Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower

   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #1  

DanielDD

Bronze Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2020
Messages
57
Location
Southern Tennessee
Tractor
John Deere 5090E
I'm new at all of this. I've got less than 60 hours in my tractor with a Batwing mower. I've noticed that my rear tires on the tractor are sometimes contacting the Batwing. The manual specifies no more than 80 degrees. I'm sure this is happening when I'm going around trees and such. I bought the exterior mirrors for the tractor, and they do save my neck from having to look behind me all the time, but I really can't see whether I'm turning too tight or not. So, then I end up taking too wide of a turn and then loosing the efficiency of cutting.

So, what are your recommendations for how I can see to avoid turning to sharp?
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #2  
Set up an alarm system that will sound off when turning too sharp.

Does not seem like this batwing is the best choice for you, but do not know all the details.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #3  
Simple... Don't turn tightly. I make overlapping turns. That is when doing a large area, I mow two rows over. The next pass gets the missed row. This avoids tire interference AND strain on the PTO drive joints.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #4  
Look out the back window more often when turning tight to help avoid tire contact
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #6  
Simple... Don't turn tightly. I make overlapping turns. That is when doing a large area, I mow two rows over. The next pass gets the missed row. This avoids tire interference AND strain on the PTO drive joints.

I always do the leap frog approach.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #7  
Batwings are for road ditches.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Batwings are for road ditches.
I've got 90 acres. I needed something bigger than a standard rotary cutter. I realize some of you are making light of the situation and I'm good with that. Looking out the back window doesn't give me the kind of sight lines I need in order to avoid rubbing the back tire. This most usually happens when turning left. Hosspuller mentioned overlapping turns, which I have been doing in order to save time.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #9  
Quit greasing the PTO shaft U-joints. With some use they will automatically give a warning sound to let you know you’re turning too tight.

The only thing I can think of would be some chains between tractor and mower that limit turn angle. …but I have no clue where to attach them that doesn’t interfere with PTO or where they don’t get run over.
 
   / Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower #10  
Maybe widen the stance of your rear tires would help you
 

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