New Guy looking at a finish mower

[chim]

When I had a rotary cutter I used a chain in lieu of a toplink. The top connection was only used when the mower was picked up for travelling. It was supported by the tail wheel and 3PH lift arms. In some areas I did regulate the 3PH to compensate in some spots.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would do as much of it with the rotary cutter you have now, and just see how you like it. I have a medium duty brush hog, and it does a pretty good job of making a clean cut, if it's just cutting grass. I'm not looking for a "lawn" finish out of it, just cutting pasture and road ditches. Like Eddie says, you can always sharpen the blades once you get everything else cleared out, and it's down to just grass.

Invest the money you would be spending on a finish mower, towards a decent riding mower, and you'll be set.

Depending on how uneven your ground is, you can use a chain instead of a rigid top link. Also, you should be able to buy a replacement top link, for when you find that your welded one isn't the length you need (like when you get that box blade).

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

What I like about a finish mower is they 'float' on the 4 corner wheels. Just drop the 3 point all the way down, the mower follows the contours pretty good. You can definitely sharpen the blades. I wouldn't try to chop up anything bigger than an inch though.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I don't have anything bigger than an inch to cut really.

Lesson learned right away. Tractors are heavy. With the loader and bush hog my trailer was at its limit

It did better towing a 3/4 ton truck.

And the thing really isn't much in the mud. Had the tires spinning hauling fire wood

I am surprised how much the front tires groove up the dirt.

I plan on dropping $500 on another rider mower when mine finally blows up. As long as it keeps running I will throw belts and oil at it.

And I'll grab some chain and try that on the top link

The top link isn't welded. The bush hog top link hook up is

 

[TractorGuy]

Got the tractor to the house.

Do you normally have to adjust the 3 point height as you go over hills with a bush hog a little bit?
The top link swivel is welded solid on it. Previous owner mowed some extreme banks and used it as a wheeler bar in case he bounced while climbing.

Looks like this forum hosts images so I'll get a picture

Out here in west Tennessee we have had a ton of rain and the ground is really soft. Bought got stuck at the bottom of a hill

I think it is common to have to regulate the height of a brush mower. I have to try several times before I get it to stop scalping in the turns. It really needs to float so I would redo the pivot on the mower or try a chain as suggested. Using a chain could have a safety aspect I don't like to think about. Seems I've heard of them flipping up violently if you hit a stump and have a chain on it.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I just looked over the cutter and I can cut 2 welds and it will pivot again.

May try and clear my paddocks tomorrow that are over grown. Largest stuff is 1 inch and is really brittle

 

[DK35vince]

Got the tractor to the house.
Do you normally have to adjust the 3 point height as you go over hills with a bush hog a little bit?
The top link swivel is welded solid on it. Previous owner mowed some extreme banks and used it as a wheeler bar in case he bounced while climbing.

Not normally
The top link needs to be able to pivot/swivel on the mower

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

Well I cut the welds and the top link pivots like it should

It looks like a farm star srtc-405B model. It was just thrown in because a 5 ft cutter would of been weird behind a 90Hp tractor.

It's does have high lift blades with an edge so I guess I'll sharpen them up and try them before buying anything