Adjusting the Tractor Top Link to Pull a Brush Hog

I get questions occasionally about how to set a tractor top link. Today I'll go over how to adjust the top link if you're hooking up a three point mounted rotary cutter, or brush hog.

The top link length is really important on certain implements. Anything that goes in the ground needs to have the top link properly adjusted. That includes box blades, plows, and tillers. Having the top link too long or too short can adversely affect how those implements work, and I'll cover that in a later video. The top link adjustment is less important on a cutter because it's not involved in carrying the machine across the ground. With a rotary cutter, you set your height with the lower link arms and the tail wheels, so the top link adjustment is not as critical.

When setting the brush hog, get out the owner's manual and see what they recommend. On the cutter in the video, the manual told me the blades are 1 inch above the skid plates. So, if I want to mow at 4 1/2" I need the skid plates 3 1/2" off the ground, then the cutter is going to ride on the tail wheels and the three point. The manual on this cutter tells me the top link needs to be adjusted so it engages when the lower link arms raise 2 1/2". I'm not sure how critical that is, what I did was tighten the top link until it was just starting to "catch" at the height I wanted and that seemed to be about right. So, when you're working in the field, the top link is just along for the ride, unless you pick up the machine, or back off a hill. When doing the latter, the top link will catch and keep the rear wheels from following the contours of the ground and possibly putting the PTO shaft in a bind, and hold it up until the tractor comes down the grade. So, it's important for the top link to be there, it's not as critical that it be adjusted a certain link to make the machine function.

In another future video I'll discuss setting tail wheels to get the correct height and rake for the cutter.

Copyright 2018 Tractor Mike LLC

[harrymusgrave]

Some tips for rear mount brush cutters.
For cutting grass set the implement mostly level.
For cutting brush, set the back end higher than the front. This will help direct the discharge out the back.
When purchasing a brush cutter get the one with the chain guards.
If you can't afford the chain guards, buy them anyway.
When using 3 point implements, always pick up the tool when doing sharp turns.

[jeffdaniels]

Very very helpful. I am a newbie who bought an old Ford 9n teaching myself the ropes. Thankyou for your channel

[richardchamberlain]

Just Bought a Sub Compact Tractor. Know nothing about tractors. Tractor Mike has saved me! These videos are addictive. Great information. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[Cowboyify]

Mike- Great job in explaining stuff for someone like me, who is very new to this ... God know how many times your instructional videos saved my bacon!! Thank you.

[cristobalpacheco]

Hi Mike as the new John Deere 38 hp tractor owner I sometimes have a little trouble when I’m unhooking my 65 inch rotor tiller and any videos or a place called unhooking and hooking up these implements is truly appreciated thank you very much Cris

[denisewildfortune]

For those with a mower like mine. My J.D. rotary cutter has a traveling link that I have to center in its track using the top link. This allows the mower to follow the contours of the land for an even cut before the top link can come into play. It took me a while to understand what it was doing but once understood real simple to set up.

[leedawson]

On flat ground you are right to say your top link is along for the ride. In a not so flat area your top arm is somewhat crucial, holding up your cutter while backing down a serious grade when the grade drops three feet. It also helps keep the mower from pitching upwards to abruptly when making the transition to an inclined bank. My implement has a pivoting arm about four inches long which allows the transition to be more subtle.

[mrflorida]

Hey Mike the top link mattered ALLOT on my tractor/bush hog! I know you mentioned it needs to allow travel; here is some more detail what I saw. First I have a 48'King Kutter/RK24 combo, the mower has hinge between top link and deck of mower to allow travel to contour of the ground. I found if it was too short raising the mower lifted the wheel. If I made it longer it leveled out the mower deck in accordance with back wheel. So too short lifts entire mower and longer can adjust the cut level on front of mower.

[joeysounier]

Very nice Um looking for a bush hog right now And come across ur videos. And u answered my questions. And. Plenty of good advice

[danielweston]

We always used a chain for the top link when using the hog.

[claypottinger]

Finally. Someone than knows tractors and can explain 'that' to watchers. Liked that you used a tape measure. Does a 'top link' shrink? After 12 years switching from Bush Hog to tiller it no longer reaches the span. "no longer" is not a pun.

[KenPryor]

As a fairly new tractor owner, this is a topic I've wondered about. Thanks for the great information.

[stogieltd]

Half the time when I'm busy hogging I don't even hook up my top link. I know my area, I know the ground and there's nothing that I have to raise the entire hog off the ground to clear. So I only raise it slightly at the end of a cut run just enough to keep the skids from gouging in the turn then it's back down and continue.
Thanks for your videos Mike-
Russ
Lithia, FL.

[leroydalton]

Old hand taught me to throw the solid top link to the side and use chain for top link. Your bush hog will float with the terrain and less wear and tear.

[semco]

I have a heavy duty bush hog attached to one of my tractors and keep it on that tractor since it is easier to do that than remove it when I want to use something else and then hook it back up. I noticed when I got my equipment that the weight of the bush hog was on the lower control arms even though the real wheel on the unit stays on the ground when mowing. I don't have a cutter like the one you are talking about, but can understand how all that weight would affect the unit performance.

[chadbinette]

Funny my Kubota owners manual says the opposite, lowest hole is for ground in gauging attachments and the top hole is for a mower or bunch hog.

[robbeiber]

I see your using Pat's Quick Hitch. I do as well. I had to replace my top link with a longer one to make up the difference in arm length. Except for my blade which works better with the shorter, original link. My point is that with my cutter, I leave the link longer so it doesn't lift the cutter if I go over a quick roll and leave an area uncut. I also have to watch it isn't too long and bends the link if the back of the cutter goes too far down. Excellent video! I love them all!

[Leftatalbuquerque]

My family's IH 240 has a two-prong hitch for plough, mower, etc. Easy to back into and connect an implement - but let's face it, ALL hitching is better when a second person is there!

[mechanicmike]

I have one of those cheap king kutters and it has a travel link that will over rotate and get bound up and keep the mower about a foot off the ground so most of the time I carefully mow with the top link off

[paulriley]

Thank you. Watching from south of France. Recently bought compact tractor with some kit, inc topper mower ( brush hog?!). Does not have the tail wheels ( just a four foot machine); found your opinion in this video helpful, thank you. Catching up on your posts and usually have a dose of Tractor Mike first thing in the morning with my morning coffee!