Rotary Cutter top link on brush cutter

[lblair]

Hi people!
Does anyone have this problem? My top link on my KK 48" brush hog has this swinging hookup. I find it hard to adjust my top link so that when you go over uneven ground the top link dont pivot to its point of no return either over the top or below. It pivots so far then binds up. Heck, half the time i dont use the top link on it because of this and i dont have no problem. I thought about removing the pivot bracket on it and puting the link in the hole the pivot part goes on. I was afraid the top link might snap off connector on the tractor. Ive seen other brands without this pivot on it. Any ideas? Thanks Larry

 

[OverlyRun]

Larry,

Sure, mine binds if I try to go through too sharp a dip...but without the swivel, I couldn't take any dip at all without breaking something.

It seems to me that if the top link were not on a swivel, you could still crest a rise and the cutter would simply stick up in the air, but in the dips it would bottom out and either hang up the rear end or snap something on the top link, the cutter or the lift arms. Unless you work the lift-arm height adjustment constantly. Or am I picturing what you're doing incorrectly? As it is one of my fields is so uneven that I stressed the bands that form the A-frame from the cutter to the top link and popped one of the bolts....the racket of the two pieces of metal unbolted was real quick notice of a problem. Now I am much more careful in the dips and avoid some of them.

The project to smooth out the terrain and eliminate this challenge is for some other decade and a bulldozer.

Chas

 

[Mosey]

It would be a bad idea to connect the top link directly to the point where the swivel attaches. It needs to flex or something will break! I found this idea (see attachment) in another post ("Survey on quick hitches").

 

[AltaLawnCare]

I have the same problem!

So you attach the top link to the pin at the end of the chain?

I've been using mine without the top link.

 

[JerryG]

lblair,
I do a lot of really rough brushogging. I mean that the terrain is really rough. I have bent the third arm once and bent the top of the brushog hitch three times. For some time I have thought about replacing the third arm with a chain. About three weeks ago, I did. Now I wish that I had done it years ago. No more binding, no more bending, and the chain can be adjusted so I can mow over ridges and get a better cut.

 

[lblair]

Thats what i do.....NO top link. Really what support does a chain give. It must just stop it from flipping up and over if it ever could...right?
Larry

 

[gerard]

If you don't use the top link you can't pick up the brushog off the ground right? Thats the best reason I can think of to use the toplink. I've gone over rocks enough times and if you're quick on the three point you can save the blades a little abuse anyway. The chain link would do the same thing. Doesn't do a thing when just mowing nice flat stuff but lets say you want to back over a steep crest. Couldn't the rear of the cutter drop low enough so that the angle would be too much for the pto shaft? The chain link would act as a limiter in that case and prevent hyper extending the linkage. Of course if you don't have any terrain that this would be a problem that's all a moot point........./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JerryG]

The chain limits the amount of rear drop and also allows you to pick it up. This has been talked about here and on the other site more than once. As far as flipping over, someone always brings it up but no one has ever seen it happen. Even if it did it would hit the ROPS first.

 

[normde2001]

My thinking exactly, Gerard. I can't imagine running a cutter without either a toplink or a chain for the same reasons you describe. I run a toplink but am thinking of switching to a chain after reading these posts, since I am having the same problems, although I'm not sure how I will attach the chain.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I use a regular toplink and lower links on my mower. THe difference on my is that instead of steel brackets connecting the top link to the rear of the mower I use a chain. The chain will allow the mower to flex if needed and will raise the mower when lifted by the hitch. Veryt safe and convenient setup. Mosey showed a picture of something similar to mine. If you connect the top link to the upper part of the bracket and replace the rear brackets with a chain you will have it.