What's the best Land Pride rotary cutter for L3902?

[BerryMeitli]

Hi there! Trying to get some buying advice on the best rotary cutter for an L3902 tractor.

I see the RCF2060 and RCF2072 are both recommended by the manufacturer, the first being a 60" and the second being a 72". I also understand that the 72" is slightly higher. But beyond those facts, any insights on which makes either of the two a better buy? Thanks!

 

[PaulL]

I believe 20 is the series - so they're both the same series therefore similar construction robustness.

The main difference is width. Narrower can be useful if your machine doesn't have the power to drive a bigger cutter, it's lighter if your machine can't lift a bigger cutter. It sticks out further if that's a problem for you (both leverage/weight impact on tractor, and banging into things).

Other than those, obviously the bigger cutter is better. For a given acres/hour, a bigger cutter can run slower ground speed. Easier on your back. A machine with a given HP can really mow a given acres/hour (of a certain thickness/height of grass etc). You can go 6mph with a 5 foot cutter, or 5mph with a 6 foot cutter. Both will use the same HP.

In lighter/thinner grass, a wider cutter will cut faster (because you're not really limited by HP, you're limited by how much abuse your body will take when you try to drive fast across a paddock).

I believe many people recommend the heavier duty Landpride. I just can't recall whether the 20 series is the heavier duty, or there's another one that's a bit heavier. Depends also on how hard you plan to beat on it.

EDIT: Looks like the 20 series is the heavier one, the 16 or 18 are the lighter duty ones. You could maybe sneak into an RCR1884 though. In the grooming mowers, you could run an FDR2584 - that's an 84 inch cutting width.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Unless you're mowing strictly open fields you may want consider the 60" for better maneuverability. There's lot of hills and valleys around the Finger Lake region. Just a thought...

 

[BerryMeitli]

I believe 20 is the series - so they're both the same series therefore similar construction robustness.

The main difference is width. Narrower can be useful if your machine doesn't have the power to drive a bigger cutter, it's lighter if your machine can't lift a bigger cutter. It sticks out further if that's a problem for you (both leverage/weight impact on tractor, and banging into things).

Other than those, obviously the bigger cutter is better. For a given acres/hour, a bigger cutter can run slower ground speed. Easier on your back. A machine with a given HP can really mow a given acres/hour (of a certain thickness/height of grass etc). You can go 6mph with a 5 foot cutter, or 5mph with a 6 foot cutter. Both will use the same HP.

In lighter/thinner grass, a wider cutter will cut faster (because you're not really limited by HP, you're limited by how much abuse your body will take when you try to drive fast across a paddock).

I believe many people recommend the heavier duty Landpride. I just can't recall whether the 20 series is the heavier duty, or there's another one that's a bit heavier. Depends also on how hard you plan to beat on it.

Thanks PaulL for your thoughtful reply! Leaning towards the 2072 given your insights.

 

[BerryMeitli]

Unless you're mowing strictly open fields you may want consider the 60" for better maneuverability. There's lot of hills and valleys around the Finger Lake region. Just a thought...

Hi Bee-Positive -- on my land, pretty open and flat. A low grade incline throughout. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Shawn T. W]

The 72" will be roughly a foot longer than the 60" ... It's a pretty long tail! Your going to want to have the loader and bucket up front for ballast so you can steer!

My Bush Hog brand 60" is 8' from front of the chains to the back of the tail wheel ...

On flat open ground the 72" will work, are you just cutting weeds/grass?

 

[jimh406]

It’s dry where I live, but my dealer recommended a 72 for my L2501. He suggested it would make it easier near fences. I think a 72 is the right size.

 

[chim]

I only had one rotary cutter. It was a 5' King Kutter on a Kubota B7500 and it was maxed out for handling the weight. The FEL had to be on when I used the KK. The 6' LandPride you listed only weighs a little over 200# more r=than the KK. The B7500 was a whole lot smaller than your L3902 and I'd expect the L3902 to handle the weight.

Being a fan of wanting to make sure that a mower more than covers the tractor width, I'd go with the wider mower. As mentioned, it does make cutting closer to obstacles easier. My "lawn mower" is a 90" RFM behind the L4240 and I love it.

 

[SDT]

The 72" will be roughly a foot longer than the 60" ... It's a pretty long tail! Your going to want to have the loader and bucket up front for ballast so you can steer!

My Bush Hog brand 60" is 8' from front of the chains to the back of the tail wheel ...

On flat open ground the 72" will work, are you just cutting weeds/grass?

Bingo.

I will add that I strongly recommend against exceeding the maximum weight recommendations for three point mounted implements in the tractor Operator's Manual.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Your L3902 will never even notice the weight of that RCF2072. I have a Woods RD7200 at the same weight on an L3901 and its like a feather on the back.

Dan

 

[jyoutz]

Whatever you buy, get the chain debris guard, not the rubber guard. I have the 2072 and my rubber guard was torn. I just ordered the chain guard and am going to replace the rubber one.

 

[PaulL]

I would still spend the time to answer the question in your other thread whether a rotary cutter is the right implement for you. You haven't answered how often you're mowing and how tidy you want it. You may find that an RFM is all you need - and you could go 90 plus inches in an RFM. They're still a pretty solid piece of kit - you wouldn't mow stumps with it, but it'll happily mow pasture that doesn't have actual trees in it. And a flail is also a consideration.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

The RCF2072 is the flat top version of the conventional RCR1872. Both are rated for 2" saplings and cat 3 drive lines. They weigh 745/737 pounds.

 

[jyoutz]

The RCF2072 is the flat top version of the conventional RCR1872. Both are rated for 2" saplings and cat 3 drive lines. They weigh 745/737 pounds.

I have the RCF2072 and have been happy with it.

 

[MotoBBQ]

I choose the RCF2060 on my 3902. I went with 60" over 72" to prevent scalping on rough uneven ground I have. The salesman also pitched the "smooth top design" to prevent debris from accumulating. No regrets here.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I choose the RCF2060 on my 3902. I went with 60" over 72" to prevent scalping on rough uneven ground I have. The salesman also pitched the "smooth top design" to prevent debris from accumulating. No regrets here.

The conventional style is smooth on the bottom so debris doesn't accumulate there. Is there some structure under the deck of the smooth top? Does it catch debris under the deck?

 

[TheOldHokie]

I have a Woods RD7200 and wish it was the RD8400.

Dan