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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Chain top link for a rotory mower

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Edd in KY

08-13-2007 06:20:28




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When I was a kid we had an old bushhog mower with a chain top link. That let the mower follow the contour of the ground. I now have a 5 foot King Kutter that I use for light mowing and touch up mowing that has a solid top link. On hilly ground and ditchs it scalps and bridges. seems hard on the mower and the tractor.

Are there reasons why I should not install a chain top link? Is it a safety issue? Please give me your insight and experience. Thanks Edd

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georgeky

08-14-2007 12:53:57




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
Won't hurt a thing to use the chain. As mentioned Bush Hog brand mowers use to come from the factory with chain top links.



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JBMac

08-14-2007 10:42:20




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
Not trying to be a smart, but how in the world could a mower flip on top of the driver? Even if the mower somehow lost the driveshaft first, it could only flip up maybe 45 degrees. It is still attached to the tractor at three points (four if you counted the drive shaft). I realize that a three point system does not apply downward pressure, but come on. I'll keep using my chain top link. I'll take in the shop under my A-Fram and lift it by the tail wheel. It'll be like Mythbusters!

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Oldmax

08-14-2007 05:24:33




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
third party image

Heres how I solved my problem . Use the chain in place of the solid bars "Not top link on 3 pt hitch". it gives you a little more travel . Some fords and JD came from fractory this way. If you mow on some of the hills that I do you will like this set up .

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ClemBert

08-13-2007 19:10:15




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
My John Deere MX6 mower comes with a floating top link hinge that allows the mower to follow the ground contour just as you desire. This is standard equipment I believe for the MX6 mowers. Maybe you can rig up something similar.



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Rod in Smiths Falls, ON

08-13-2007 16:22:54




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
If you have any large rocks on your property, don't do it. I have to mow one particularly villanous pasture full of submerged boulders, and more than a few times I have looked back to see the mower bouncing up off a rock, forced back down only by the top link.

No way would I get onto a tractor with a rotary mower with a chain as the third link.



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Jerry/MT

08-13-2007 12:38:33




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
My KingKutter has a link at the top link connection to allow limited rotation about the lower pins, and yours should too. If you didn't get one you should contact KingKutter. I had a Brush Hog squealer that had a fixed top link and a chain to allow rotation about the bottom pins but it could only possibly rotate upward a few degrees(10 degrees????) since the PTO shaft wouldn't allow it to rotate up further.

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broken pretzel

08-13-2007 17:01:30




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Jerry/MT, 08-13-2007 12:38:33  
When the mower flips onto the driver, what's left of that "rugged" driveshaft went bye-bye a couple of thousandths of a second earlier!



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dorset farmer

08-13-2007 11:51:21




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
Bush Hog makes a flex joint for the solid top link to attach. Give a good bit of travel and eliminates any concern for flipping up to get you. Mike



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CWL

08-13-2007 10:31:46




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
I use a chain for the top link, but I run it thru a piece of pipe that is a little bit shorter than the chain. This lets it float, but puts a stop in the system if it tries to come up too much.



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paul

08-13-2007 09:15:48




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
There is some tiny chance you will hit something solid with the mower & it will flip up on top of you.

Many use a chain tho.

They should come with a top link with a hinge - it allows some flex, but also keeps the mower down.

--->Paul



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MF Poor

08-13-2007 09:24:43




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to paul, 08-13-2007 09:15:48  
However remote the possibility, there is a SLIGHT chance of that happeneing. I know of a few people who've been struck by lightening,but no one who's had the bush hog flip up. Long odds, but possible.

A good way to accomplish the same effect as the chain top link AND stay safe is to replace the struts going from the 3-point A-frame to the rear of the mower with chains that are ran through a piece of pipe that is several inches shorter than the chain. You get the flex of the chains and the security of the solid struts at a certain point if the mower does kick up.

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odds?

08-13-2007 17:13:45




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to MF Poor, 08-13-2007 09:24:43  
The reason more people are struck by lightning is that there are MANY more people out in adverse weather MUCH more of the time than there are people mowing, using a chain for a toplink.



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MF Poor

08-14-2007 04:01:16




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to odds?, 08-13-2007 17:13:45  
"MANY" people who aren't "MUCH" smart. Point is, even with a relatively low number of people using chain linkage, there's a VERY low likelyhood of a mower kicking up that far.



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old

08-13-2007 08:16:41




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
Both of the ones I have use chain on them but its not the top link. I like the way there set up and if I had another one I would set it up the same way. Instead of the top link being chain the place where you have bars going back to the deck is chain. With it set up that way you can keep the front up where it needs to be but the rest of it will move up and down as needed and it works real well

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IaGary

08-13-2007 06:35:00




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
Just last Thru at the weld shop I help part time at,a guy came in with a solid top link on a older ford tractor. The sway bars where all bent and he wanted heavier ones built.

I said lets straighten yours and put in a chain top link.

He wonders why he didn't do it years ago. Said it works much better now.

Chain is safer in my eyes to stop the scalping.

Gary



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glennster

08-13-2007 06:28:47




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 Re: Chain top link for a rotory mower in reply to Edd in KY, 08-13-2007 06:20:28  
we always run a chain instead of a top link, like you said it lets the mower float over rough ground. keeps the tailwheel from breaking off and bending up the hitch.



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