Drum mower lifting problem

Hall99m

Member
Mixed Farmer
I have a Kuhn PZ170 drum mower. When I lift it up with the 3 point linkage the end of the mower tends to droop down and barely lifts off the ground at all, same as when in mowing position and travelling position. This is my first drum mower but but I assume the end of the mower is supposed to tilt up as it is lifted? Any help would be much appreciated.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Toplink could be too long when in travel and check when you have it in the mowing position that its not lifting the link arm up furthest from the mower bed rather than lifting the mower bed up. Might need to tighten check chains on arms so the mower is better balanced
 

Hall99m

Member
Mixed Farmer
When the mower is on the ground in mowing position and I have the top link adjusted so the drums are even on the ground from front to back, I lift it up the end drum is dragging on the ground, when I turn it to travelling position the end still drags on the ground and I have to re-adjust the top link to keep the end up off the ground.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Adjusting the right arm will not help the travel height problem, i reckon you have both arms too long so its not picking up high enough to travel or mow.

Offset toppers are sods for not picking up high enough when swung round topping, you have to have the link arm nearest the blades shorter and have the sliders on the opposite arm locked to stop the arm being lifted up with the weight of the offset topping bed. B--tards to get on/off with link arms at different lengths too
 
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Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
You can get top links in various sizes/lengths. Get out the tape measure and put the geometry you learnt at school to work. Should be able to work it out with a scale drawing.
 

Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Have the exact same mower and had the same thing happen. When you are ready to put into transport position make sure that the transport lock on the heastock is fully engaged by lifting the mower slightly then swing mower into transport position. Don't really know why it happens but were the lock pin engages goes the wrong side of the plate and your mower ends up with a droopy tail.
Happens most if you drive forward with the mower down to swing into transport without the lock fully engaged
 

Hall99m

Member
Mixed Farmer
You can get top links in various sizes/lengths. Get out the tape measure and put the geometry you learnt at school to work. Should be able to work it out with a scale drawing.
thanks, surely though the top link is correct if the drums are even when on the ground, if the top link is too short the front of the drums would dig into the ground and too long the back of the drums would dig in?
 

Hall99m

Member
Mixed Farmer
What tractor is it on? I'd say the lift rods are too long. I've never had an issue with PZ or Deutz Fahr drum mowers not lifting high enough
its on a 55hp TCE new holland, seems to handle the mower ok, the lift arms are lifted pretty much as high as they can go I think maybe its hardly high enough.
 

Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
When you start mowing you should adjust the leveling box on your tractor so that the slider is in the centre of the slots on level ground.
With a smaller tractor you might find it easier not to pick your mower up when your working. I run mine on a DB 995 and never pick it up until I've finished the field
 
Which hole have you got the top link in on the Tractor end top or bottom ?
if you have it in the top hole the mower will tend to droop
if you have it in the bottom hole tthe mower will tend to go higher
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
its on a 55hp TCE new holland, seems to handle the mower ok, the lift arms are lifted pretty much as high as they can go I think maybe its hardly high enough.
If you've got the lift rods as short as they'll go you'll have to lengthen the left hand one a bit. You should be able to make it work but the tractor is a bit on the small side.
 
Is there a working and transportation lock on the mower or an hydraulic ram that can be adjusted too.
If I remember from the dim & distant past there is a bar that goes from the headstock down to partway along the mower deck. In the middle of that bar there should be a latch which has to open for mowing, and closed for transport.

55 hp should be fine - about the power of an old 4000 or DB 990 which was adequate in days gone by.
 

Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
If I remember from the dim & distant past there is a bar that goes from the headstock down to partway along the mower deck. In the middle of that bar there should be a latch which has to open for mowing, and closed for transport.
Latch is on the headstock end on the pz 170
 

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