In Reply to: Bush Hog set up posted by Drake on July 10, 2012 at 23:19:27:
Drake, here's an ad for limiter chains that shows how to attach to your mower:
I'll reiterate the advice about getting an Overrun Coupler (ORC) before using your bush hog. Click here to see the one that Just 8Ns sells. Before you purchase one, measure the diameter of your PTO gear. The one that came with your N was 1-1/8". Many folks have replaced them with 1-3/8" because that is the standard diameter for the female coupling of modern PTO-driven implements. You can get an adaptive ORC that is 1-1/8" on one side and 1-3/8" on the other. Before you plunk down the cash, make sure you know what you have on your N AND on your implement. It's most likely that your bush hog is 1-3/8", but you need to check what is on your tractor. When you remove the grease zerks on the ORC shown in the link above, you will find a roll pin that you remove and then use to attach to your PTO. Reinsert the grease zerks and grease it every time you use it - you cannot over-grease an ORC. You can also purchase ORC's with spring-loaded quick-connects on them that save you the hassle of driving the drift pin in/out to attach/detach your ORC. Some folks leave the ORC attached to their PTO because of the hassle of dealing with the drift pin, but this is a major safety issue in my view and I do not recommend it. I think the PTO should be capped when not in use. We have some good (and scary) info on potential PTO hazards in our Safety forum here. It would be worth a read for a new tractor guy.
Also agree on the flung object barrier on the front lip of your hog. You can use a strip of thick rubber (Sawz-alled out of a tire or something similar) bolted to the front edge to catch rocks and debris from being sent your way. KingKutter may offer one as an accessory item.
The first time you mow new property, go as slow as possible to hopefully see the hazards (large rocks, stumps, large limbs, etc.) that may be hidden in the tall grass and avoid them. You've got the right idea about tossing several Grade-2 bolts in your tool box to replace ones sheared by mowing over things you did not see first. Resist the urge to use Grade-5 and never use Grade-8 bolts for shear pins - better to go through the cheap bolts than replace parts on your hog, in my opinion.
If you are just clipping pasture and you've mowed it several times and "found" all the hidden treasures, then I'm with Dean. I also sharpen my blade before mowing. I've mowed this 7 acre pasture for years now, and have found all the hidden treasure. I use my front end loader to lift one end of the hog and use my angle grinder to sharpen the blade. You are, technically speaking, not supposed to do this on a bush hog, because it's intended to shred things, not cut them. But again, if you are only clipping pasture, I don't see a problem with sharpening the blade. For any other type of cutting, I would not do that, though.
Keep pets and family away from you when mowing. You can fling a piece of shattered rock 50' with some decent velocity.
Hope this helps............Ed
'52 8N475798
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