Rotary Cutter Rotary Cutter Making Grass Piles

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I have a Kodiak brand rotary cutter. As you can see from the picture, it is open at the rear near the tail wheel. It tends to periodically throw clumps of grass out of this rear open area. It's not a major concern other than the cut area isn't quite as "manicured" as I would prefer. I know manicured is probably not the correct term for bush hogged land, but anyway you know what I mean.

There are bolt holes on the raised flange on the rear, so I am guessing I can get a plate from the manufacturer to cover the open area. Is there a downside covering that area? Will doing so correct this problem?

 

[sweettractors]

Jerry, If you run the cutter at PTO speed on the tractor, The cutter should not do that. Have you tried slowing down your ground speed and keeping your tractor rpm at pto speed? Ken Sweet

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Jerry, If you run the cutter at PTO speed on the tractor, The cutter should not do that. Have you tried slowing down your ground speed and keeping your tractor rpm at pto speed? Ken Sweet

Ken:

I am running at 540 PTO speed. Maybe my ground speed is too fast. Do you think covering the rear open area would be detrimental in any way? Is this cutter meant to be used with that area open? It seems to me that closing that area would have the effect of making the cutter have more of mulching action.

I have a heavier duty Rhino cutter that is used on a larger tractor. It has the rounded in back, fully closed all around configuration. It never leaves grass piles like the Kodiak.

 

[sweettractors]

Ken:

I am running at 540 PTO speed. Maybe my ground speed is too fast. Do you think covering the rear open area would be detrimental in any way? Is this cutter meant to be used with that area open? It seems to me that closing that area would have the effect of making the cutter have more of mulching action.

I have a heavier duty Rhino cutter that is used on a larger tractor. It has the rounded in back, fully closed all around configuration. It never leaves grass piles like the Kodiak.

If you have the back closed in, you should get more of a mulching effect. The holes in the back of the cutter were probably there for mounting safety chains. I have never seen a cutter throw out like that?? Ken Sweet

 

[CharlieS]

An old piece of rubber belting, old truck mudflap or the like can be used to close off that opening though you may have to experiment a little on height to get a clean discharge. Occasionally i've seen some clumping like that though generally in tall grass thats wet from dew or light rain.
On another note, safety wise, without some sort of shield back there, the mower will be more prone to throwing an object hidden in the grass.
Case in point, years ago, i had a cutter knife break across the bolt eye, on a way old ford bushhog. We found the knife about 150 feet away and it had been thrown across the road into a neighbors pasture. Fortunately no traffic on the road or anything of the like, and the guard chains were in place behind the mower. What a disaster that could have been.
For this reason i never sharpen knives in place, i remove them to sharpen so i can inspect them for cracks/damage that could cause blade failure.

 

[mlauk]

The manual on my shredder recommends the front end to be about one inch lower than the rear, but also says to level the front and back to get a better cut. Maybe it will mulch it better.

 

[beenthere]

And I think that there is something underneath where the cut grass is catching, and accumulating. Then once in a while it upchucks the wad and starts to accumulate more.

Find what is doing this, and remove the catcher.

Wet grass may be the culprit too.

Seems to me adding more obstacles to cover the rear discharge may just cause more wads to accumulate. But might be worth a try to find out.

 

[JDMAN4020]

Are you sure the front of the skids aren't dragging spent clippings, and releasing it all at once? Most mowers discharge to the left side, and that is the side that should be on the edge of the grass that you just mowed. Don't let the skid drag the ground, but raise it about 1/2" from dragging.

 

[flyingcow]

Are you sure the front of the skids aren't dragging spent clippings, and releasing it all at once? Most mowers discharge to the left side, and that is the side that should be on the edge of the grass that you just mowed. Don't let the skid drag the ground, but raise it about 1/2" from dragging.

+1. My 7ft new holland bush hog will pile up grass like that when i run the skids very close to the ground also. If I mow in a rotation where the i don't run over the previous discharge, it seems to take care of it. Just my 2cents.

 

[dt.2448]

+1. My 7ft new holland bush hog will pile up grass like that when i run the skids very close to the ground also. If I mow in a rotation where the i don't run over the previous discharge, it seems to take care of it. Just my 2cents.

X3. I've been having the same experience and just recently tried to pick up the front just a little just a little when in thicker stuff and no more clumps. I drop it back down in certain hard to cut weeds.