Read discharge RFM safety chains

[Beaglenut]

I just bought a new Woods RD72. Haven't used it yet but was looking for opinions on the rear chains. They are a $100 option on the Woods and the dealer I bought from did not include them. A different dealer I talked to always sold them with the chains. (Not the reason I chose the dealer, it was because they took a trade-in).

Pros and cons on adding the chains I"ve read about include (obviously) safety issues but worse dispersal of clippings. Has anyone ever regretted not having the chains? Or, has anyone had them but took them off? Thanks

 

[Beaglenut]

OK I can"t spell rear discharge and "edit post' won't let you edit the title.

 

[whistlepig]

I have rear chains on my Woods PRD7200. If you don't have a lot of rocks or litter than can fly out and hurt someone you can go without the chains. The dispersal on my mower isn't worse unless the chains become plugged with grass. And these chains plug up quickly and easily. They are easy to clean. About 15 minutes cleaning after every 8 hours of use.

 

[murphy1244]

I use chains front and back.

 

[whistlepig]

The chains are merely a safety device. If your yard is clean and there is no one or no animal around that may be hurt by flying objects they are not a necessity.

 

[murphy1244]

Cheap insurance for me

 

[Halftrack]

Just a couple of thoughts on the chains. They are called "safety" for a reason. If you are the least bit concerned with throwing a rock out the rear of the mower, (people, animals, windows) I would spend the money. If you are NOT concerned, don't bother. Between the neighbors and I, we have used 5 different models of RFM, 3 with and 2 without and My latest 7.5' both ways. Without definitely spreads the clippings better. The other option is a piece of belting bolted where the chains would go, so it is basically horizontal and deflecting anything down. If you are mowing an established lawn, free of rocks and debris, don't bother. If you are bushhogging and going into the "unknown", I would consider them. Hope this helps.

 

[Halftrack]

I type slow and 4 other replys jump in, I should have said ditto.

 

[whistlepig]

I have rear safety chains on my 72" RFM and front chains on my Land Pride RCR1860 rotary cutter. As murphy1244 says they are cheap insurance. These safety chains work remarkably well. If I thought that these chains were hindering the cut on either my RFM or rotary cutter I would take them off. I have had some close calls with things flown out of a mower over the years. The peace of mind that the safety chains give me makes them very much worthwhile.

 

[murphy1244]

Whistlepig, You got that right! I threw a rock into my truck on a field I've cut for 7 years. Never again will I cut without chains.

 

[Beaglenut]

Thanks for the info. My main concern would be backing up around an obstacle close to the house because we have a lot of landscaping rock that tends to spill into the grass. Sounds like a good excuse to keep the wife mowing a small buffer zone with a push mower for me lol. I'll probably buy the chains.

 

[murphy1244]

Thanks for the info. My main concern would be backing up around an obstacle close to the house because we have a lot of landscaping rock that tends to spill into the grass. Sounds like a good excuse to keep the wife mowing a small buffer zone with a push mower for me lol. I'll probably buy the chains.

Smart move! :thumbsup:

 

[WilliamBos]

No chains on our RFM. do not really see a need for them, mower discharges slightly to the right.

 

[whistlepig]

I once launched a heavy piece of metal out of a mower many years ago that narrowly missed hitting a small child that was riding a bicycle in the head by a couple of inches. It terrified the child, scared me, and horrified the mother. Something I will never forget. The child and I got a second chance. I will not take that risk again.

 

[Baby Grand]

I once hit a short, 2" branch that I didn't see in tall grass. A hunk flew out of the 2 o'clock position, made a bumper shot off a nearby tree trunk and almost trimmed some whiskers for me. Stuff comes out in all directions. I have a strip of the rubber matting on the front & a strip of sheet metal on the back. It seems to work okay and never clogs. After 6 years of use, the front one is split and the rear one is all beat up. Time for me to get some new belting ...

 

[Recoveryhill]

Chains are usually an option but as far as I know, all new mowers come with belting bolted to both front and read and in my experience the belting does a satisfactory job at preventing UFOs.

That said, I've had to replace my front belting one time already in three years. Chains are probably a "forever" solution so may be worth the extra money.

 

[dirt ditch]

Chains are probably a "forever" solution so may be worth the extra money.

Probably for a home owner but still need to check them regularly. At work we have to replace thin or missing sections of chain guard on the mowing decks every year.