Renting an JD 445 to cut a tall grass - advice

[Ford tractor]

Point 1 -- get the insurance. You may very well find some old metal objects that could do damage. Most equipment rental places have insurance against all damage for a fairly reasonable $$, especially cheap if you hit something and pop a hole in the tire, or break the deck.

Point 2 - have the rental place show you how to use the machine. JD's are real simple. Typically just set the rpm, set the deck height, then stop and steer like a car. You will have to know where the PTO control is and the deck height control. Rest your hand on them so you can raise the deck or shut off the pto should you hit a rock, stump, engine block, etc.

Point 3 - wear hearing protection!



Go slow and try to run a route where your first pass throws the grass out. A spiral moving counter clockwise is probably what you will do. The second pass will be hours later and the cut grass will be dry and easier to re-cut. The second cut you can go back and forth, or a different pattern so you get all the areas. If the grass is wet (as seen by moisture on the front tires), you may have to shut down, jump off and use a stick to clear out the wadded up grass in the deck.

NEVER use your hand, unless you want to only be able to count to 5.

Cutting for 8 hours and you will probably be using 1.5 gal / hour (maybe as high as 2) -- so have plenty of fuel on hand. No sense wasting rental time fetching fuel!

 

[RoyJackson]

Point 3 - wear hearing protection!

I'll just add a few things to Ford tractor's fine post:

Eye protection would be advisable too...goggles, not just safety glasses. If you're prone to allergies, you might want to consider a surgical or spray painter's mask (something to filter out dust and particles).

Brush cutting can be a hot and very dusty job. That dust and debris from the brush can clog up the radiator screens so watch the tractor's temperture gauge. If it starts heading up, stop and idle for a few minutes (do not shut the tractor down!!) and shut down the PTO. Once the cutter blades stop (that will take about a minute or so), shut the tractor down and clean off the grills.

Wear the seat belt and make sure the ROPS is up and locked (if it's a folding ROPS).

 

[MarkV]

One more thing. Rotary mowers can throw rocks or pieces of sticks a long way. Make sure other people and pets are not in the area when mowing.

MarkV

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would not worry too much with the brush mower. It is a bit of a blunt object.
Start the tractor , lower the cutter,set your pto speed,mow

Watch out for objects in your path and people or animals nearby. I have never had to resort to cleaning wet grass from under a brush cutter. I would stay from under the cutter and away from the blades if at all possible. Bad things can happen.

Make a slow trip arond the perimiter to start to get a lay of the land. I like to cut the uneven slow parts first, while I am alert and then do the easier stuff after that at a little higher speed.

8 hours on a brushmower is a long time. Take a break every hour or so and stretch or you will have the bobblehead the next day.

 

[Dave5264]

I do alot of Brush Hogging, lots of good advice here already, the only point Id re iterate is BE SAFE. Your new to this so :

Do NOT get off that tractor with the PTO engaged and the Bush Hog running !

Do not allow family members anywhere near you. My Rule to my family, you better be 250' away at all times, if im in a paddock, you are not, If im in the field you stay at the gate, you do not approach me until you see that I have seen you and you get the wave in (i have disengaged the PTO). I will not engage that PTO if you are in the same field as me, or are witin 250'

you never know whats under the grass that could be launched or things like fence wire that can get caught in the deck and pull in by-stander.