Need Help Avoiding Turning too Sharp with E12 Batwing Mower

DanielDD · May 17, 2022

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?

beenthere · May 17, 2022

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.

hosspuller · May 17, 2022

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.

Hay Dude · May 17, 2022

Look out the back window more often when turning tight to help avoid tire contact

ROUSTABOUT · May 17, 2022

Give somebody your phone number and get them to call you and say don't turn too sharp. You can have them call every few minutes if you need them to.

ROUSTABOUT · May 17, 2022

hosspuller said:
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.

ROUSTABOUT · May 18, 2022

Batwings are for road ditches.

DanielDD · May 18, 2022

ROUSTABOUT said:
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.

CobyRupert · May 18, 2022

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.

Hay Dude · May 18, 2022

Maybe widen the stance of your rear tires would help you

DanielDD · May 18, 2022

The rear tires are at their widest, which is somewhere around 7 feet (5090E tractor). As far as not greasing the PTO shaft, I am hesitant do that that as I am a novice and I pay particular attention to the factory specs as far as greasing is concerned. I think it is just going to have to come down to more seat time in order to gain the experience necessary to make turns that don't compromise the interference between the cutter and the rear tractor tires.

CobyRupert · May 18, 2022

Yes, grease the PTO joints. That was a joke. Ok, a bad one. You don’t want to hear them rattle.

EddieWalker · May 18, 2022

How far is your draw bar extended? I don't have a batwing yet, but it's something that I plan on getting one of these days. I have never heard of this before, so I'm interested in it.

hosspuller · May 18, 2022

DanielDD said:
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.

Just to be clear, I don't make sharp turns in my pattern. More like sweeping turns. What is missed gets cut the next pass. With trees and obstacles, I try to get them with multiple passes from different directions. Think pole bending around them. Here's a better description of my overlap pattern.

Zamboni Pattern

Rustyiron · May 18, 2022

Eddie is on track with the draw bar. Often there are 2 positions (in/out) as long as your within the pto shaft's length, which you should be fine with a batwing, pull out the draw bar to it's longest position. You might just want to spray a small circle of weed killer around the trees base. Trimming with a batwing is kinda silly and you'll eventually end up with tree damage.

DanielDD · May 18, 2022

John Deere set up my tractor and batwing, so I'm assuming the drawbar is set correctly. I believe the drawbar is as extended as it can be. Here is a picture....

And yes, that is the wrong hitch pin. I have since corrected that little matter..

3Ts · May 18, 2022

John Deere set up my tractor and batwing, so I'm assuming the drawbar is set correctly. I believe the drawbar is as extended as it can be. Here is a picture....

Ohhhh, ye of misplaced faith! I made the same assumption on my equipment that the dealer delivered (new). Fortunately not to much damage before I figured it out. And that's on 2 different makes of tractor.

Get the owner's manual out and check it!!!

Rustyiron · May 18, 2022

Somewhere I've seen a dimensioned diagram of the tractors PTO shaft and the draw bar pin distance that gave me the impression that it was a standard for PTO powered, drawbar pulled implements.
I'm thinking that it was a batwing mower. It may be this simple. You may have to get deep into the "weeds" to find this info for either the tractor or mower but Deere has a lot of owners manuals online.
Several of my tractors I could pull a (big) pin and slide the d/b in several locations. This was accomplished from underneath the rear and not standing AT the rear end.

Gee Ray · May 18, 2022

Why can't you turn to see the tire and the tongue of the mower as you turn? May help if you learn to sit part way twisted to see better.

The other thing is mount a camera and screen to see the area better.

DanielDD · May 18, 2022

Gee Ray said:
Why can't you turn to see the tire and the tongue of the mower as you turn? May help if you learn to sit part way twisted to see better.

The other thing is mount a camera and screen to see the area better.

A camera and a monitor are probably going to be my best bet. I haven't looked to see what is available for that particular application.

Sitting in the cab and trying to twist in the seat (with the seatbelt on) is difficult at best. Plus its hard to see over the rear tire fenders. Pretty much impossible from my vantage point...