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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Bush Hogging

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Ken-in-K

08-04-2005 08:08:06




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This is really about setting up a bush hog to cut stalky grass about 3/4/ft high but fairly thick grass undercover about six to nine ins high, My queation , about two weeks ago there were posts that gave a step by step to adjust the platform for optiminal cutting ,in other words to make the cut only once .set the front of the hog on a 4X4 adjust the top link to raise the front of the platform about one inch , that appears to be OK with me, However about two days ago , someone posted that they adjust the REAR of the platform up about one inch , so that you are not cutting twice in the same pass , What was that !. Doesn't make sense to me. Am I missing something?.

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kj(SE IL)

08-04-2005 18:51:29




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
operater manual for my #306 Bushhog says front 1 in. lower than rear. better cut requires less power, my 2 pennies kj



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Fred Martin

08-04-2005 12:02:05




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 Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
You don"t need to worry about blade suck on a bush-hog...all you need to worry about is getting rid of the stuff that is cut...getting it out from under the deck. Some mowers have what is called a hay side...you unbolt one side and take it completely off and the mower will put the cut out that side...kinda in a windrow. That shoots the suck idea. If you ever mowed acres and acres as efficiently and fast as you can (mowing by the acre) you will probably wind up with the back a little higher than the front...it helps a small HP tractor to keep from pulling the engine down as much. Hanging the front of the mower on chains and the back a bit higher is as good as it gets...then if it starts to pull the engine down your only alternative is to pull out of the cut and don"t take as wide a swath. I always use the term "it turns to wood come August" and it"s tougher to cut. It also has plenty of seeds and chaff to clog up your radiator so check it and clean it off once or twice an hour. I think if you don"t have experience and follow these guidelines and keep the blades sharp and if you haven"t mowed that acreage before...keep the blades about 5 or 6" off the ground the first time, you"ll get by okay. I generally keep an eye out ahead and also look over the next swath to be cut all I can. Hard to see everything. And if you bought a used mower, check the lube in the mower gearbox till you see if it leaks any out. And when mowing those 6" high weeds, be careful...I"ve just barely got stopped when a big ditch appeared out of nowhere. I don"t know it all, I learned something new everyday or tried to...you do the same. Fred OH

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Illinois Boy

08-05-2005 08:30:43




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Fred Martin, 08-04-2005 12:02:05  
I checked out my owner’s manual for my bush hog (Big Bee 715HL)
After the usual “designed for years of trouble free service, etc, etc”., it states that:

“The operator should attempt to maintain the mower deck parallel to the terrain for maximum mowing efficiency, which will result in a clean and even cut.”
and...
“Along with the high lift blades, the deck itself is designed to aid in this vacuuming affect, pulling the vegetation upwards into the rotating blades”

It stands to reason that altering the deck, as Fred points out, will not enable the implement to operate as designed. However, as Rusty Farmall pointed out, at least some rotary mowers are designed, like a lawn mower, to create a vacuum, for reasons outlined above.
With vegetation 3 to 4 feet high, a vacuuming affect is a null point. However, under “normal” operating conditions, Fred Martin’s comment “That shoots the suck idea” is misinformed.

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Fred Martin

08-05-2005 21:37:59




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Illinois Boy, 08-05-2005 08:30:43  
Hi Illinois Boy....I told you I didn"t know it all and learn something everyday. But, I think the next time you get around a hayside mower you might want to look it over closer. It is designed that way from the factory. I guess the Bush Hog type mower with the tipped up blades are okay and you probably have what I call less skips...less standing weeds after mowing BUT they would have a tendency to suck up chunks of wood, rocks and such and throw them out like a gun. So, some are designed like yours and some are designed like the hayside mower....and so that would be called normal operating conditions for this type machine. You would have been more correct if you had stated that my comment "That shoots the suck idea" for my type machine. I"m sorry that I never really looked over or used the Bush Hog type machine and I own one. It was too heavy for my tractor. Although if I had I would have added that if you have a mower with suck up blades like a lawn mower...set it level. Thanks for correcting page two as Paul Harvey would say. Fred OH

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BFO

08-04-2005 17:11:59




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Fred Martin, 08-04-2005 12:02:05  
I try and learn sumthin every second day, I need a rest between ;-)



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big fred

08-04-2005 14:48:23




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Fred Martin, 08-04-2005 12:02:05  
third party image

Sometimes it gets a little taller than 6 inches. This was taken while I was mowing what I now refer to as mmy "meadow". It hadn't been mowed for about 6 years, and was overgrown with blackberries, salmonberries, and nettles, to a height of about 9 ft in places. Pretty sporty mowing, 'cause I knew that somewhere in all that was some fir logs, 12-16 inches diameter and about 10 ft long. I just didn't recall where or how many there were.

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Dixieland

08-04-2005 16:55:31




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to big fred, 08-04-2005 14:48:23  
Jungle Jim on a tractor!



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big fred

08-04-2005 20:13:07




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 Re: Heres how I do it (long Post) in reply to Dixieland, 08-04-2005 16:55:31  
Sure felt like it. Because of the nettles, dead branches in the trees and low-hanging branches around the edges, I was wearin' heavy gloves, a jacket, hardhat and safety goggles. Looked like a redneck on a moonwalk.



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wh

08-04-2005 11:59:50




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
i use a 15 ft batwing and run it level front to back. works great for me.



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Al in PA

08-04-2005 11:56:45




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
If you have a lot of rocks hiding in the grass, you will not hit as many of them if you raise the front of the deck.



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3010 Ken

08-04-2005 09:24:06




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
Morning Ken;I've got a Bushhog model #3210 at home and if I remember right the owners manual says it takes less horse power to operate if you adjust the front of the deck 2" lower than the back.I believe i also remember the manual saying that running the deck in a level position shreds the material being cut into finer pieces,thus giving a cleaner looking cut as Rusty has stated.Good Luck. Kenny

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tlak

08-04-2005 08:36:04




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to Ken-in-K, 08-04-2005 08:08:06  
In theory some think that setting it lower in the front means the blades only hit the grass once with the leading edge reducing the power needed to cut. I guess there could be something to it if the front is set for 2" and the rear 1", then your cutting twice.
Their pretty much set for the grass to be laid down by the leading edge and is only done recutting it when the stuff is kicked out from under the hog.

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RustyFarmall

08-04-2005 08:58:26




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to tlak, 08-04-2005 08:36:04  
Just my opinion, but I really think you will get better results if the mower is set level. Most of those mowers are designed to create a vacuum or lifting effect as the blade turns. The hog needs to be running as near level as possible to take full advantage of the lifting effect.



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Mike M

08-04-2005 09:22:44




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to RustyFarmall, 08-04-2005 08:58:26  
Very few brush hogs have blades with a lift on them most are flat. I would say run level or a little lower in front. Pretty much any finish/lawn mower will have lift blades and manufactures recommend haveing the front of the blade lower than the rear by around 1/16" to 1/4".Depending on what make.



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Illinois Boy

08-04-2005 09:20:47




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 Re: Bush Hogging in reply to RustyFarmall, 08-04-2005 08:58:26  
I agree with Mr Rusty - the sides on the hog are what help create the "vacum" affect.
Set the rear wheel up or down depending on how low or high you want to cut.



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