Rotary Cutter Reverse Bush Hog?

[Jason977]

I've got an HD Bush Hog type mower that I'd like to use to open up the cleared area around the house a little. I just want to take what I have and push back the brush line ~10' or so. I was wondering if anyone had put 3ph attachments on the rear of their mower (remove the wheel, of course) and turned the gearbox around for this type of operation. It would basically be the same as they use on the front of skid steers, except with a sore neck from looking back . I've briefly tried just backing in as is, but the wheel gets in the way, and the angled back of the mower body pushes the brush away instead of into the blades. Driving forward isn't a viable option, either.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bird]

I'm not really sure I understand what you're saying, but I've never taken the rear wheel off, but I've certainly backed into stuff I couldn't drive over. And while I'd be a bit cautious about the blades throwing stuff, I have been known to raise the brush hog, back over something, then lower the brush hog into it to chop it up; blade turning all the time, of course.

 

[California]

I think I would just take the tailwheel assembly off and get by with it like that. I don't think a lot of redesign is going to improve things much.

 

[wedge40]

What kind of brush are we talking? I've done what Bird suggested many times. I've been lucky in that the chucks never hit me directly. If you're going to do it either wear a face shield or as you lower the bush hog, dont look back.

Wedge

 

[Jason977]

I think y'all are probably right, that a redesign won't be worth all the effort. I was just thinking that approaching the brush with the open end of the cutter instead of backing in with the enclosed end would be of benefit. While I still think that may be true, it's probably not worth the effort for the small project that I'm working on. It's pretty easy to move the wheel out of the way though, I'll give that a shot.
I'm mostly tackling vines and Yaupon under 2". Anything larger than that I'll chainsaw down and drag out to the burn pile.

 

[RalphVa]

I agree with California. Just take the tail wheel off.

Ralph

 

[Eagleview]

It would be easy to make a pipe/tube frame to funnel the bush into the mower whilst reversing . They would be shaped like Bulls horns .

 

[Timber]

Put a steering wheel spinner on your tractor, you will be surprised how well it saves you neck going backward

 

[jbrumberg]

"...I've never taken the rear wheel off, but I've certainly backed into stuff I couldn't drive over. And while I'd be a bit cautious about the blades throwing stuff, I have been known to raise the brush hog, back over something, then lower the brush hog into it to chop it up; blade turning all the time, of course.

Welcome to TBN !

Although I do not have a "suicide knob" (yet), I also like Timber's suggestion. I also wear my safety chainsaw/brush trimmer helmet when I am cutting in this manner. Jay

 

[IslandTractor]

I share Bird's confusion here. I used to back my bush hog into brush routinely and rarely actually drove forward with the thing to cut as the brush was too big for me to drive over. Never took the wheel off. Those cutters are designed for exactly that type of manuver and you just need to be careful not to back the wheel directly into a tree. Works every bit as well in reverse as it does going forward.

 

[JoeL4330]

I back into/over stuff all the time w. my rotary cutter ...sometimes lift it a bit, sometimes just tilt the rear up a little more (it's supposed to be higher than the front, anyway)

 

[Soundguy]

All my tractors got spinner knobs. makes em easier to use.. specially the loader ones.

I've mowed backwards into thickets many times, as the others have said.. you get used to it.

soundguy

 

[Jason977]

I'll give the spinner a shot when I get my new tractor. The one I have now wouldn't work so well, both because of the awkward angle of the wheel, and the lack of pwr steering. Although with the mower raised, it only has about 200lbs on the front wheel anyways, so it steers pretty easily, but doesn't necessarily turn...

I did a few hours of brush work the other day, just backing in. The only problem I had was I bent the lower edge of the shroud into the blade by backing into trees that were too big. I beat it away from the blade, but I may add a piece of angle to give it some strength in that direction. While I'm at it, I may also cut some teeth so that it would cut down some of the small stuff as I'm backing in.

The main thing I really need is a live PTO... That will make all the difference in the world for this type of work.

 

[Soundguy]

I'll give the spinner a shot when I get my new tractor. The one I have now wouldn't work so well, ...the lack of pwr steering. .

Eh? lack of power steering means you can't use a spinner.

I ESPECIALLY like the spinners on my 3 non PS loader tractors.. it lets me steer and run the spool valves at the same time.

Soundguy

 

[Glowplug]

I'm still confused about what you're trying to do in your original post. I picture the cutter mounted vertically (upright) and you backing into a wall of brush, hacking it to pieces along a vertical plane instead of a horizontal plane like all mowing is done. Sounds freaky! If that's what you're talking about hope no one is standing behind you within 100 yards!

 

[donais]

he just means turn the mower around so the front is now the back just spin it 180 and put the 3 pt on the rear