Not every slasher needs the same wheel arrangement. Rear wheels are worth considering when you want help maintaining cutting height and reducing scalping, but the right setup depends on the machine and the ground.
Some slashers offer wheels as an option; others include them as standard. Start with the manufacturer's design, then consider the job. Buying a wheel kit simply because another slasher of the same width has one is not enough to establish compatibility.
What rear wheels do
A rear wheel supports the back of the slasher at its adjusted height. A castor wheel can swivel as the machine changes direction. Working with the linkage and headstock arrangement, wheels can help the slasher follow changes in the ground and reduce unwanted scalping.
They still need to be set up correctly. Wheel height, skid position and linkage adjustment have to work together according to the machine's instructions. A wheel kit will not compensate for every hollow, ridge or abrupt change in level.
Think of wheels as part of the cutting-height setup rather than a guarantee of a particular finish.
When rear wheels are worth considering
Look at where the slasher is having difficulty. Is it digging into the ground at changes in level? Is maintaining the intended cutting height awkward? Or are you simply deciding which options to include on a new machine?
Those are useful reasons to discuss a compatible wheel kit. Give the supplier a description of the ground and the finish you want. A flat, regularly maintained area presents a different question from an undulating paddock.
If your existing setup is cutting satisfactorily and its manufacturer permits operation without rear wheels, there may be no need to add them. Check the instructions for that model rather than assuming wheels are compulsory on every tractor slasher.
Choosing one castor or two
There is no reliable rule that every slasher of a particular width must have the same number of wheels. Manufacturers use different deck, headstock and wheel arrangements, and available options vary by model.
On our Terra range, both the 6 ft and 7 ft models can be fitted with two optional castor wheels. For the 7 ft Terra, our preference is two. That is advice about those Terra models, not a claim that every 7 ft slasher requires twin castors.
When comparing quotes, check whether the wheel option is a single assembly or a complete pair. Confirm that the proposed arrangement suits the exact slasher being supplied, including its mounting points and height-adjustment range.
Wheels do not solve every cutting problem
Scalping can also relate to cutting too low, field conditions or the machine's setup. An uneven finish may have a different cause, such as side-to-side levelling, blade condition or travel speed.
Explain what you are seeing before ordering parts. Photographs of the affected ground and the stopped, safely lowered machine can help the supplier understand the problem. Do not crawl under an unsupported slasher to investigate it.
Rear wheels also do not increase your tractor's rated lifting capacity. When a three-point-mounted slasher is raised clear of the ground, the tractor must still carry the complete implement, including the wheel kit. Check that combination before adding equipment.
Allow for access and maintenance
Ask how the wheel assembly affects the machine's overall dimensions. Consider gates, fence posts, trees and the space needed to turn and store the slasher. The rear assembly needs clearance as well as the cutting deck.
Once fitted, include the wheels in routine inspections. Check that they turn and swivel freely, inspect their fixings and condition, and follow the manufacturer's lubrication instructions. Stop and isolate the equipment as directed in its manual before inspection or adjustment.
Use a kit approved for the machine. Do not assume a similar-looking wheel or mounting bracket is suitable, or modify the deck without the manufacturer's approval.
Choosing wheels for your Muller slasher
Tell Muller Fabrications which slasher you have or are considering, what tractor it will run behind and what the ground is like. If you are solving an existing problem, describe when and where it happens.
We can discuss the available wheel arrangement for that model, including the twin-castor option on 6 ft and 7 ft Terra slashers. That gives you a choice based on your equipment and property, rather than a blanket rule about slasher width.
