3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
|
Post by 3RRL on Feb 27, 2008 18:06:09 GMT -5
I can share the reason I decided to put them on my cutter. When I first got it, my property (27 acres) was wild as all get out. There was nothing around to worry about. I'd frequently run over rocks and logs and shoot them about a mile into the forest. I thought it was cool and the noise ... man it scares the shit out of you when you hit something like that. Anyway, after I built my campground and established a food plot near it, I brush hogged it. Well, Loretta was spraying weeds about a hundred yards away when I hit this rock about football size. It shot that rock towards her and went zooming by her going a hundred miles an hour! She about peed her pants and so did I. I thought what would've happened it I hit her or Wes or my dog. It scared me and made me realize how dangerous the cutter was. After reading several other stories like mine, and how chain guards helped that situation, I decided make my own and install them. If I have to put up with some grass clumping then so be it, but I don't think it will be a problem with the dry grass. Even so, I like that alternative better than the other. Rob-
|
|
|
Post by baknblack on Feb 27, 2008 18:11:53 GMT -5
I can share the reason I decided to put them on my cutter. - i knew why you did it. The damn things can kill someone in the blink of an eye. I cringe every time i ride by them mowing the interstate. Even though they have chain guards on them I still don't feel safe that close to the business end of a bush hog.
|
|
|
Post by bradblazer on Feb 29, 2008 22:06:51 GMT -5
My neighbor threw a blade on his mower. It failed right at the mounting hole. Luckily it caught the side of the mower and didn't fly anywhere.
I took a good look at it and it looked like the failure was caused by fast starts. The PTO clutch on those old (3000 - 4000) Fords can be pretty abrupt and if the RPM is up the stump jumper will spin inside the blades so the backs of the blades clack together. Both of these blades had big dings in those spots along the backs. The blade broke right after he spun it up and before he started cutting.
The moral is to idle the tractor down when starting your rough cut mower. Once the blades are spinning you can speed up without worry of them hitting each other.
Brad
|
|
quikduk
CTW Life Member
Dog House
Posts: 552
|
Post by quikduk on Mar 4, 2008 16:12:02 GMT -5
I like the guards and will be making my own very soon. I too have thrown stuff in both directions and wear my dirt bike helmet when hogging since I have been hit hard in the back of the head a couple times (I know THAT explains a LOT... ). I am generally around 800-900 RPM when I engage the PTO and it still shudders until the gearbox spins up a bit to match the RPM. Caution is always better than a deadly mistake.
|
|
|
Post by ccapers on May 4, 2008 2:03:02 GMT -5
Hi Rob -
I don't have the equipment you do. How much to make a set for my King Kutter?
Cliff
|
|
3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
|
Post by 3RRL on May 5, 2008 12:40:28 GMT -5
Hi Rob - I don't have the equipment you do. How much to make a set for my King Kutter? Cliff Hi Cliff, Funny you asked while I was gone, but I did some mowing this weekend for the first time since doing this mod. Part green tall grass and part dry. To answer some of the previous questions, no clumping whatsoever, at least in my case. I only cut to down to 4" though. BTW, the hydraulic rear wheels work great as I was going up and down the swales. I was able to lift the rear end height when needed and used the 3pt to raise or lower the front to keep from scalping. You have to be pretty aware though, to get the controls right as you're going over areas like that. To build a set like I did, it's tough if you don't have your own welder, chain and metal straps. I was able to do it for less than $35 bucks total because already had chain and some scrap steel around. That includes the price of the bolt cutters, by the way. So really way less than that since I used scrap metal and remnant chain. If you have some scrap chain lying around and some scrap metal bars you could make one really cheap. Maybe have a buddy tack weld the ends to the bar for a six pack or something? Rob-
|
|
|
Post by bradblazer on May 5, 2008 14:37:52 GMT -5
Hi Rob - I don't have the equipment you do. How much to make a set for my King Kutter? Cliff You should track grohgreg down on a forum where he is still active and see if he'll sell his set!
|
|
|
Post by ccapers on May 5, 2008 17:21:51 GMT -5
Rob - I assume they are available for purchase at tractor outlets? I have lots of small rocks in my grass (read weeds) fields. I've knocked a hole in a window and embarrassingly put a dint in my truck with a thrown rock. Needless to say, I try to park it further away now. I've also been hit in the back a few times as well.
Brad - Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can track him down.
Cliff
|
|
3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
|
Post by 3RRL on May 5, 2008 19:36:46 GMT -5
Yes indeed they are available for purchase. Just contact your brand of cutter (mine is a Howse) and they should have them available for your brand. I elected to make my own as a project since I had all the materials handy and all it took was my own time. I got a new set of giant bolt cutters out of it. ;D If you have the stuff lying around, and the means, it's a really cheap project to do. compared to buying them. They were around 200 bucks for a set, I believe, but then there's a lot in shipping cost on top of that. So I really saved by doing it myself.
I guess I should have taken some photos while cutting, but it was a spur of the moment thing. I've been moving all the implements to another area to make room for the camp spots for our annual Memorial day campout. When I had the cutter on, I decided to take her for a spin. The chain guards really do their job as I ran over a couple unknown obstacles and nothing flew out like before. I could see some grass accumulate (at times) on the chains, but only for a moment, then they were gone. So no worries there.
|
|
|
Post by studor on May 8, 2008 18:54:45 GMT -5
I have access to FREE belting offcuts that are easily the dimensions required for guards on a rotary cutter -- I was thinking of using some pieces to make guards for the 4 foot cutter I am picking up tomorrow. I really like the chain ones you made Rob but, being frugal (read cheap and I did say free ;D),I wondered if anyone has rubber ones or tips on how to make them. Remember - if you think education is expensive, try ignorance Steve
|
|
3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
|
Post by 3RRL on May 8, 2008 22:08:11 GMT -5
Steve, The rubber ones should be very effective. I've read where guys used old tires and cut them into strips except not all the way through. In other words, they take a tire and cut it in half, then roll it out straight (as they can). Then they cut strips into it so it looks like a comb. They bolt the backbone of the comb to the RC or a bracket of some type and it works just like the chain guards. Your RC will look like Groucho Marx. Rob-
|
|
|
Post by studor on May 9, 2008 19:01:46 GMT -5
Or Saddam Hussein if I leave a gap in the middle!! Now that I have the cutter and the rubber I am going to try it this weekend. I have read some threads elsewhere that people do not seem to happy with the rubber guards but maybe that is because they had to pay for them It looks like it should straight forward -- I'll try to remember to take pics Thanks Rob Steve
|
|
|
Post by ccapers on May 15, 2008 0:24:01 GMT -5
Got hit in the back again yesterday. Ripped my shirt pretty good too! Yikes! These things should come with some type of chain or guards for protection. Wish I had a welder and the know how to do it myself. I checked locally for off the shelf chain guards and it cost almost as much as the rotary cutter did! Guess I'll have to start a savings account. lol Cliff
|
|
|
Post by studor on May 15, 2008 15:06:53 GMT -5
As luck would have it I picked up the cutter this past weekend but apparently replacing the gate that someone backed into this winter was more important to she who must be obeyed than me trying out new toys (that she bought me for my birthday ) Rob -- I think my rubber version may be best left as one piece -- without slots -- am going to make two and try it -- should at least be priced right ;D A friend of mine says he used to have a metal screen section that he fastened to the ROPs to avoid getting beaned! Cliff -- I do remember seeing somebodies bolt together version on TBN I think. might be worth a look -- was made with two pieces of slotted channel with the chains bolted in between -- should work okay and be cheaper than the factory ones Steve
|
|
|
Post by ccapers on May 16, 2008 13:10:04 GMT -5
A friend of mine says he used to have a metal screen section that he fastened to the ROPs to avoid getting beaned! Cliff -- I do remember seeing somebodies bolt together version on TBN I think. might be worth a look -- was made with two pieces of slotted channel with the chains bolted in between -- should work okay and be cheaper than the factory ones Steve Hi Steve - I may have to try the screen idea until I can come up with some type of guard. It would at least save my back and head some punishment. I'll have to post a picture of the rock laced ground I cut. Ok, I'm drawning a blank here on what TBN is?? Thanks! Cliff
|
|