New Bushhog Question

[Rollcenter]

Purchased a new 6' Rotary Cutter from Tractor Supply This week, Think I got a pretty good deal, $899+Tax. Will be used VERY little, just a few deer plots so I did not need a super high quality one.

I installed it on my Bobcat CT335 with the electronic PTO engagement.

I noticed that when I engage the PTO to run the Bush hog (engine at idle of course) that it REALLY seems to put the shear bolt/ gear case in a MAJOR bind for a split second, I suspect that it because it's "slinging" the blades into the correct mowing condition, but MAN it sounds tricky for a second!!

Any Tips?

 

[beppington]

Have you made sure the PTO shaft is not too long (which would cause it to be jammed against your tractor's PTO)?

Have you confirmed there's oil in the bushhog gearbox?

Those 2 said, bushhog's have a pretty good amount of weight in the blades & stump jumper, a lot for a PTO to get started quickly, so my experience is that it sounds like it might stall for just a split second, & then off it goes, up to full speed with no problems.

 

[acme97]

Sounds like just normal spin up. I'm sure you checked the fluid in gearbox first. You're already engaging at idle speed, so after a few seconds when blades get spinning, just increase rpm's to your 540 mark then get to work. I'm assuming you have all the linkages adjusted for proper cutting and lifting of bushhog.

 

[leonz]

Purchased a new 6' Rotary Cutter from Tractor Supply This week, Think I got a pretty good deal, $899+Tax. Will be used VERY little, just a few deer plots so I did not need a super high quality one.

I installed it on my Bobcat CT335 with the electronic PTO engagement.

I noticed that when I engage the PTO to run the Bush hog (engine at idle of course) that it REALLY seems to put the shear bolt/ gear case in a MAJOR bind for a split second, I suspect that it because it's "slinging" the blades into the correct mowing condition, but MAN it sounds tricky for a second!!

Any Tips?

Short of crawling under the brush mower or lowering it on blocks before you even start the rotary cutter (WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND KEY IN YOUR POCKET) to assure that the cutter blades are not stuck and are fully extended NO.

The thing your dealing with is "delivered torque" and the spindle of the gear box is where it ends and the centrifugal force required to spin the blades is what is creating all the noise and shuddering through the weldments and skin of the rotary cutter.

If the gearbox had a fluid coupler or torque arresting arm (which would not work well with a rotary cutter as the gearbox is bolted to the shell of the rotary cutter you would not experience this phenominon.

Your machine is throwing a lot of mass and if the blades are stuck "IN" and slightly bound up it will do all the things you are experiencing.


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Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[Marveltone]

Swinging blades and the resulting shakes at engagement seem to be the nature of the beast. Mine rarely goes through that, as it has such a long slow down time after disengaging the PTO, that the blades rarely fold, but mine is also a mechanical PTO. The result is, the blades are already at full extension at engagement. My question is, do the electronic types have some sort of braking in them to stop equipment faster after disengagement? If so, that could cause the blades to start from a folded position all the time. Like I said, I really have no clue, but it's something I've always wondered.

Thoughts?

Joe

 

[RandyT]

I have a 2005 Kioti DK45S with the electric engagement and when starting the bush hog at idle you just push the button and then cringe. sheared the shear bolt when I accidently hit the button while mowing and just kicked it back in before the blades stopped turning and it went pow.

 

[Rollcenter]

Yep, Driveshaft proper length.

Gearcase filled.

I agree, I think it's just the large amount of weight to get swinging!!

Just wanted someone else's opinion to make me feel better!!

 

[leonz]

About your mower,

Does your rotary cutter have safety chains over the inlet or outlet?

In my past example- years ago with my brothers rotary cutter-setting the mower on the ground and allowing the side rails to drag along the ground minimises the chances of ejecting a rock or another object as the mower shell will hold it in place if it impacts the object. It simply scuffs the paint on the side plates but it minimises the chance of throwing something by impacting an object.




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Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[Rollcenter]

My unit DOES NOT have any chains on the rear discharge.

 

[TripleR]

There is a pretty good thread on here somewhere with a lot of good info on operating a bush hog/shredder/rotary cutter.

We have several tractors and several bush hogs from 4' to 10' and the only way to get one to "smoothly" engage is with a clutch or lever type PTO and even then smooth is a relative term.

I don't engage at idle, but pretty low RPM and drop the RPM prior to disengaging.

I really like chains on one, but can live with rubber shields as those thing will send debris out at pretty high velocity.