Bush Hog HP Requirements

[bambam31]

I have an L3800 HST and the HP at the PTO is approximately 30. I found a used bush hog and the manufacturer's website states that it's not recommended for tractors exceeding 30 HP but it has a 40 HP gear box. Do you think the mfg is referring to the HP at the PTO or the engine? They are closed on the weekends otherwise I'd call them. It's a good deal but I don't want to tear it up. Here's the link to the model - Andy 500. Thanks

http://www.lowerymanufacturing.com/Clippers.htm

 

[ctmike]

I have a 45 hp tractor with 37 hp at the pto and use a 5ft. land pride brush mower with a 40 hp gearbox. I have no problems with it but then again, I'm not trying to cut 2" trees with the mower. It works fine for me.

 

[mikkeeh]

I think the old "rule of thumb" is 5HP for every foot (width) of implement.

 

[Sammy3700]

You will be good with that set up. Both of ours are 40 hp gear boxes and I have a L3700SU and my dad's is a L3800.

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

I think the old "rule of thumb" is 5HP for every foot (width) of implement.

I've seen the 5 hp per foot of mower posted many times. Applying this to a 6 ft bushhog would equal 30 hp. I can't imagine using a 30 hp tractor to power a 6 ft. I guess if you go very slow and cut light grass it would cut ok, but lifting a 1,000 lb mower (or even an 800 lb one would likely make that tractor unstable. I have an 800 lb disc harrow behind my L3010 that requires the FEL be on to keep the front wheels on the ground.

 

[D2Cat]

Tennessee Kubota Man, are you saying a 6' brush mower weighs 1000#?

I've got a 10' Bush Hog (brand) with 3 gearboxes and a lot of iron and I doubt it weighs 1000#. I've used it for years on a 55 HP 730 Case tractor.

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

Tennessee Kubota Man, are you saying a 6' brush mower weighs 1000#?

I've got a 10' Bush Hog (brand) with 3 gearboxes and a lot of iron and I doubt it weighs 1000#. I've used it for years on a 55 HP 730 Case tractor.

D2Cat, my Landpride 6' is around 800 lbs or so-2" cutting capacity. The next step up in Landpride 6' is 1,046 lbs with 3" capacity. These are single spindle mowers. I'm sure there is a wide range depending on how heavy duty they are. I pull mine with the M5140 (51 hp). What model Bush Hog do you have?

I cut grass commercially so want to mow fairly quick. A lot of the mowing is cutting heavy bahia grass so I base my comments from that angle. I know a guy who has a green 40 hp and runs a 7', but he tells me he doesn't get in a hurry.

 

[D2Cat]

TKM, I don't remember the model of the mower. I sold it 2 years ago and it was probably 20 years old. It was a pull type, not 3 pt. It had two solid tires on each corner with hyd. cyl to raise and lower. Maybe the thing did weigh a kazillion pounds, I just never thought it would be that heavy.

I mowed in a fairly slow gear, usually in weeds, brush, or crop stubble.

The reason I got rid of it is because my neighbor used it more then me. His philosophy was, "You buy it, I'll borrow it."

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

TKM, I don't remember the model of the mower. I sold it 2 years ago and it was probably 20 years old. It was a pull type, not 3 pt. It had two solid tires on each corner with hyd. cyl to raise and lower. Maybe the thing did weigh a kazillion pounds, I just never thought it would be that heavy.

I mowed in a fairly slow gear, usually in weeds, brush, or crop stubble.

The reason I got rid of it is because my neighbor used it more then me. His philosophy was, "You buy it, I'll borrow it."

Ha, ha.....yeah I know about those folks who want to borrow.
Just out of curiosity I looked at some of the BH models 3 spindle which were around 10' of the pull type and they were around 2,000 lbs. More than I'd thought. I'll bet your older one was built like a tank!

 

[MadMax31]

I prefer the 5hp per foot rule, along with some common sense. I have 19-20 pto hp, so Ill stick with my 4', which weighs around 500-600 lbs. Pto hp is almost as important as your machines ability to safely utilize said implement. Im not comfortable trying to stick a 5' grinder on my machine, she's just not heavy enough, or wide enough for my terrain.

Id rather have more control/stability and go a little slower than try and bang out the job over-working my tractor.

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

I prefer the 5hp per foot rule, along with some common sense. I have 19-20 pto hp, so Ill stick with my 4', which weighs around 500-600 lbs. Pto hp is almost as important as your machines ability to safely utilize said implement. Im not comfortable trying to stick a 5' grinder on my machine, she's just not heavy enough, or wide enough for my terrain.

Id rather have more control/stability and go a little slower than try and bang out the job over-working my tractor.

MadMax, the 5 ft rule is probably a good starting point and as you say some common sense should be used. Using pto hp rather than gross hp makes more sense to me. Each person's requirements/situations are different. Wish I didn't have to deal with bahia grass sometimes....

 

[bambam31]

Thanks for everyone's input. I purchased the bush hog today for $450. It's a 2009 model he purchased brand new. He used it a few times and it's been residing under a tarp for about 4 years. The blades are still sharp and have no nicks. I'm planning on changing the oil in the gear box. Never done that before but I'll figure it out.

 

[Tallahassee Kubota Man]

Looks like new. Congrats!