Bush hog almost stalled engine

[bambam31]

Twice yesterday my bush hog bogged down and the tractor engine almost stalled. I lifted the cutter and the engine recovered. I was transitioning from thin grass and backed into some very thick, heavy bladed grass. The cutter was low to the ground and I realize now I should have raised the cutter before backing into the thick stuff.

The PTO suddenly slowing the engine down can't be good. Is it likely I messed something up?

 

[Kennyd4110]

Nope...you didn't mess anything up-keep on tractoring.

If your cutter has a slip clutch however, it needs to be adjusted.

 

[markbxr400]

My L3901 does the same thing.

If I am moving steadily into different grasses, I'll bog it down. I either raise the blade to recover, stop, or push in on the clutch to let it have time to recover.

I have a clutch on mine, that is adjusted. It usually does't slip in these situations where the change in load is relatively gradual. It does immediately slip if I slam the blade somehow, eg, hit a hump in the ground, etc.

 

[85Hokie]

Twice yesterday my bush hog bogged down and the tractor engine almost stalled. I lifted the cutter and the engine recovered. I was transitioning from thin grass and backed into some very thick, heavy bladed grass. The cutter was low to the ground and I realize now I should have raised the cutter before backing into the thick stuff.

The PTO suddenly slowing the engine down can't be good. Is it likely I messed something up?

What is your engine rpm when this happened?

 

[rademamj]

That is 100% normal behavior from a rotary cutter. You can always increase RPM when transitioning into higher field grass. Also, if this first time you have cut the field, briefly walk the high grass looking out for any debris: such as barb wire, old fence posts, any metal. This will help prevent problems during cutting.

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[mickeyd]

I have experienced the same thing on my L3200 when I first get into high weeds. I have a slip clutch on my cutter but as Mark said, it normally only slips when hitting something more solid.

 

[D2Cat]

That is 100% normal behavior from a rotary cutter. You can always increase RPM when transitioning into higher field grass. Also, if this first time you have cut the field, briefly walk the high grass looking out for any debris: such as barb wire, old fence posts, any metal. This will help prevent problems during cutting.

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That advise may take a few minutes but it will save a fortune over time if followed!

Yep, wrap some wire around your mower, or hit some of the junk the oil field guys leave, or a T post and your daily output changes quickly.

Run your tractor into a hole some critter made and you may need a new front end on your tractor. Or, you could roll your tractor if you hit such a hole on the side of a slope.

 

[259gibbs]

You never mention how many HP on the tractor And how big is your Bush hog, the rule is 5HP per foot. My never bogged down with 30 and 5 feet bush hog, cutting high set at 3 " tall. The grass was belly high.

Twice yesterday my bush hog bogged down and the tractor engine almost stalled. I lifted the cutter and the engine recovered. I was transitioning from thin grass and backed into some very thick, heavy bladed grass. The cutter was low to the ground and I realize now I should have raised the cutter before backing into the thick stuff.

The PTO suddenly slowing the engine down can't be good. Is it likely I messed something up?

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[hope to float]

Up the revs; Down a gear: Carry on

 

[WFM]

I've stalled my bushhog a couple times. I mow slow and rpm at 2000. It does give you a jolt when it stalls though.

 

[SDT]

Twice yesterday my bush hog bogged down and the tractor engine almost stalled. I lifted the cutter and the engine recovered. I was transitioning from thin grass and backed into some very thick, heavy bladed grass. The cutter was low to the ground and I realize now I should have raised the cutter before backing into the thick stuff.

The PTO suddenly slowing the engine down can't be good. Is it likely I messed something up?

That happens, but it hurts nothing.

SDT

 

[greeno]

My 5’ hog used to STOP my Iseki when I hit a rut. Talk about exciting!

No big deal now with my B2710. I keep my RH on the 3PH and pull up when it bogs. You could also push in the clutch quick when things go awry.


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[markbxr400]

I run mine at PTO speed (abut 2500 rpm). I have the HST transmission, mow in Mid gear, and if I start to sense the tractor automatically slowing down (bogging down), I just get off the gas a little. I try to catch it before it goes below 2000 rpm, even sometimes having to stop entirely. I've been out of town for about 5-6 weeks, and we've had a ton of rain and a hurricane here in lower Alabama, so my 34 acres is overgrown. Started mowing it today. Slow going . . .

 

[bambam31]

I fell better about it now. I usually mow slow but I may have backed in kind of quickly into the thick grass too. As always, thanks for the responses.