Looking at purchasing a new 5' rotary cutter. I would like your thoughts on what brand you like and why.
Rotary Cutter
- Thread starter scattergun
- Start date
Wood's has some very good 5' rotary cutters, they have exceptional build quality with 6 year warranty on the cutter. Most of the woods cutters have a clutch for protection of the gear box. Woods makes all the Kioti rotary cutters.
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Keep in mind most major brands have several models in the size you're looking for. They can be considered light, medium and heavy duty if you like. The difference being with the steel gauge, deck reinforcement, gear box size and blade size (thickness x width). If simply mowing grass fields I'd get the light duty model and save some money. (Perhaps I shouldn't have called them light duty. Perhaps standard duty would be more appropriate.)
I have a Landpride (RCR2672) medium duty and like the extra bulk when cutting tree saplings and brush with it. This thing looks like a tank compared to the ones found at Tractor Supply and similar, but when hitting a stump or rock you'd be surprised how much the deck can flex.
Depending on your tractor, watch the weight of the mower and consider how far the weight is positioned rearward on your tractor.
I have a Landpride (RCR2672) medium duty and like the extra bulk when cutting tree saplings and brush with it. This thing looks like a tank compared to the ones found at Tractor Supply and similar, but when hitting a stump or rock you'd be surprised how much the deck can flex.
Depending on your tractor, watch the weight of the mower and consider how far the weight is positioned rearward on your tractor.
Landpride 1260 and like it. I installed a clutch to protect it. The universals on the drive shaft are a PAIN to grease.
From what I've read all cutters have gear box protection - either sheer pins (grade 5 bolts it seems) or a clutch, which is extra cost and will wear out at some point, and is adjustable.
As has been said - what are you mowing?
I'm looking to get one come spring..4 or 5', not sure yet (15hp pto). 5' is wider..but may be too much for HP available - but again, what is being mowed? 2" saplings? Yeah, not gonna do it but how do you drive in a field of 2" saplings to begin with?
I'm mowing 15 acres of horse pasture weeds - as long as I don't let them go nuts 5' should be fine..can still mow faster with the 4' (width of tractor)...but if I need to mow thick stuff the 4' would be better..so I'm leaning that way.
Get a land pride catalog (any kubota dealer) and look online some, go TOUCH the things and see the differences.
As has been said - what are you mowing?
I'm looking to get one come spring..4 or 5', not sure yet (15hp pto). 5' is wider..but may be too much for HP available - but again, what is being mowed? 2" saplings? Yeah, not gonna do it but how do you drive in a field of 2" saplings to begin with?
I'm mowing 15 acres of horse pasture weeds - as long as I don't let them go nuts 5' should be fine..can still mow faster with the 4' (width of tractor)...but if I need to mow thick stuff the 4' would be better..so I'm leaning that way.
Get a land pride catalog (any kubota dealer) and look online some, go TOUCH the things and see the differences.
Russell King
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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Get a Woods BB60 or 600 depending on the type of cutting that you are doing!
You will thank me when you have to remove the blades. Woods uses a pin that stops at the T-bar and the pin has a grove ab that goes sbove the T-bar that locks in with a slide key and that is bolted to the T-bar.
Most companies suck their bolt/pin up tight to the T-bar with a nut. Just try and get these apart after 10 years of beatings and rust.
Pat
You will thank me when you have to remove the blades. Woods uses a pin that stops at the T-bar and the pin has a grove ab that goes sbove the T-bar that locks in with a slide key and that is bolted to the T-bar.
Most companies suck their bolt/pin up tight to the T-bar with a nut. Just try and get these apart after 10 years of beatings and rust.
Pat
Good advice much appreciated I have Kubota B2320 I believe they have 19hp to the PTO. I will be mowing a grass field have around 15 acres or so. I will also mow the food plots and such maybe a few small saplings here and there nothing extreme.
I've been through this mental exercise on my L1500 which is similar to your L175, so I'll share my thoughts.
The 5' brush cutter is going to be pretty heavy, both in terms of total mass, and rotating mass. The total mass is going to make it tough to lift and your front end pretty light, especially with no loader.
Since we don't have live PTO, we need to start the cutter turning at the same time we start the forward motion of the tractor and implement. a 5' er is going to have a lot of rotating mass for a 15hp engine (I think it's 1 or 2 more in your case, but not enough to really matter.) So you're starting the mower turning at the same time you're starting forward motion. Hopefully you've given yourself some room between yourself and the brush so it's not trying to cut and spool up the blades at the same time.
We don't have the same drive train, but I think it's similar. I don't have an over running clutch on my PTO, so I'd need to add it. I don't think you do either, so you probably will need one too. I'd stick with the smallest one you can get that will cover your tracks. (4') That's my opinion.
I'll second Modern AG especially if it's going to sit outside. Very well built implements and no rust.
One commonly-quoted rule of thumb is that it is wise to to have 5 HP at the PTO for every 1 foot of rotary cutter diameter. That means you might be better off with a 4' cutter.
It will take awhile to cut 15 acres with a 4' bush hog, but if you have smooth fields, you can drive faster. A rough field will beat you and your machine up as you pound over the bumps.
If your fields haven't been cut in awhile, you might consider hiring a local farmer with a larger tractor to do the first knock-down of the saplings, and then you can maintain it with your smaller tractor. This maneuver will also mean you can get by with a light duty cutter.
A bush hog can kill you if you aren't careful. Field edges are dangerous, because a tree limb can peel you off the seat and deposit you into the maw of the mower. Ruts and ditches live along the perimeter as well, waiting to roll you over. Trying to run an overly-large cutter reduces maneuverability and can manhandle your tractor into trouble. If you don't have an independent PTO, you will need an over run clutch to avoid having the tail wag the dog.
It will take awhile to cut 15 acres with a 4' bush hog, but if you have smooth fields, you can drive faster. A rough field will beat you and your machine up as you pound over the bumps.
If your fields haven't been cut in awhile, you might consider hiring a local farmer with a larger tractor to do the first knock-down of the saplings, and then you can maintain it with your smaller tractor. This maneuver will also mean you can get by with a light duty cutter.
A bush hog can kill you if you aren't careful. Field edges are dangerous, because a tree limb can peel you off the seat and deposit you into the maw of the mower. Ruts and ditches live along the perimeter as well, waiting to roll you over. Trying to run an overly-large cutter reduces maneuverability and can manhandle your tractor into trouble. If you don't have an independent PTO, you will need an over run clutch to avoid having the tail wag the dog.