Buying a new Bush Hog

I"m concerned that some bush hogs may hit the rear tires when I lift it, and I am concerned with that as well as making the front end too light on that high speed run home with it lifted high. Some bush hogs offer "offset" 3pt hitches. My big JD MX6 has a 3pt mounted at an angle leaning forward, is that the fix for hitting the tires? As far as weight, I do have a front bumper, and the famous foam filled front tires to add some significant weight to the front, but I"m thinking about a 6" squealer, and it is not light. The new cutter also needs to be Quick Hitch compatible, as I am completly spoiled with the JD iMatch system, and have bought a QH from Tractor Supply that looks just great on the back of OW, and come to think of it, adds a few inches of offset to the rear 3pt, which may help with the rear tire thing, but the old junker is QH incompatible, so it is currently mounted old school (and hits the rear tires when lifted too high), with anti sway bars and limit chains, all of which will work with the QH system. So help me out with experience and opinions guys.

Long post, sorry, had a lot to say after so long away.

Thanks!

Hey bud - long time, no see! Glad you got Old Warrior running good! (But I STILL prefer the old original carbs) And the head being that loose probably cause serious compression leakage.

As far as the mower - I mowed all weekend with Rustbucket through THICK grass and clover knee high or better - he plowed right through it with no problems. I do not agree that the NAA cannot handle a 6' mower. I would not hesitate to drop a 6' mower behind Rustbucket - even in the tall stuff. As far as the clearance - her is a pic of my hydraulics test I did after the rebuild - this is after over 12 hours and the back wheel was still off the ground (and this is an old HEAVY thick steel shell mower). It dropped about 3" overnight. Anyway, you can see that while the clearance is close to the rear tires, it does not touch. This is a 5' mower (I used it with my 1952 8N) but you get the idea.

Stick around awhile this time!

Dan

Kepp us updated.

Dan

I've had my 'average' engine condition 8n with a 5' mower behind it cutting tall weeds and thick stuff. had to attack it with 1st gear or 2nd gear but it pulled fine. I imagine a good 134 would handle a 6' in all but extreme conditions. i know other guys with naa and 6XX using 6' mowers. If I were to mow heavy stuff with a 6'.. then perhaps the 172 engine would be needed.. etc. ( also common to see 6' mowers on 3000's )..

Soundguy

A 6' cutter is a lot to ask of an NAA regardless of condition unless you mow relatively light cover on relatively level ground.

I have 3 cutters inculding one 6 footer. I use the 6' mower behind my very good 55 860, my good 64, 4 cylinder 4000 SOS and my good 59 961.

I do mow some very heavy cover at times and sometimes on very steep ground. That said, I have been in conditions where I need the very low first gear on both five speed tractors.

I know that I could't even begin to operate a 6 footer in my conditions with a 134 CI engine.

Aside from that, my 860 has both a heavy front bumper and 100 lbs of weights on each front wheel yet I sometimes carry the front wheels if I lift the mower going up hill. My 6 foot cutter weighs around 750 lbs.

Dean

Have no problems with it hitting tires, does a good job, is a bit lighter than the Squeeler, but not heavy enough to want to "lift" the front end on my 51 8N.

The only "change" that I had to make with the mower was to add longer pins. They were too short to be able to use the mower with stabilizer bars on the tractor. Removing the nuts that held the pins was a heck of a job. I believe the "Razorback" is a bit cheaper than the "Squealer".----Tim