Mowing Tips??

[duckhunt]

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to keep your rotary cutters blades out of the dirt. I know this sounds rather stupid, but I have about 5-7 acres to mow that was cleared last year. Just a little rough, but overall flat, but everytime the tractor goes over a ridge or rut I have to pickup the 3-point , then lower back down. Now this leaves or grass sticking up. If I mow slow everything is ok, but it takes forever to get finished. How in the Heck do the guys on the highways prevent this, going up and over ditches? I also get some bounce out of the cutter when hitting a bump and get some dirt then too. Any tips??

This is my first year that I actually have grass to mow, instead of brush.

Thanks,

Jonathan

 

[Runner]

"How in the Heck do the guys on the highways prevent this, going up and over ditches?"

From what I've seen, they don't. Every field I've ever seen that was mowed with a rotary has slash marks where the blade and/or sides of the mower have scraped dirt. Happens with mine all the time too.

I have seen threads on here from people that have added gauge wheels to the front corners of their cutters and that looks like a good idea if you have the means and initiative to do it.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I though getting in the dirt was to keep the blade sharp.

Keep it level, higher than perferred and jacked up some in the back helps a little.

 

[Bret Mc]

I though getting in the dirt was to keep the blade sharp.

Keep it level, higher than perferred and jacked up some in the back helps a little.

I bet I would have the sharpest Bush Hog around if this were true !!

 

[duckhunt]

Thanks for the replys, seems I'm not the only one mowing the dirt

Gale Hawkins,
I must have really sharp blades

 

[dangerdoc]

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to keep your rotary cutters blades out of the dirt. I know this sounds rather stupid, but I have about 5-7 acres to mow that was cleared last year. Just a little rough, but overall flat, but everytime the tractor goes over a ridge or rut I have to pickup the 3-point , then lower back down. Now this leaves or grass sticking up. If I mow slow everything is ok, but it takes forever to get finished. How in the Heck do the guys on the highways prevent this, going up and over ditches? I also get some bounce out of the cutter when hitting a bump and get some dirt then too. Any tips??

This is my first year that I actually have grass to mow, instead of brush.

Thanks,

Jonathan

I figure if I hit the dirt enough times, eventually the field will be flat.

Seriously though, the more times you mow, between the tires and mower knocking down the high spots and the mulch filling in the low spots, the field gets easer to mow.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The 7' cut finds more high spots than the 6' cutter did.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks for the replys, seems I'm not the only one mowing the dirt...

No, you're not...
I just live with it...hasn't seemed to have hurt the blades.

 

[shane]

No, you're not...
I just live with it...hasn't seemed to have hurt the blades.[/QUOT

Sometimes I wonder if it would not be better to just call them beaters instead of blades.

 

[TripleR]

I am using a pull type Woods DS1260 and am not "mowing" gravel and dirt, but with ANY 3-point I do. Our renters use a 15 foot Woods pull type and they even "mow" some gravel and dirt from time to time, just the "nature of the beast" I believe.

 

[Will_C]

That's why I use a bush hog!! If the 4 acres I had were smooth enough, I would use my RFM or my Ztr.

Will

 

[flusher]

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to keep your rotary cutters blades out of the dirt. I know this sounds rather stupid, but I have about 5-7 acres to mow that was cleared last year. Just a little rough, but overall flat, but everytime the tractor goes over a ridge or rut I have to pickup the 3-point , then lower back down. Now this leaves or grass sticking up. If I mow slow everything is ok, but it takes forever to get finished. How in the Heck do the guys on the highways prevent this, going up and over ditches? I also get some bounce out of the cutter when hitting a bump and get some dirt then too. Any tips??

This is my first year that I actually have grass to mow, instead of brush.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Fill in the low spots; cut down the high spots. Get yourself an offset disc and run it over the pasture a few times. That'll flatten it out real quickly.

 

[sodamo]

Heck, mowing the dirt's not so bad, it's those rocks hidden just below the surface of the dirt that get me. And new ones float to the surface every rain!!!!

David