Rotary Cutters Fling Hazard

[Texasmark]

Hi all. I bought a rotary cutter for my subcompact to keep the weeds down until I can landscape on my two acre lot. I'd like to get as close to the house as much as possible. I plan to put 4 by 8s in front of windows and patio doors (I have a lot of windows) when cutting by house and then check the area for rocks and objects ahead of cutting.

My question. Do rotary cutters fling in all directions? I've read that the rear should be set higher to allow for material to escape so I was going to avoid driving directly away from the house and do most of the cutting runs in parallel.

My thoughts:

1. Check the area for objects that may fling.
2. Set the cutter high (no need to cut flush to the ground).

View attachment 564628

You don't have to raise the rear...just keeps grass from clumping if in heavy stuff and lots of clippings to discharge. Chains are usually available from the mower mfgr for front (to protect your tires) and rear to protect things behind you. If not make your own, not a hassle, I have done it many times. Lot less throwing than my drum mower that i use for cutting hay for sure and blade tip speed is slower so there isn't as much energy in missiles propelled by it as regular 2 and 3 blade conventional and ZT mowers.

 

[radios1]

I can tell you that even a 21" push rotary mower can fling a small rock all the way to at least 50 feet, and cause a severe injury too!..

 

[ptsg]

I remember old-timers doing this back in the 70s. Do the chains do a decent job on grass, too? Or is this cutter mostly for ripping heavy brush?

For grass, can't really beat the blades or flails. It will work, but doesn't really leave a smooth finish. It's really meant for heavy brush like we have a lot.

Here is a before and after example. The brush was as high as the tractor in some spots and I've done this in one pass on 540E in my 35 HP Branson.

 

[radios1]

I remember old-timers doing this back in the 70s. Do the chains do a decent job on grass, too? Or is this cutter mostly for ripping heavy brush?

you wouldn't want to use that for grass you want to keep!. you'd get ragged edges, which promotes disease, and it wouldn't give a nice cut, either, basically, the grass would be just pulled at the level of the chain..

 

[glenk]

I bought a Landpride 42" rotary cutter for my BX. PTO HP wise, the dealer said I could go with a 48" but I plan to plant grapes vines and space the rows at a distance where I can go through with the tractor and cutter.

The flail cutter the dealer had was $3500. Looked impressive and that's what they used to clear their own practice field. If I were to do this on a regular basis, I might have considered it.

I did have someone do the lot in the late spring with a 60" cutter. He piled all the rocks he hit or saw in the center of the picture I attached... which I have now set aside on one place in the lot in preparation.

I will be extra careful, go slow and pre-inspect.

Thanks all for the info.

 

[Texasmark]

You should see the rotary cutters we use over here to realize what fling hazard is.

We use chains instead of blades. It will eat more HP but will also deal with pretty much anything you throw at it and handles rocks better than blades, so less maintenance. The chains also spreads the shredded stuff better and doesn't get clogged up.

The county (local government next step up from city government), uses just that to keep the roadsides cleared. They have a tractor with a counter weight on the road side and that type cutter is on a long arm, like a backhoe arm with hydraulics to positon the deck in most any attitude from below the horizon to straight up. Works great and yessiree it throws stuff big time.....but as you say, cuts anything including tree limbs hanging over the road, because in the several trips they make along the road, a lot of them are trimming overhanging tree limbs.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would not worry about it unless you are in a very confined spot. A 4 foot cutter is so close to the back of a small tractor that it is mostly blocked. If you keep the cutter close to the ground (8 inches or so), you will be fine. A 6 foot cutter behind a utility tractor can be a different story.