MF 135 Draft Question

Hi, I just bought a 60" Woods rotary cutter for my 135, having finally worn out my 30-year-old King Kutter.

First thing I noticed is that the attachment point on the cutter for the upper link has a secondary piece which forms a loose, floating connection between the cutter and the upper link. The previous King Cutter did not have this. It simply had a place to put a pin through, forming a rigid connection between the upper link and the cutter's upper mounting point.

Second thing I noticed is that the draft control for the cutter, while in operation, is very sketchy and unpredictable. If I move the draft control lever even a millimeter the cutter rides up or buries in the ground.

I'm thinking that since the attachment point for the upper link on the MF135 is also the draft sensor, and since the new cutter has a loose, floating connection to the upper link, the draft sensor is not getting the input it needs to correctly operate the draft.

Does this make sense? Am I barking up the wrong tree? The draft control works perfectly with the older cutter.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

The draft control is for ground engaging equipment, the float built in to your top link is the protection from ditches and low spots. I would not use the Draft with your cutter. And I think your are right about the way yours is working, and reacting with the top link.

My mower on my 150 has the same top link hookup as your new one. I always use the position control, never draft lever.

Leave the draft control lever at the top of the quadrant and use the POSITION control lever only. As others have said, draft control is for soil engaging implements like plows, cultivators etc. Position control is for things like mowers, post hole diggers, yard scrapers, mounted fertilizer spreaders etc.

Thanks for the replies!

Just some thoughts. I understand that the draft control was intended for soil engaging implements. However, I've talked to a number of old-timers over the years and they all told me the same thing, that it works just as well for cutters, that's the way they use it, and that has been my experience. If I just use the position control, when I go over a hump the cutter rides up in the air, and if I go through a depression it presses into the ground. The only way to effectively use it is to constantly keep my hand on the position control, lifting and lowering to try to keep it at the same height, which is very tedious when mowing for several hours.

I have found that, at least with the previous mower with the rigid upper link, with the draft response set to fast, the draft control works perfectly at keeping the cutter at exactly the preset height, whatever the terrain. I'll give it a try with the position control, assuming that the floating upper link is intended to allow the mower to tilt in order to compensate for terrain. But I have to say I'm inclined to modify the upper link attachment to make a rigid connection, since it has worked so well in the past. I'll post the results.