Brush Hog Rookie Question

[ccat]

I have a L2501HST and pull a Land Pride RCR1860 bush hog.
I have just started in the bush hogging game and have a question
I can't seem to get the tail wheel adjusted right as often after lifting the bush hog and putting it back down, the wheel will stay in a turned position....digging into the soil.
I know it must be a height adjustment issue and I have tried lowering/raising it but will still get the same result.
I grease it and when it is straight, it's fine.
QUESTION.......should the wheel just barely touch the ground, or touch the ground long before I am through lowering the deck???
Thanks for any advice/help.
Chris

 

[SDT]

I have a L2501HST and pull a Land Pride RCR1860 bush hog.
I have just started in the bush hogging game and have a question
I can't seem to get the tail wheel adjusted right as often after lifting the bush hog and putting it back down, the wheel will stay in a turned position....digging into the soil.
I know it must be a height adjustment issue and I have tried lowering/raising it but will still get the same result.
I grease it and when it is straight, it's fine.
QUESTION.......should the wheel just barely touch the ground, or touch the ground long before I am through lowering the deck???
Thanks for any advice/help.
Chris

The tail wheel is a caster wheel.

It sounds like you have backed into something bending the tail wheel spindle.

Inspect the tail wheel spindle and fork for evidence of damage.

If there is insufficient caster, the tail wheel will do exactly as you describe.

SDT

 

[85Hokie]

Notice what SDT is saying....

here is a picture :

https://cdn3.volusion.com/wf72e.9ho5t/v/vspfiles/photos/ETA-XDBC-48-5.jpg?1505822466


notice that the rear wheel seems backwards? Well it is - this is a picture showing it being pushed in reverse, thus the wheel spins around on the offset vertical axis.

this image show what should happen when going forwards :

https://www.coastalfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/Behlen-Lift-Cutter-80110050YEL_full.jpg


the wheel WILL touch first and the front drop about an 1/4" lower or more when finished lowering.

Several ways to set and forget the height.......limit chains work well.

If you drive over uneven ground .....the rear wheel can come up, but on flat ground it should stay in on the ground loaded.

 

[mickeyd]

I have a L2501HST and pull a Land Pride RCR1860 bush hog.
I have just started in the bush hogging game and have a question
I can't seem to get the tail wheel adjusted right as often after lifting the bush hog and putting it back down, the wheel will stay in a turned position....digging into the soil.
I know it must be a height adjustment issue and I have tried lowering/raising it but will still get the same result.
I grease it and when it is straight, it's fine.
QUESTION.......should the wheel just barely touch the ground, or touch the ground long before I am through lowering the deck???
Thanks for any advice/help.
Chris

Welcome to the OTT forum Chris.

To answer your question, the wheel should reach the ground before the front reaches the ground.

If there is not enough Top Link length, then your cutter will not cut right whenever there is a low spot in the ground. The looseness in the Top Link allows the front to follow the dips and hills in the land.

 

[D2Cat]

Make sure the tail wheel turns 360 deg easily. May need some grease in the grease fitting. Set the wheel on the ground holding the weight of the mower. Use the 3 pt to adjust the front height. It should be slightly lower then the front.

As you turn the tail wheel should rotate to keep supporting the rear of the mower. If it does not rotate you need to discover why. Dry shaft, bent shaft.... and fix.

 

[TripleR]

What they said, your manual will tell you the deck should be lower in the front, so tail wheel touches first.

 

[Russell King]

There are also two places to grease that wheel. One place on the vertical shaft and another on the horizontal axle through the wheel.

How are you setting up the mower height and level side to side?

And as everyone has said there should be significant weight on the rear wheel. In essence there should be a lot of slack in the top link.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ccat]

Thank you all for your input.
A few mentioned the top link slack. I am betting the top link is tight.
I will check to see if it has slack or give it some.
I do keep the front lower than the tail, but will check a few other things and let yall know.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[rademamj]

You want the rotary cutter to be at least level or even better....lower in the front. This allows cut materials to escape at the rear of the cutter. This lower in the front requirement is also related to the top link adjustment. Your rear caster wheel should rotate freely and easily while doing your rotary cutting. If it does not rotate freely, then raise the cutter off the ground and hand rotate the caster wheel to visually see what is binding it. As others have indicated, it may have incurred some minor damage and needs a quick repair to straighten.

The caster wheels are built tough and hard to damage. However, backing into a tree or hitting a ground hog hole may bring it out of alignment. You may need a sledge to straighten. Also, just about any replacement part is available online.

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