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3 pt. top link on bush hog - solid or chain?

M

Moondoggie

Member
I have always used a solid top link with my bush hog. I know it does flex up and down over rougher terrain, but I haven"t had any problems, other than some shaved mounds. Someone suggested a chain instead for the top link, so the mower could flex up and down. Does that sound feasible? I haven"t seen it used on any rough mower hookups I"ve seen.
 
You can make the toplink a little more flexible. Some bush hogs already have this feature built in. Start with a "normal" 3 point bush hog, normally they have 2 braces, that extend toward the back. remove these braces, from the toplink part of the 3point. Add a couple of short pieces of strap iron, each with a hole at each end, suitable to fit the original hardware, This will push the toplink frame forward, a little, but allow the rear braces to flex a little, as you go over hills and dips.
 
Moondoggie,
If you position control works well to control the height of the lift arms, a chain top link would work OK.

I have limit chains from the top link connection point down to the hitch pins on the mower, because my lift sneaks down. Works just as well, and I can adjust the chains to control the height of the front edge of the mower.

Myron
 
I've used both and either will work.

You only NEED to use a chain if your mower does not have a mechanism allowing the rear of the moser to rise when the tractor rear wheels enter a depression.

Dean
 
Chain- don't ware out the tail wheel bearings as fast. If in hilly places, ridged is best, might keep you from going over backwards.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I tried ours with a chain once, front bottom corner of the cutter hit a little stump. looked back and the cutter was standing up right behind me, don't know how it didn't ruin the driveshaft! Went back to using a toplink with a flexible link on the outer end. I have heard of some people running the chain through a pipe to prevent this.
 
I mow in very rough pastures with a Farmall C, lot of small ditches. My top link is solid, but my lifting arms have a short link of chain. Works great even with a 3 pt Kuhn hay rake. Doesn't work that good with the blade, and rock rake.
 
Most rotary cutters today have a clevis at the top link attach point that allows the tail of the mower adequate vertical movement. Look at one of the mfg websites, i.e., Land Pride, etc. This is much safer than a chain and does the same thing.
 
I like the solid top link,..you can put your tractor in float and that's what the mower will do is float, I see where the solid link would not work on the larger mowers, 6 foot and up but for the 5 footers give me a solid top link
 
I have an elongated hole on my brushog where the top link hooks on. It will allow it to float a couple of inches each way. You just need to adjust the top link, when sitting level, in the middle of the hole.
 
Thank to all of you. Experience is the best teacher. I like the limited rigid top link ideas with some travel, don"t want to wear the mower as my new helmet!
 
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