Thoughts or advise

[Plant 175]

Well boys and girls I got my flail mower hooked up last month and started to cut my switchgrass and then all of a sudden the 2601 totally shut off. I jumped off and looked and could not believe the bone headed mistake I made. I ran over some woven wire fencing I took off a fruit tree a year ago and forgot to pick it up and the switch grass grew through it and camouflage it.
I cut the part outside the mower off but it is wound around the inside of the mower. I have not used the tractor since but Tuesday is the day to untangle this mess. I guess put some blocks under the mower and crawl under it and start cutting the wire out small piece by small piece. I’m going to use a wire cutter. Here is a pic of my mess. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Your in for a lot of work!
Cut off wheel on a grinder?
Maybe Plasma cutter?

 

[ruger1980]

Invest in a heavy set of diagonal cutters with long handles for plenty of leverage and reach.

 

[mcfarmall]

I chopped up a box spring hidden in some tall grass the very first time I used my RCD 1884 rotary cutter. Good times!

 

[bird dogger]

Been in the same predicament with my rototiller while locating old buried barbed wire fencline! I agree with NIW..... thin cut off wheel got the majority off quick and easily. For the rest (sorry I don't have a pic of it) a stout wire hook on the end of a handle works well to pull loose the tightly entwined pieces.

Work smart and look for and undo the outer layers while working your way inward.

 

[Russell King]

I suggest you get the mower as high as possible and set it on some wood cribbing so it is at a comfortable work height. Then detach it from the tractor and roll it so it is easier to see the wires. Strap is to something so it doesn’t want to fall onto you.

Depending on how hard it is to remove the blades it might be worth the effort to remove some or all of the blades so you don’t have to worry about cutting your hands on them.

Then go to a fence supply or a tool store and get a set ok Knipex wire cutters for heavy wire. They may actually be small bolt cutters but they have compound leverage and can cut heavy wire much easier than normal cutting pliers.

I would try to cut it in several places around the mower “axle” so you are not having to pull it out very hard.

Good luck and be safe!

 

[jimh406]

I'd consider taking the stump jumper and blades off. It might be a bit difficult, but faster than cutting it off by the piece.

If you are talking midpoint mower, I'd take it off, flip it over and still take everything off. I've lifted my mower deck for my lawn mower and used the tractor to provide more access. Not "easy", but easier than laying on the ground to reach parts.

 

[Flintknapper]

I feel your pain! Not wire, but a big bunch of 'hay string' (not seen in the grass until too late).

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Agree with 'take it off and get it up high and safe ! 'book' yourself ALL day to do the job, use whatever 'cutters' you have, piece by piece by piece by.....
At least it's probably warm and sunny where you are......
Worst one I saw was a 'forest mulcher' that found a very ,very long section of razor wire(barbed wire). That guy was NOT happy....

 

[ken erickson]

I recently removed fencing wire from the drum of a forestry head.

We discussed a angle grinder, which would have worked well but the location and time of year was not conducive to throwing lots of sparks. Last thing I needed was to deal with a wildfire or a burned up track loader.

The wire was too large in diameter to use a heavy duty side cutters, at least in my hands. I picked up a 14 inch bolt cutters which worked well. There was enough compound leverage that I could snip the wire right at the tip or anywhere else along the cutting edges.

I can say I was able to clip wires that was wound super tight right up against the drum without leaving a mark. I do not think that would have been possible or time efficient with the angle grinder and cut off wheel.

 

[D2Cat]

I'd consider taking the stump jumper and blades off. It might be a bit difficult, but faster than cutting it off by the piece.

If you are talking midpoint mower, I'd take it off, flip it over and still take everything off. I've lifted my mower deck for my lawn mower and used the tractor to provide more access. Not "easy", but easier than laying on the ground to reach parts.

Jimh406, flail has no stump jumper!

 

[GeoHorn]

I suggest you get the mower as high as possible and set it on some wood cribbing so it is at a comfortable work height. Then detach it from the tractor and roll it so it is easier to see the wires. Strap is to something so it doesn’t want to fall onto you.

Depending on how hard it is to remove the blades it might be worth the effort to remove some or all of the blades so you don’t have to worry about cutting your hands on them.

Then go to a fence supply or a tool store and get a set ok Knipex wire cutters for heavy wire. They may actually be small bolt cutters but they have compound leverage and can cut heavy wire much easier than normal cutting pliers.

I would try to cut it in several places around the mower “axle” so you are not having to pull it out very hard.

Good luck and be safe!

I think Russell has found a sneaky way to tell us he’s BTDT.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

That is never good. Use cutters.

I have found similar when rototilling customers properties years ago. Chain link fencing, chicken wire, bailing wire, conduit and even a 20' piece of romex. The romex zipped through the weeds like a fast moving snake as it coiled up in the tiller. Scared the snot out of me.

The good news is I had (learned) a real good understanding of rototiller disassembly. I knew that tiller very well.

Good luck and somehow make it fun.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Well boys and girls I got my flail mower hooked up last month and started to cut my switchgrass and then all of a sudden the 2601 totally shut off. I jumped off and looked and could not believe the bone headed mistake I made. I ran over some woven wire fencing I took off a fruit tree a year ago and forgot to pick it up and the switch grass grew through it and camouflage it.
I cut the part outside the mower off but it is wound around the inside of the mower. I have not used the tractor since but Tuesday is the day to untangle this mess. I guess put some blocks under the mower and crawl under it and start cutting the wire out small piece by small piece. I’m going to use a wire cutter. Here is a pic of my mess. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I would take it off off the 3 pnt and flip it upside down, carefully. If that won't damage the top.

 

[Hoserman]

I don't have a PTO driven mower, but I have found some long-lost wire, rope, and old garden hose over the years with my belly mower. Do you have a fel on your machine? If so, drop the mower, and hook onto it and hoist it vertical. Standing in front of it is a lot easier and safer than laying under something that could give way and fall on ya. Besides you can see better than laying on your back. Just a thought.