Drum mower question??

& no....not much of a way to keep it from doing so, (other than extremely "dull" blades) that I"ve ever found...

running a coupla "old" pz drums, myself...

assuming your cutter is (at least) similiar...

understand the problem that you ask about - but is only a problem in transport -from pasture to pasture - sitting on the ground & running in "cut mode" --- it don"t care if"n whats there has been cut or not, ie.. miss a spot, (or those "corners") just pull out, hit the brake - make a U-Turn (turns much easier turning towards the cutter, in otherwords - keep the cutter on the "inside" of the turn)- go cut what ya missed, or the corners or whatever, then resume where ya left off....it don"t even care if"n the grass has been "run over" & mashed down..... going to cut "whatevers there" right at the top of the ground ---- if"n it"s "cuttable"...(does "tend, to sorta balk at sweet-gum roots & pine saplings over 1.5 -2 inches though!!)

as for the "not picking up the outside drum" (don"t know about the 4 drum setup as mine are only 2 drums) - the little "flopper" thing only keeps it (the 3 pt setup) level when setting it off the tractor, so"s you can hook back onto it..... if"n you want to pick it up "level" (for transport in "cut" position), get yourself a short length of 2.5 - 3 inch (or what ever width it takes for your cutter) x .25 flat bar, let the 3 pt all the way down, slide the bar into the slots on the bars that are on both sides of the main vertical round part of the configuration (I"m sure there are "specific" names for all these parts - but I don"t know what they are!!) - then as the lift comes up, there is not the 6 inches or so (of the slots) that has to pass before something actually starts raising.

will also help in transport position, esp.. if your loading on a trailer -- instead of being "straight out" will give it a little upward lift, so"s it don"t drag near as much when the tractor is going up/coming down the ramps.....

glc

everthing, everyone has said, & a little more.....

not familiar with your brand, so again, assumming,....(like a pz..)

the mower (everything, - drums, upper gearbox, 3 pt., all components & the weight combined) sets/rests on the bottom 'saucers - pans - 'up-side-down frizbee' [whatever the correct term is?] -

[not saying it is the correct way][but works for me] - on level ground - set the front of the drum the same height as the the back of the drum via the top link of the 3pt., being 'conscience that with forward motion the cutter will tend to 'tilt' forward (leading edge down)[also depends on the looseness/wear of the cutter -- I have one cutter that will tilt a little further than the other, due to wear in the connection parts].

too far farward, the blades will be cutting into the earth.....too far backwards (depending upon the quality of skirting on the cutter - will 'cover' you with earth, unless you have an enclosed cab..... .....

the exact height of the cut will be governed by the amount of 'cup' in the bottom saucers & how high they (the saucers) hold the the blades off the ground..... ...

no need to 'pick it up' while passing back over 'cut grass' -- [it is "not" the same as a sickle--(if anything like my pz)]-- cut the field out - anywhich way ya please..(the tedder &/or rake & even the baler - will cover/hide all traces of cutting mistakes/fun)...if'n it won't.....(trade it in & get ya self a 20 - 30 year??? old pz..!! so's ya can have some fun & enjoy the ride..

glc

Probably end up fixing it & selling it; found a coupla disc mowers since then; one of them works great & I like it lots better.

Hope this helps!

Lew Best near Waco, TX

I don"t have much experience with drum mowers. With a disc mower, I let it "float" on the ground on the ride shoes. They are, I beleive, designed to carry the weight of the mower so that it can mow as close as posibble without injuring the crop and increasing yeild. One inch less grass cut over many acres adds up. Check with you"re extension agent for the type of hay you are cutting. In North Florida, my fields (bermuda and bahia) look almost scalped after a cutting, but they come right back. It does take some adjustments with the top link and three point to get the angle just right. Hope this was of some help.

John