Mower/brush hog limiter chains

[Mike9]

My nephew gave me this 5' Massey finish mower and controlling the front with the lift arms wasn't cutting it. I read about "limiter chains" which this has on the front. After trying one method I came up with this one. Square "U" bolts on the ROPS uprights - no drilling involved. There were chain plates on the top link mount, but no room for chain hookup. I used 5/16 bolts, washers, two 1/4" washers stacked to take up the 3/4" hole space, an outside washer then lock nuts. I put new, longer chain on and it serves the purpose. Now I can forget the down lever and the mower will sit where I set it with the chains. I'm going to do the same with the brush hog.

 

[hope to float]

How will that work when you turn from a flat area to a down slope? Will the mower not rise up as the tractor goes down and now you can't lower it to compensate?

 

[Mike9]

In an ideal world I'd love to mow flat, but I can't so I have to compensate. Leave a long patch mowing down hill - make a pass up hill. It's a field not a lawn. I have fresh rocky outcroppings every year and tree roots to plane down and some 10 degree slopes, but on the whole it's not a bad way to spent an afternoon.

If you don't limit the front dive you scalp a lot and that's just not a fun sound IMO - YMMV.

 

[D2Cat]

Typically the brackets for the chain is attached at the same pin the top link has. One one each side, then the lynch pin holds it all in place.

I use them on my flail mower when I mow a field and only want to cut the flowers off the weeds and leave the grass for grazing..

 

[Mike9]

Typically the brackets for the chain is attached at the same pin the top link has. One one each side, then the lynch pin holds it all in place.

Right, but the space is so tight around the top link pin I couldn't get them to swing without hitting the ROPS posts much less get a chain in there.

 

[D2Cat]

That's why they are called compact utility tractors, and sub=compact utility tractors!! No extra room for much of anything.

 

[In Utopia]

This is the setup I use when re-sizing rocks on my property which is not what you'd call golf course quality.
Old Ford tractors are not known to hold position, so this is the answer.