Using DR PTO trimmer on Cat 2 Tractor?

[TomSeller]

The wheel axle tends to accumulate grass, which wraps tightly around it:

Do you think that if the rear wheel axle were to wrap the other way around and enter the tire from the other side, there might be less of a tendency for this? Particularly if the axle end was smooth without a cotter key or something to catch the grass?

 

[slimcity9]

Does part of the setup include tilting the cutting head down toward the front, like a bush hog, so that only the leading edge of the cutter contacts the grass?

I'll have to check the manual again, but I think the head is supposed to stay parallel to the ground. There is a "sweet spot", actually drawn on the head guard, that's supposed to provide the best cutting. This is a range of maybe 60+ degrees that's rotated somewhat to the right of straight ahead.

 

[slimcity9]

Do you think that if the rear wheel axle were to wrap the other way around and enter the tire from the other side, there might be less of a tendency for this? Particularly if the axle end was smooth without a cotter key or something to catch the grass?

That's a good question. It does seems as though reversing it would help. But did DR put it this way for a reason?

 

[lostcreekranch]

Slimcity;

We have been looking at the DR for mowing around edges of two ponds on our place. Do you think this is a good application for it? We mow up to about 12" of edge but, that's as close as I want to get.

Trimming fence lines would be a plus.

Thanks!

 

[slimcity9]

Slimcity;

We have been looking at the DR for mowing around edges of two ponds on our place. Do you think this is a good application for it? We mow up to about 12" of edge but, that's as close as I want to get.

Trimming fence lines would be a plus.

Thanks!

It seems as though it should work fine if the banks don't require steeper angles than what's spec'd by DR. Keep in mind that this won't give you a finish-mowed look. More like brush-hogged at best--there will be height variations. One other caveat: depending on the size of your tractor and the irregularity of the pond borders you could have trouble keeping the trimmer head just where you want it. Lowering speed helps some, but with my mid-sized tractor it still takes a little time for steering inputs to affect the trimmer location. In short, there's much less precision compared to hand-held/pushed trimmers.

 

[lostcreekranch]

It's very flat all around both tanks so, no banks or inclines to worry about.

This might be handy for mowing around a few trees with low branches we have not had time to trim up high enough to get tractor under. Would be using on our small tractor a Kubota B-2710. It's rated for 20 HP at PTO. Is that enough?

Thanks

 

[slimcity9]

... Would be using on our small tractor a Kubota B-2710. It's rated for 20 HP at PTO. Is that enough?

According to DR's website the "Horsepower Range" is "From 25 to 45 HP (Category 1 tractors)". The implication to me is that this is tractor horsepower. Since yours is rated at 27 HP it should be OK.

 

[ds10]

I called DR, since I was considering one of these. The person on the phone said there's no minimum HP, and that the web site was wrong in that regard. I have a BX 1860, so I wanted to make sure it could work with the DR.

 

[aczlan]

I called DR, since I was considering one of these. The person on the phone said there's no minimum HP, and that the web site was wrong in that regard. I have a BX 1860, so I wanted to make sure it could work with the DR.

I would say that 8PTO HP would be the smallest I would use it on. I have used a self powered one with a 8HP engine and it didn't have much power to spare.

Aaron Z

 

[slimcity9]

I called DR, since I was considering one of these. The person on the phone said there's no minimum HP, and that the web site was wrong in that regard. ...

Under "Tractor Requirements" in the manual it also says "Category 1, 25 to 45 HP Max." But I'd agree that they're likely just citing the generic horsepower range for a Cat 1 tractor, as opposed to having tested for the actual minimum needed.