Rotary Cutter ROTARY CUTTER

[Soundguy]

I have to agree with Robert.

If you are in any way thinking the pto shaft will do anything to prevent the mower from coming up and over.. then you are 'defacto' relying on it as a warning or safety advice...

Soundguy

"The pto shaft is a very weak item to rely on as a safety device..."

It sure is and I don't read anywhere where someone was suggesting it as such.

The mechanics of getting a mounted shredder deck vertical to ground level while cutting is the odd thing here. I've cut a lot of ground, but, I've never come anywhere close to having a mower deck rear-up as described in the posts above. The PTO shaft would seem to give a good deal of warning of this "problem" pretty quick as it buckles and binds and joints fail as the deck comes up.

One net positive with having a direct, non-live/independent PTO is that when things get hairy, applying the clutch stops everything going on.

 

[JerryG]

I have flipped the MD 172 before as it has a linkage system that allows the top link to float but is still rigid to prevent it from flipping. I have caught a stump and the base of some thick brush and it has lifted the rear right up till it bottomed the linkage out. I would not suggest you run without the toplink but everyone can do as they want with their own tractors and equipment.

The first time you see the tail wheel 6' in the air will make you understand the importance of the rigid toplink.

What damage if any occurred?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The only damage is it flared the linkage system on the chopper. The MD has the 3pt A-frame on a linkage so that it folds back some and more or less allows the chopper to float a ways but it only allows just so much before it hits and stops. When I caught the red brush root ball it flipped the back end right up, flared the stop when it hit the rear wheel support and stopped the tractor (TN65). If it had just been chains I am sure I would have to replace the pto shaft and possibly repair a gear box. If I didn't have a top link hooked up I would have had a chopper resting on the ROPS unless it would have pulled the root ball out first. A ROPS-less tractor I think I would have a headache