Rotary Cutter Problems with my new Bush Hog 3008

[Rustyiron]

Well in under 15 hours my new (from Bush Hog) are bent up exactly like the blades I replaced. Mows like chit.
My next move is chopping up the old set and altering them to attach a chain in place of a blade. I've had at least a half dozen other mowers in the past and have never seen this happen, the majority of them were Woods but there were a few lesser brands (Mohawk) in this mix along with a good JD mower. I really can't believe that there's a problem with the mower, I mean there stupidly simply and everything works properly and the BH 3008 is built like a brick S*** house. A local tractor dealer (not a BH dealer) offered that the new blades are softer for safety reasons and won't break. I could possibly see this in a homeowner type cutter, but this is in no way one of those.

 

[LD1]

Well in under 15 hours my new (from Bush Hog) are bent up exactly like the blades I replaced. Mows like chit.
My next move is chopping up the old set and altering them to attach a chain in place of a blade. I've had at least a half dozen other mowers in the past and have never seen this happen, the majority of them were Woods but there were a few lesser brands (Mohawk) in this mix along with a good JD mower. I really can't believe that there's a problem with the mower, I mean there stupidly simply and everything works properly and the BH 3008 is built like a brick S*** house. A local tractor dealer (not a BH dealer) offered that the new blades are softer for safety reasons and won't break. I could possibly see this in a homeowner type cutter, but this is in no way one of those.

What the heck are you hitting to bend blades?

 

[Rustyiron]

I do hit rocks, but no more or less than with all my previous mowers. This is what I don't understand and (shaking my head) kinda makes me think that the lawyers might be influencing the blade metallurgy like I had been told by the Kubota dealership.
I mow brush and saplings close to 100% and apparently a chain type assembly is used in Europe and there's a member here that's either used or seen them. (Portugal iirc).

 

[Ford850]

Rocks would have chipped the blade more, at least they do in my experience. From how those blades are bending it looks like you're driving over a large stump or rock that is only exposed enough to push up on the blades as the mower rides over it (rather than getting hit with the edge of the blades).

 

[LD1]

Most of the blades are 5160 spring steel. Same thing as leaf springs. Or at least that's what blades used to be.

Maybe they changed something with the alloy, or even the heat treat/tempering process

 

[Rustyiron]

Rocks would have chipped the blade more, at least they do in my experience. From how those blades are bending it looks like you're driving over a large stump or rock that is only exposed enough to push up on the blades as the mower rides over it (rather than getting hit with the edge of the blades).

Oh I do "buff" stumps, but my right hand is always on the lift handle and I keep going back to "this is what I've been doing... forever". Frequently I'm backing in a tractor length or less with the mower raised, lower and pull out.
I'm also wondering about adding a ring such as Eddie's post asking about it. I have never seen this before. I need to pm Hay dude, he seems to be familiar with this ring set up, and does a lot of mowing.

 

[adamlj]

Well in under 15 hours my new (from Bush Hog) are bent up exactly like the blades I replaced. Mows like chit.

Hey Rusty, did you ever get this sorted out? I have a new to me Bush Hog from the 80s that appears to have a similar issue. I didn't think it was possible that both blades were bending, but after seeing your post it's clearly possible. Mine aren't near as bad as yours, but wonder if they'll get there over time. Wondering about trying some aftermarket blades from Tractor Supply rather than the BH branded ones.

 

[Rustyiron]

I was thinking about converting it to chains. A member here from Portugal posted some pics of this. It's very different from the "T bar" and stump jumper pan arrangement that I'm used to (and have on my mower). His mower has the chains attached to a hub on the spindle about 8" across, meaning the chain would be much longer than simply attached to the stub of an old blade and retaining the t bar and pan. There may be a problem with the cutting height in relation to the depth or height of the side panels-skid "runners" and a low enough cutting height.
Kind of a chit job that I'm not sure about the results and definitely not looking forward to doing. Then being a twin spindle mower adds additional doubts to my success.
I'll be sure to post something when (or if) I get around to it.