reasonably affordable option, but may require some welding and light crude fabrication, but it works well. A replacement rotary cutter wheel like you would need is probably available at your nearest TSC.

 

[ninefinger]

bford, go to customization and look for "rotary mower remodel" . Is this what you speak of?

 

[bford]

Ninefinger that is exactly what I am talking about! I would like to modify the steel or maybe even remove................

 

[Ken45101]

As Soundguy said, the rear of the mower should be high, it's not supposed to do the cutting. Adjust the tailwheel to give you plenty of clearance.

Ken

 

[bford]

How much higher should the rear wheel be? Right now it is maybe an inch or two higher than the front. As stated earlier, I am getting a really nice cut with the mower at it's current height.

 

[eastexan]

It shouldn't hurt to bring the rear up another inch or two.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. few inches total. not much more.. just a few.. 2-4 IMHO.. should be fine depending ont he specific mower geometry.

larger ( longer ) decks will need more. IE.. a 7' SB mower will need a lil more rise back there than a 4' mower.. etc. 4" on a 4' mower would liekly be too much.. etc.

soundguy