Rotary Cutter New Rotary Cutter Set Up Issues

[Spiderman]

After nearly 20 years using a Fred Cain 5' cutter behind my Kubota 4630 I finally purchased a 6' Woods 72X mainly so that the added width wood cover my tire tracks. I'm having problems getting enough lift in the cutter. When set up according to the manufactures instructions the tail wheel will only come a couple of inches off the ground. Is this normal? If I shorten the break link all of the way the lift increases but then I would have readjust constantly. I have put the top link in the lowest hole on the tractor which also helped. Is there something that i am missing in the adjustment process? Thanks for your help

 

[searcyfarms]

for the top link what are you using? I ONLY use a chain for my top link on any 3 point rotary mower/cutter - with the mower flat on the ground - I mean the front of it with the arms down all the way to get the front of the mower running on the skids - adjust your trail wheel to the desired height ( if adjustable ) then install your chain from the tractor to the top link, when you start to lift the arms the rear of the mower will stay on the ground and then as you raise the arms higher, the slack with be eliminate in the chain and the rear wheel will eventually come off the ground.

The beauty of this is when you go across a ditch your top link will not bind up and get you stuck or bend/break something -

 

[90cummins]

Sounds like your tractor does not have the capacity to lift it.
Should be able to lift the tail 2+ feet off ground.
90cummins

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just looked at a picture of your cutter. Can you shorten the floating top link of the cutter?

 

[ericm979]

From pics it looks like the Wood's top link pin is farther forward than the bottom link pins. So you'd need to shorten your top link when using the mower.

My Kodiak mower has a similar pivoting support set up that allows the mower to pivot up when backing up to a bank. There is no need to replace the top link with a chain with this type of mower. I set it up so when the 3pt is raised up the mower is tilted down in back slightly. That way it follows the terrain through dips. On flat ground the mower's pivot link is not fully extended.

 

[orangeandgreen]

Move the lifting struts for the arms to a hole farther away from the implement so they give you more lift. I has a similar problem with a disk and had to move the struts to the front hole to get enough lift.

 

[Spiderman]

Thanks for all of your replies. I believe I've solved the problem. Attaching the lift arms to a lower hole on the cutter seemed to solve the lift problem and still have the break link adjusted according to manufacturers instructions. The instructions never mentions changing lifting points. The tractor has plenty of lift capacity. This cutter is brand new and I haven't had the opportunity with all of the rain we've been getting to try it out. I'll let yu now how it goes. Thanks again for your input

 

[MESSMAKER]

One of my cutters never really fit my tractor. The a arm tilted toward the back of the tractor. I had the same issue with lift. I ended up shortening the 2 arms connecting the a arm to the back of the cutter. I cut about an 2 inches off and drilled a new hole. It worked much better.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I had to change the height of my rear tires on my 10 footer to get it higher in the rear and adjust the top link on the tractor location also. It came from the factory set in the middle height at the reart. I typically try to hog as high as possible. I think I have it set at 12".

Glad you got your unit adjusted properly. You have a nice set up there.