Bush-Hogs

windjammer · #1 08-22-2010, 08:54 AM

One of my sons bought some property that will require Bush-Hogging. He bought a tractor and is now looking to get a Bush-Hog.

My question is, years ago, I used to see a lot of Bush-Hogs with a tire mounted on them. I never looked at one up close. What was the purpose of the tire?

My guess is, it in someway it would be a slipping devise between the PTO and the blade. Is anyone familiar with this?

Another question, what are 5' Bush-Hogs selling for?

doublesharp · #2 08-22-2010, 09:12 AM

That back wheel keeps the rear edge from dragging. Here's a picture of a rig I owned for several years. It's a 6ft King Kutter and seems like it was about $700 in the late 90s. Doubt if they have gone up a whole lot. The Tractor is a 30 hp 4x4 and it turned the bh fine. Be sure and get one wider than your tractor's rear wheels.

Faulkner · #3 08-22-2010, 09:36 AM

Doublesharp, I don't think windjammer is talking about the rear wheel on the bush-hog, but a wheel and tire that was actually on the PTO shaft. I've seen 'em, just not sure what the purpose was.

windjammer · #4 08-22-2010, 09:37 AM

The wheel I was speaking of is on top of the Bush-Hog. Between the center of the Bush-Hog and the tractor.

It was a full size tire..just like one that goes on a car.

Sorry I didn't make myself clear

txvoyager · #5 08-22-2010, 09:44 AM

Yep, the rear wheel allows the deck to be suspended between it and the 3-point hitch, thus handling some of the weight in addition to keeping the rear edge off the ground as noted above. It has several settings to allow the user to adjust the relative height.

Sorry, we are all typing at the same time! I have never seen a wheel top-mounted, so can't help there...

keith44spl · #6 08-22-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faulkner

Doublesharp, I don't think windjammer is talking about the rear wheel on the bush-hog, but a wheel and tire that was actually on the PTO shaft. I've seen 'em, just not sure what the purpose was.

Yep,
That would be the FMC Sidewinder brand of rotary mower, the tire ran on a steel plate under the deck, turning the blades.
The tire replaced a gearbox ***'y.

Here's an old ragged out one

Su Amigo,
Dave

Faulkner · #7 08-22-2010, 09:59 AM

Windjammer, I've been studying on your question and I believe the tire replaced the gearbox on the cutter somehow. I was curious and called my dad about it and he said they used to be pretty common. The tire would prevent you from tearing up something if you hit a rock or stump.

On my 5 foot bush hog I just have a soft shear pin on the PTO that will break off if I hit something. I've had to replace it several times when I was first cleaning off my property several years ago.

Faulkner · #8 08-22-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith44spl

Yep,
That would be the Sidewinder brand of rotary mower, the tire ran on a steel plate under the deck, turning the blades. Replaced a gearbox ***'y.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Well, there you go. I figured it was something like that.

gregintenn · #9 08-22-2010, 10:02 AM

Yes, Windjammer. The tire turned the mower blade and was the mechanism that slipped when you hung on a stump or something. They were really good mowers, and I think my brother in law still has one. I don't believe that they are still being made. A lot of the ones made today have a shear pin on the PTO shaft. You should be able to buy a 5' rotary mower for $700 and up up up from there. My neighbors think I'm crazy, but I mow my lawn with a 6' bush hog.

windjammer · #10 08-22-2010, 10:07 AM

[QUOTE=keith44spl;135591852]Yep,
That would be the Sidewinder brand of rotary mower, the tire ran on a steel plate under the deck, turning the blades. Replaced a gearbox ***'y.

The tire I'm speaking was on top of the deck. I've seen many of them, but not in a while.

My guess is that it is some sort of a slipping devise to protect the gearbox, but I don't know

handejector · #11 08-22-2010, 10:27 AM

As Dave shows you above, the tire was indeed the drive mechanism for the blades. It eliminated the gearbox, and the maintenance for the gearbox, and the oil and leaky seals for the gearbox.
It also provided "slippage" to protect the PTO drive.

I've never used one, but I had neighbors that did. They seemed happy with them.
I've used a hog for 40 years that has a gearbox with a clutch.

On what to buy-
Depends.
Depends on a lot of things.
What are you cutting?
Grass and weeds, or will you need to mow bamboo thickets, privett hedge thickets (old ones get to 4-6") and saplings??

Also depends on your age. If you're 50, you prob don't neeed a hog that will last 40 yrs........

My old hog will cut anything you can knock down with the tractor (a rather large 40 yr old Ford 3000).

If you're young, buy the heaviest, best hog you can afford.
DO NOT buy one without some type of clutch.

SAFireman · #12 08-22-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith44spl

Yep,
That would be the FMC Sidewinder brand of rotary mower, the tire ran on a steel plate under the deck, turning the blades.
The tire replaced a gearbox ***'y.

Here's an old ragged out one

Su Amigo,
Dave

Dave,

I have been around farm equipment (and antique equipment) and can honestly say that I have never seen one like that...you sir, are a wealth of information. I can't even begin to imagine where you found a picture of one either....just goes to show that there is still wisdom to be found on the internet.

teesur · #13 08-22-2010, 11:47 AM

I just bought a new 6 foot Frontier ( made by Woods - sold by John Deere) rotary cutter in June. $1,570 including taxes.
It is the heavy deck model with a slip clutch.
Hand Ejector is correct - don't buy one without a clutch.
Gear boxes are very expensive.
teesur.

Munsterf18 · #14 08-22-2010, 03:10 PM

The tire functions as a slip clutch as well as the drive.
Most of the new bush hogs have a slip clutch now, smaller ones may have a shear pin.

Whatever you buy, buy it wide enough to cover and cut the tracks of your tractor. Otherwise the tractor wheels will bend down the grass, and the cut grass will blow into the tracks and leave a pile of cut grass on the uncut part.

I have a Woods, I like it. But would buy a Bush hog brand also. The Bush hog brand seems to have the biggest gearbox.

Munster

dkees · #15 08-22-2010, 05:50 PM

I've used and wore out the following brands....John Deere, Bush Hog, Woods, Rhino, and a couple of others I can't remember.

The best by far was the Rhino. Super heavy duty (need weights on the front of tractor), tough gearbox. and priced about the same as the Woods (they are good also).

I purchased the Rhino, which is made in Texas, because they included a poster of Nolan Ryan.

CAJUNLAWYER · #16 08-22-2010, 08:08 PM

Bushhogs...toilets... MAN is the greatest forum ever???????

Now lets talk about........

m75rlg · #17 08-22-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkees

.

The best by far was the Rhino.

Yes. Rhino TW72 has been the best I've had on my tractor. It has cut some stuff that would lift the front end of the 2810 Ford tractor as it ran over it.

I tore up two lesser cutters before I got smart enough to get one heavy enough to stand up.

Muley Gil · #18 08-22-2010, 10:13 PM

I have a 4' Howse, pulled by a '49 Ford 8N. It's pretty tough. There are LOTS of rocks in Southwest Virginia.

While a wider bush hog is good on level ground, you don't want one TOO big when going down hill.

handejector · #19 08-22-2010, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

I have a 4' Howse, pulled by a '49 Ford 8N. It's pretty tough. There are LOTS of rocks in Southwest Virginia.

While a wider bush hog is good on level ground, you don't want one TOO big when going down hill.

Dum Virjenyuns.
Georgia mountain folk put tha two big tires on the right side an tha two little tires on tha left side, an ride aroun tha mountain sittin pretty an levil.
Course, ya haf ta keep goin around tha mountain. We loss Uncle Lonzo that way- he forgot his lunch an turnt aroun, an tumbled all tha way down to tha bottomland.....

ladder13 · #20 08-22-2010, 10:48 PM

Lee, I'm going to buy you a Rosetta Stone.

http://www.google.com/url?url=http:/...A93dEtg0NGfzhA

m75rlg · #21 08-23-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

I have a 4' Howse, pulled by a '49 Ford 8N. It's pretty tough. There are LOTS of rocks in Southwest Virginia.

While a wider bush hog is good on level ground, you don't want one TOO big when going down hill.

You don't want too much cutter on that 8N. With the live PTO, you can put in the clutch, and the cutter will act like a big fly-wheel, causing the tractor to keep moving forward as if under power.

White flint in the cutter is not to big a deal. They bust up into little white flint. Those gabero rocks just rattle around and put dents in the deck, though.

reddogge · #22 08-23-2010, 09:26 AM

I've been bush hogging with a 5' Woods on a '41 Ford 9N for 20 years and it handles it fine. Very important to install an overrunning clutch on the PTO though. Otherwise the momentum of the blade will push you into a wall when you go to stop.

Muley Gil · #23 08-29-2010, 12:24 AM

"Dum Virjenyuns.
Georgia mountain folk put tha two big tires on the right side an tha two little tires on tha left side, an ride aroun tha mountain sittin pretty an levil.
Course, ya haf ta keep goin around tha mountain. We loss Uncle Lonzo that way- he forgot his lunch an turnt aroun, an tumbled all tha way down to tha bottomland....."

I'd had folks visit and when they look at the steep pasture land, they ask how do the cows graze without falling over?

I jist tel 'um that we have left handed cows and right handed cows. The left handed ones have shorter legs on the left side so that they kin stand up straight. The RH cows are the opposite.

"You don't want too much cutter on that 8N."

Yup. That's why I bought the 4' one.

"Very important to install an overrunning clutch on the PTO though. Otherwise the momentum of the blade will push you into a wall when you go to stop."

So true. When I bought my tractor, it already had one on the PTO.