Rotary Cutter Plowing with my Bush hog??

[JDRandyC]

First of all- I am new to all of this, just got my 3930 about 3 month ago and I have a new bushog rotary mower. I am having a problem with the front edge of the cutter digging into the ground.

I understand that I am going to scarf up the ground when I make a turn if the ground is not perfectly level, but I am having problems even when cutting in flat ground.

Last time I used the cutter, I put a level across the front and adjusted the linkage to make sure it was perfectly level, side to side. I set the PTO to what I thought was an appropriate level and began cutting. Everything looked good, but then after cutting a while, I looked back and one side looks like I am plowing instead of cutting grass.

I can't figure out whats wrong unless this is just to be expected with these type cutters. I don't know if I am cutting too low or what the problem may be.

Any suggestions apprecieated!

 

[beppington]

You need to make sure it's perfectly level to the tractor (if you level the cutter, but the tractor is on slightly tilted ground/ pavement/ concrete, you haven't done any good). Do this on level pavement or concrete: Drop the rotary all the way onto the concrete. Very slowly lift it with the 3-pt hitch control, watching both front corners of the cutter. If one side comes up off the concrete first, adjust until they come up at exactly the same time.

Second, you probably just have the front too low. You may be trying to get a manicured lawn look, & rotary cutters just can't really do that good of a job. Rotary cutters beat up big stuff; They don't make fine cuts.

 

[MMagis]

Second, you probably just have the front too low. You may be trying to get a manicured lawn look, & rotary cutters just can't really do that good of a job. Rotary cutters beat up big stuff; They don't make fine cuts.

Yep, pick it up a few inches.

 

[Marveltone]

I'm new at this also, but my Woods manual said to set the gauge wheel to the desired height, then level the RC in the travel position. (All the way up) This way, you can use the rear remote to constantly change your front height to match whatever rolling or uneven terrain your likely to encounter. I tried it, and it works. Just took a few min. to get used to steering with one hand and riding the rear remote with the other. I'm very pleased with the results. :2cents:

Joe

 

[clemsonfor]

pick it up a few inches more and lock it down there and cut, your grass will be like 6 inches high, but its a rough cut mower not a finish mower so it will have to cut higher to avoid the scalping your getting now.

 

[djradz]

Do the leveling as others suggested, on a flat surface such as your drive, garage or barn. THEN, do a search of TBN for "check chains". They take all the bother about precisely setting (and resetting every time you lift and lower) the deck. Simply drop the lift control all the way down and the chains precisely determine where you want the deck, every time. Here's a picture on my RFM, but my brush hog has the same setup minus the turnbuckles.

 

[beppington]

... do a search of TBN for "check chains". They take all the bother about precisely setting (and resetting every time you lift and lower) the deck. Simply drop the lift control all the way down and the chains precisely determine where you want the deck, every time.

That's an interesting idea! My lift control is numbered. It's infinite (not notched or stepped or whatever it's called), but I know if I set it at 6, that's the right height. Or if I see it dug a little, 6.5 is needed.

 

[TripleR]

Does your tractor have position control and is it working properly?

 

[blueriver]

My tractor has one touch lift ... preset the height you want and then just touch the up and down button ... goes to the same level each time.

 

[duckhunt]

Its a learning process. Mine loves to dig, especially when turning. Just raise her up a bit, and possibly lower the back. The lowest I've ever been able to mow is about 5 inches. Just takes practice.