Mowing around Trees

aschk · Apr 20, 2002

I live in the woods, and am working on clearing underbrush.The ground is uneven, and the trees don't move out of the way when I come through. My answer: the KingKutter Articulated. The turning radius is tight, and height adjustment can be done 'on the run'. Custom tongue was made by a friend. A 3-point 'swings-out' too far to the rear to be effective in the woods.
Cautions:
Don't raise too high- shaft will contact drawbar pin (a bad thing).
Don't try to turn so tight that the tire lifts the mower (a REALLY bad thing).
Watch for stumps,etc. that may negatively affect your forward progress (a scary and bad thing).

Pics attached.

aschk · Apr 20, 2002

Kustom Hitch

aschk · Apr 20, 2002

Shown in turn.

BrettW · Apr 20, 2002

I looked at all the pics, thanks, Tell me is the cut as good as a good finish mower? Also, only 2 wheels so if you hit a rut does it tend to gouge the lawn? How wide? Articulated means exactly what? and last how is the price? Thanks for all the info, bret w

RoyJackson · Apr 20, 2002

Is that a 5' cutter? I read (probably on King Kutter's site) that you can use a bigger cutter on a lower HP machine (since your 1750 is 15 HP@ the PTO).

Just curious...

BTW, where abouts in MD are ya?

beenthere · Apr 20, 2002

Interesting as I had a similar hitch on a mower (rotary cutter), and changed it to a 3pt. To each their own, but I found my new 3pt arrangement much more maneuverable in the woods than when I had the trailer hitch style. Too often I knew there was a stone or stump that I had to cross over, and couldn't raise the deck to do it. I did like the dual trailer wheels on the back, except they didn't stay in the path of the cut. Mine was a 4' rotary, and since then I have moved to a 5'.
Your large turning radius would appear to me to make mowing around trees very difficult, and forgetting to not raise the 3pt drawbar and thus bend the PTO, too costly. Just my opinion, and am happy that it works for you.

cisco · Apr 20, 2002

Interesting set-up - might be better for mowing around the shrubbery on my lawn than the 3 pt. system. I've given up getting real close to trees (i.e., less than 9-12"), as I tended to zap roots that hadn't quite made it underground (oaks in particular) and when tired would occasionally gouge the bark. So, I just mounted up a back-pack 4 gal reservoir and pump, filled it with Roundup, and sprayed around most of my trees.
The pattern on your back tires is something I've not seen before. What is it?

pennwalk · Apr 20, 2002

I know that there is a maximum angle that PTO joints are designed to work at. I don't remember what it is but it might be worth looking into. They do make PTO shafts with high angle joints.

Chris

RoyJackson · Apr 20, 2002

maximum angle that PTO joints are designed to work at

15°

aschk · Apr 20, 2002

BrettW-This is a rough cut mower only.It would not do to use on a lawn. Articulated means 'jointed'. In equipment, it is generally used to describe a piece that is jointed , with each section steerable. It was a lame joke by me to use the term.

Roy- It is a 4' mower. I have a 25 yr old KK that is 5', but it is too big for the little Kubota, and too rusty for my liking- one tough hit and I might have shrapnel wounds, or worse!
I am in Caroline County, on the Eastern Shore of MD.

Cisco- The tires are made of what appears to be recycled car tires cut into sections and vulcanized together to form a solid tire. These are ugly, but never wear out. The old mower is 25yrs, and the tires are still good.

beenthere- Get over it.