Introduction & Newbie Question

[LeeBo337]

Greetings and thanks for the forum. I just bought my first tractor, a Kubota 7510 with FEL. I drove a few of my grandfather's small tractors in my youth but this is my first to own.

The tractor came with a Big Bee brush hog that seems to work fine. However, the seller mentioned it will sometimes bog down in tall grass. At times he was cutting stuff waist high. Anyway, he said he had considered using a Saws-All to cut the back end of the brush hog, and use pipe wrenches to bend up the metal which would create an opening for grass to exit. Granted, this also creates an opening for items to get thrown out of at high speeds, but it's facing away from the tractor.

I've only gotten to mow for a short time but it does seem to bog down a bit. Has anyone else done this to their brush hog? How did it work? Any risks or dangers I may be overlooking?

 

[Ezlife45]

I am by no means an expert but back woods modifying equipment can get you in trouble fast. You could do a little bit of research. I'm fairly new myself but think through things logically.
How many horsepower is your tractor PTO?
How wide is your brush hog? Is it sized adequately for your machine?
What is the condition of your blades?
How fast are you moving when the machine "bogs"?
Once you understand those questions a little better, you can consider then modifying either your tool selection or how your cut things.
You would be much better off better understanding those questions before you consider making a dangerous piece of equipment more dangerous.

For example my 26 hp tractor came with a 4' bush hog. It probably could run a 5' bush hog, but may bog down a lot. If I had a 5' bush hog and bogged constantly, it could have been that someone sized the bush hog incorrectly for the horsepower of your machine. Oh to help understand another thing, my 26 hp tractor only has 19 PTO horsepower.

Once those questions are better understood, you can ask the more seasoned people out here how to properly set up a bush hog (I'm not sure myself but I don't cut heavy stuff) You can have it higher in the front, level, or higher in the back. I thought my dealer recommended higher in the back to help "unload" the material being cut.

 

[LeeBo337]

You make good points. Thank you.

I would have expected it in high grass but not in some of the stuff I cut. Granted, I've only cut a little.

I'm not one to jump in and start modifying stuff which is why I came to the forum. For now I think it's wise to wait. I have noticed however, that some brush hogs are open near the wheel. Mine has no outlet at all which made me wonder "Why wouldn't it bog down?"

It looks to me like the brush hog could be better... aligned(?) via the turnbuckles and hitch up. I have a friend that's a long time tractor owner / operator that I may have look at it. Regardless, a little higher in the back makes sense.

 

[cerlawson]

One item that may or may not apply to your situation. That attachment can throw stuff, like rocks. You know what that can do.

 

[tiredguy]

Welcome Lee!
You've come to the right place for answers as there's plenty of experienced people that offer sound advice.

I'm no expert on brush hogs but modifying one usually isn't the answer as the safety problems you could create could very easily become deadly in a worst case scenario. It's just not worth it as they're usually designed by someone with tons of experience/knowledge to work best and safest.

Here's what I know for what it's worth if it's correctly sized for your tractors PTO horsepower rating: #1 use engine RPM that gives you the correct 540rpm at the PTO. #2 correctly sharpened blades...can't stress this enough.#3 ground speed must be slow enough for the mower to cut properly.
If you go to fast it will either bog down or not cut off what you're trying to get. If it's really tall I usually "high top" it which means make a pass over the area with the brush hog raised up above where you want the height to be then lower it down and mow over it again and in both cases adjust your travel speed so the mower does it's job cutting it off.
Be safe and enjoy the ride.
Al

 

[Russell King]

look closely at the rear of the mower to ensure it does not already have some raised section back there that acts as the exit. Most do, some are way open, others just an inch or two.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Most if not all Big Bee brush hog's have a rear discharge.
Look at the skirt in the rear it will be tapered and the front should have a set of chains hanging down.
Sound like it could be the rear wheel is set too low and or the front is also set too low.

Post some pictures of your setup.