Safety Chains for a Rotary Mower

I am going to build a safety chain to go across the front of my rotary mower to reduce the thrown objects towards the tractor and especially me. I am thinking of using 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/4" thick angle iron with 3/8" size chain welded to it. The angle iron will be bolted to the mower deck. Is there anything special I need to be aware of? The chain will be approximately 6" long. Thanks, Sid

From time to time I see those chains hanging across the front of Rotary Mowers..

Check around, I think you will find them available or at least use one for a pattern..

My neighbor just bought a set of chain guards for the front of his mower. I haven't seen them yet.

Here's a link to lots of pictures on the subject.
Chain guards

as I set in the tractor seat I got hit on my ankle with a stick thrown out from under the rotary cutter.

after the pain subsided and blood cleaned off, I was on fire to build a front deflector for my cheap 5ft cutter.
Howse brand, they make a factory front guard for the cutter, but it cost almost 1/2 the cost of a new cutter, however at the time of my injury I would not have cared how much it cost.

problem: on my cutter the blade tip comes very close to the front of the cutter deck, so its not just a solution to start adding chains or belting material, to the front deck

on my cutter you have to build an extension out from the cutter body deck to attach the guard material, otherwise as the guard chains or belt material bends back under the deck as you go forward, the blade tips will tear up the guard material.

just be advised: as you build your guard, you must make sure when the guard material bends back under the cutter, the blade tip cannot touch the guard.

high dollar cutters have these safety chains on the front and rear of the cutter to prevent the material from being thrown out, it is deflected to the ground.

after making a few attempts to install the belting material, I finally just gave up, so my belting material is coiled up in a box in the tool shed and the front of the cutter is still unguarded.

cutter has not thrown out any more sticks in the last couple of years.

I try to keep the front of the cutter leaning down about 2 or 3 inches from the rear, never level front to rear, that is per the instruction for proper set up, as I remember,

stay safe, a rotary cutter and chainsaw are about the most dangerous machines on the farm.

Thanks for the link. It gives me some ideas for off setting the chains. Sic

Sid -

The way I see it, you have a couple options here.
Option 1. Buy a set of chain guards. Kinda expensive, but they work.

Option 2. Go make friends with someone that owns a round baler, and ask for an old cast-off belt. I put old belting on my 5' pull type, got it for FREE from the guy that does my hay. And finally,

Option 3. Use (or buy) a taller tractor! You think I'm joking, but I'm not. When I had my 2000 Ford, I got the snot beat out of me with sticks and other debris. Since I started using the 300 Farmall (2 years ago), I have yet to be hit with anything. And, I'm now using a 6' cutter with NO guards on it at all.

Your mileage may vary, of course. Were I you, I'd opt for #2, since it would be the cheapest option of the 3. Just out of curiosity, what machine do you use to pull your cutter?

Mac

I have a JD 6200. It is tall but I am cutting some small brush and I am primarily worried about the sticks that are thrown out the front. I have expanded metal screen behind me to avoid the large stuff. I do have some old belting but I had not considered it. I am going to look at it and see if I can use it as well. I mainly see chains used and most of the manufacturers want over $300 for a set and I have some scrap metal and chain that is available. Thanks for all the inputs. Sid

County road commision mows off the roadsides here. (Not as much anymore!) They have a curtain of chains front and rear. VERY HEAVY CHAINS. Housing is apparently big enough to clear the blades. Roadsides here can be rough and thrown objects can be a serious issue. Donno if curtains are factory, or constructed in-house. Mechanics are pretty creative here.

sid,
here is a picture of how Howse brand rotary cutters build their front guards and set them forward of the front edge of the cutter body.

not that hard to do, this extension will not allow the blade to touch the deflector chain or belt you install.

I even got as far as having the pipe extensions cut and purchased the bolts to attach the belt material to the cutter.

guess I am a lazy butt for not completing the job.

Make sure that when the chains drag back, they won"t be hit by the blades.