Nice vid from a guy who doesn't think he knows it all, and is willing to take advise from others. I used to bush hog a lot with a Ford 2000. I loved that little tractor! Really considering getting a 3000 in the near future now that I've moved from the city to 27 acres in the boonies.
I go for the backing up technique most of the time as it's good to have a look at the ground you are about to commit your wheels to unless you know what it's like before hand. Discovered a large sunken drain while charging forwards across what looked like a uniform field of thistle was lesson enough for me (also found thistle seeds are good at blocking radiators when going forwards through them). Also tend to tip-toe in at reduced revs as you never know what "present" someone has left for you to find since you last mowed - an old bike frame and a large porcelain insulator (left behind by the guys working on the power lines) are I think my most notable finds.
If you raise your mower deck as you back into the heavy stuff you will even be able to take down some of those 3" and 4" trees. Just take your time and lower the deck slowly. It's amazing what these things are capable of.
Good video, I prefer to clear brush a little lower gear, in the event you find a surprise in the tall brush (ie, fence post, stump, washout) it give one the opportunity to stop before one tears up their equipment.
You make a good point! I've got them filled over 1/2 way with anti-freeze, and that tends to give me some good weight. But taking some air out would probably be a good call. I'll try it! Thanks man!
I'd love some more traction from the tires you mention, but I'm waiting for these old turf tires to wear out ... plus, the expense of new tires is PRETTY STEEP ... these are working okay for now :)
great video ... thanks! Question from a tractor/bush hog newbie... I have a Ford 601 Workmaster with a 4' bush hog. Can I "mow" in reverse, or do I need to back into the brush, and then engage the bush hog? Also, do I have to wait until the bush hog stops turning before changing from reverse to forward or vice versa? Thanks and blessings on ya, Gregg
+Rita Shively The PTO powers the bush hog and always spins forwards so you can drive fwd or back with it engaged. I often back up into brush as long as I know what's under the growth. Keep it greased and oiled and it will serve you many more years
I think the workmaster has a live pto, that means it has a 2 stage clutch, depress the clutch just a little and the pto keeps spinning but the tractor stops moving, depress all the way and everything stops. Without a live pto you will have to wait for the drive shaft to stop spinning before changing gears
Oh man, I've been running that clutch for years and have never thought of trying out multiple stages. I'm gonna test it out tomorrow ... thanks for the tip!
I have a ford 3000 and your throttle lever doesn't seem to be working right, it should hold your rpm's so that you don't have to keep throttling the tractor back up
Hey Wesley -- You make a good point! I'm guessing you have two throttle points: one being the hand lever and the other being the foot pedal? Well, that's how my old Ford is set up, and the foot pedal does a good job of holding the throttle position. The hand lever alone doesn't do squat. I haven't toyed with adjusting these two points of control. Maybe you've had luck with that? (Gotta love the Ford 3000!)
they definitely don't have to be kitchen-knife sharp, but I find that with an edge on them they do better. Those blades spin so fast and hard that they still cut when dull
A bush hog isn't a finish mower. They mostly "whack" material at a lower RPM rather than cut it. If your blades are too sharp they just won't stand up to heavy mowing. I've had good performance and longevity by keeping my blades "sharpened" with about a 1/16' leading edge of the cutting surface. I keep two sets of blades, one always sharpened and ready to go and swap them out about every 50 hours. Other operators say they've never sharpened their blades, so go figure.
I think you're going a little too fast, I've shoved branches through my radiator before because I didn't have time to stop so I let her crawl when it's close together like that, but to each his own.
You know, I think you're right. I run the tractor so much out in open ground and have so many acres to cover ... that I tend to run her a bit fast. Slowing down always makes for a better cut, too, which is another reason to take her easy!
Moving a little fast ain't you need to be in a lower gear I'm Bush hogging about 300 acres right now of old sage grass with a Ford 4000 and I have to run 3gear on the low side sometimes 4gear just depending on how thick it is
SpencerCraft you had your 3-point adjusted wrong and your RPM''s were way to low. Oh and my friend, it's not a Bush Hog, they are called Brush Hogs, even on Wikipedia.
Actually it is commonly known as a bunch hog because the bush hog company is very large and made the first bush hog. Oh and Wikipedia doesn't actually use bush hogs so they don't get to tell me what they are called :)
I have a playlist of videos about this 1967 tractor here: ua-cam.com/play/PLI-7IOMFGhAIhde6NBsGZTIqx6-9Tywvu.html
Nice vid from a guy who doesn't think he knows it all, and is willing to take advise from others. I used to bush hog a lot with a Ford 2000. I loved that little tractor! Really considering getting a 3000 in the near future now that I've moved from the city to 27 acres in the boonies.
27 acres sounds good! That old tractor is still runnin
I go for the backing up technique most of the time as it's good to have a look at the ground you are about to commit your wheels to unless you know what it's like before hand. Discovered a large sunken drain while charging forwards across what looked like a uniform field of thistle was lesson enough for me (also found thistle seeds are good at blocking radiators when going forwards through them).
Also tend to tip-toe in at reduced revs as you never know what "present" someone has left for you to find since you last mowed - an old bike frame and a large porcelain insulator (left behind by the guys working on the power lines) are I think my most notable finds.
I completely agree: in unknown territory, going slow is the safest and best method
I always enjoy a good tractor video. I make a few tractor videos myself. thumbs up and subscribed!
thanks for watching! I'm making another video of the tractor this week
Good vid! We use almost the same setup at my work but with a 4000 or 1920 and our brush hog is super rusty haha
The rust but they don't bust!
I have a Ford 3000 tractor and a 6 foot brush hog it does a good job
Sounds like a great setup!
If you raise your mower deck as you back into the heavy stuff you will even be able to take down some of those 3" and 4" trees. Just take your time and lower the deck slowly. It's amazing what these things are capable of.
+Kevin Aylward ... very true. The weight alone can be crushing
Good video, I prefer to clear brush a little lower gear, in the event you find a surprise in the tall brush (ie, fence post, stump, washout) it give one the opportunity to stop before one tears up their equipment.
You make a good point, Bob. Slow is the way to go -- plus, you have more power that way.
That is an awesome tractor
Thanks! Running strong this summer
Yeah, I have a 1966 Ford 3000. Diesel engine. Made in America. Made of steel. No plastic n electronics. Trusty machine.
Sounds great
Great video, Now a subscriber. Thanks for sharing...
why thank you!
I believe that tractor is a ford 3500, an industrial 3000
Yep, you’re right. Someone else confirmed that a while back. The big front axle is a giveaway. Thanks for commenting!
“Pretty close to the ground is where I’ve got it set” as the blades smack the dirt and almost stall the tractor
True! I have since brought it up some and have scorched less earth
works pretty good
thanks man
did you ever get around to fixing the pto on your tractor?
It's been years now and I'm so used to it I haven't bothered. But yeah, it still needs to be adjusted.
If you let some air out of those rear tires you will get a little more traction.
You make a good point! I've got them filled over 1/2 way with anti-freeze, and that tends to give me some good weight. But taking some air out would probably be a good call. I'll try it! Thanks man!
Why don't you have dirt, or agriculture tires or whatever the term for mud tires is?
I'd love some more traction from the tires you mention, but I'm waiting for these old turf tires to wear out ... plus, the expense of new tires is PRETTY STEEP ... these are working okay for now :)
great video ... thanks! Question from a tractor/bush hog newbie... I have a Ford 601 Workmaster with a 4' bush hog. Can I "mow" in reverse, or do I need to back into the brush, and then engage the bush hog? Also, do I have to wait until the bush hog stops turning before changing from reverse to forward or vice versa? Thanks and blessings on ya, Gregg
+Rita Shively The PTO powers the bush hog and always spins forwards so you can drive fwd or back with it engaged. I often back up into brush as long as I know what's under the growth. Keep it greased and oiled and it will serve you many more years
I think the workmaster has a live pto, that means it has a 2 stage clutch, depress the clutch just a little and the pto keeps spinning but the tractor stops moving, depress all the way and everything stops. Without a live pto you will have to wait for the drive shaft to stop spinning before changing gears
Oh man, I've been running that clutch for years and have never thought of trying out multiple stages. I'm gonna test it out tomorrow ... thanks for the tip!
Super. the best at 4:00 on
Yeah, it will eat just about anything!
I have a ford 3000 and your throttle lever doesn't seem to be working right, it should hold your rpm's so that you don't have to keep throttling the tractor back up
Hey Wesley -- You make a good point! I'm guessing you have two throttle points: one being the hand lever and the other being the foot pedal? Well, that's how my old Ford is set up, and the foot pedal does a good job of holding the throttle position. The hand lever alone doesn't do squat.
I haven't toyed with adjusting these two points of control. Maybe you've had luck with that? (Gotta love the Ford 3000!)
I had to tighten the nut on my throttle to keep it in place
How sharp should the blades be on a bushhog
they definitely don't have to be kitchen-knife sharp, but I find that with an edge on them they do better. Those blades spin so fast and hard that they still cut when dull
A bush hog isn't a finish mower. They mostly "whack" material at a lower RPM rather than cut it. If your blades are too sharp they just won't stand up to heavy mowing. I've had good performance and longevity by keeping my blades "sharpened" with about a 1/16' leading edge of the cutting surface. I keep two sets of blades, one always sharpened and ready to go and swap them out about every 50 hours. Other operators say they've never sharpened their blades, so go figure.
Cool method
Okay thanks
I think you're going a little too fast, I've shoved branches through my radiator before because I didn't have time to stop so I let her crawl when it's close together like that, but to each his own.
You know, I think you're right. I run the tractor so much out in open ground and have so many acres to cover ... that I tend to run her a bit fast. Slowing down always makes for a better cut, too, which is another reason to take her easy!
what's that thing on the front of your tractor for
You noticed! I hang my snowplow off of it, and the hydraulics allow me to lower and raise it. It's a simple, heavy plow that means business. :)
1967 ( good year)
You bet! Love the old tractor
Select o speed shifter
+Nathan Bruce ... yup! Still works well
Ditch those crummy turf tires and get ags.
Oh man, I'd love to be able to ... but new tires are expensive!
+SpencerCraft Yes. I bet $800 for a pair.
+SpencerCraft Was this a golf course tractor befor you got it?
In a previous life, it was used for plowing (likely with chains, which I don't have) ... but I do still have the plow, which is pretty awesome
Moving a little fast ain't you need to be in a lower gear I'm Bush hogging about 300 acres right now of old sage grass with a Ford 4000 and I have to run 3gear on the low side sometimes 4gear just depending on how thick it is
+bad boy ... I’m glad to hear that it works for you.... 4000 is sweet
SpencerCraft you had your 3-point adjusted wrong and your RPM''s were way to low. Oh and my friend, it's not a Bush Hog, they are called Brush Hogs, even on Wikipedia.
Thanks for the tips. I'll work on it. My PTO has been giving me some trouble lately ...
Not condemning you Spencer, just something I had to learn myself...........That stuff is hard work to cut down.
Some of them weeds will tear the brush hogs blades to pieces.....Ugh
You bet!
Actually it is commonly known as a bunch hog because the bush hog company is very large and made the first bush hog. Oh and Wikipedia doesn't actually use bush hogs so they don't get to tell me what they are called :)