L3200 with Land Pride 1860

[pyates]

it seems the bush hog (Land Pride 5ft) is so much wider than the rear wheels on the L3200 that the bush hog is constantly hanging up on uneven ground. i have to raise the bush hog to get the tractor moving again.
Could the bush hog be incorrectly adjusted or do i need to shift the rear tractor wheels out as much as i can?

 

[Eric McCarthy]

When your running the bush hog are you letting drag completely on the ground or do you let it hover over top just a tad? I tend to have the same problem with my B6100 and a 4ft hog. If I let it drag flat on the ground yeah any slight lump or bump will hang up and catch the hog. So if I let the hog float just above the ground then its usually not so bad.

 

[gpreuss]

I have my L3200 widened out to 66". I do not believe that is your problem, however. I always have the deck level, a couple of inches above ground, with the trailing wheel adjusted for that. I can go lower, but on uneven ground it does tend to tear up the field. Instead of the bar for the 3rd hitch point I use a chain, so the deck can float some, but still be picked up or stay out of ditches. If you have ag tires, try widening them out to their widest stance. R4's start out at about 60" - should be fine as is. You need to buy/build spacers to do anything about them.
Frankly, the tractor getting stuck is unusual. Maybe you keep the FEL on it, and don't have tires filled? My rear deck will be a fair plow if I let it get really down in the dirt. It would take a tree stump to stop it. Even with filled tires, I plan on removing the FEL for mowing.

 

[TripleR]

The Land Pride manual describes in pretty good detail how to set it properly, I run an RCR2672. The front should be a little lower than the back and you should not be regularly digging into the ground; may need to set it to a higher setting.

 

[Bluegill]

Yep, like said, you are running it too low.

Width of rear tires has little to do with it. But I don't like it when the mower is wider than the rear tire span, unless mowing an open field. I mow logging roads and around too many trees.

I have the AG tires on our L3800 set out wide, about 60".

 

[MagKarl]

I find it hard to believe that a mower digging in a little bit is stopping your tractor. If your mower is digging in harder than, say, a full box blade, I could see that maybe. Something would have to be way out of wack though. How could a mower dig in more than a blade, that's what I can't wrap my little brain around.

 

[pyates]

Thanks everyone. My 3200 is 2wd (a mistake I think). It doesn't take much for one rear tire to start spinning. I had an old ford 3000 for 30 years and never had the problem of the bush hog hanging up no matter how low I ran it. It seemed to follow the contour of the ground much better. if I raise the land pride up enough to keep it from tearing up my fields, the cut is too high.

 

[Bluegill]

I'm pulling a 1860 Land Pride with a L3800, which is close to the same size tractor. Mine is 4wd, but I mow 98% of the time in 2wd. These rigs are lighter than the old rigs, like your old 3000. My rear tires are filled and this helps a bunch with 2wd traction. Fill your rears and add wheel weights!

I never have a problem with the mower digging in, but I'm also not draggin it right on the ground either. You likely need the raise the rear of the mower one notch, then lower the front with you 3pt for the cutting height you want. The back should be higher than the front anyway.

I used to mow up to around 50 acres with a smaller, 2wd L245 and 5' mower. Talk about a rig that was too light! And not enough traction! I filled the rears, added wheel weights on all fours and hung some weight on the front end, so I could steer... LOL, I wore out 3 mowers with this rig, probably from mowing brush up to 2"... Could not kill that rig!!!

 

[Bluegill]

Also, you want to run your top link really lose, so the mower can articulate with the contours of the ground. Lot of times I just leave the top link off, raise and lower the front w/3pt and the rear wheel is always on the ground.

 

[Breeze]

I mow with a 60" Bush Hog behind an L3700 with filled rears and I leave the FEL on while cutting. In low range, 4WD or not, the tractor would plow a furrow with the mower frame without pausing. In medium range, which I don't use due to terrain issues, she might spin a tire or bog down?

The reason I leave the FEL on is to cut edges of my fields, I have to back the mower over very steep inclines watching the flatter ground available behind the rears. I figure that the forward weight of the bucket might help save me if I got too close to the edge.

Running parallel to drop offs, I always am very aware of my seat belt. Yes it would prevent me being mashed by the tractor but I'd be nailed by the jungle trees entering the operator station anyway. So far my metal argument goes in favor of the belt but I could go the other way figuring that the tree trunks would stop the tractor and I could sail free down the slope between trunks?

Keeping the unit seat side up is truly the only acceptable option.