What is the largest brush hog that an MX4800 can handle. I have the opportunity to purchase a woods 12, but am not sure of what the MX can handle. I've only had the MX for about 8 hours. I had a Ford 641 with 5 foot brush hog before.
Biggest brush hog
- Thread starter Bryan.phillips07
- Start date
A few questions to start your research would be to tell us what your plans would be for the brush hog. Are you pasture cutting, brush clearing, etc. Specs on your PTO HP are 39 with a MX lift of 2,310 lbs. If your brush clearing a heavy duty 6' would be ideal. More information from you needed. Is the Woods 12 a batwing pull behind?
My Neighbor has an MX5200 and a Woods Heavy Duty 6' Brush Hog with all the Dangling safety chains and stuff, that thing is Massively Heavy. It will bounce the front wheels off the ground. one time it sheard the top link 3/4" bolt, I had to get him a Hardened bolt to replace it with. I'm not sure what it weighs but it's borderline in my eyes for that tractor even though the Kubota dealer sold it to him..
Here's what Woods has to say.
BW12 - Woods Equipment
https://www.woodsequipment.com/productDetails.aspx?id=467
The Original Batwing® in a New 12-foot width, designed specifically for compact tractors; 12-foot Dual-wing cutter for compact/utility tractors; Main driveline: Cat 4; Tractor PTO HP: 35 hp minimum; Cuts brush up to 1.5-inches in diameter; Side frame depth of 11-inches; Lighter tongue weight ideal for use on lower ...
BW12 - Woods Equipment
https://www.woodsequipment.com/productDetails.aspx?id=467
The Original Batwing® in a New 12-foot width, designed specifically for compact tractors; 12-foot Dual-wing cutter for compact/utility tractors; Main driveline: Cat 4; Tractor PTO HP: 35 hp minimum; Cuts brush up to 1.5-inches in diameter; Side frame depth of 11-inches; Lighter tongue weight ideal for use on lower ...
makes me wish I could use something like that WoodsI have pto 39hp on my l4630. An 8ft would bog it down in bahia grass. it would pull
a 6ft with no problem.
a 6ft with no problem.
Like DCAT2 research
It is a trailed model so lift should not be an issue.
As times, if terrain is rather thick, two passes may be necessary. In fact, just saw a Messick's video where Neil stated most rotary cutters require two passes for acceptable result.
I operate a 108 inch finish mower w/ swinging blades and my MX has sufficient power even in tall grass. It will cut 1/2 brush as well. If I were interested in a rotary mower and this woods machine were priced competitively, would not hesitate. I just do not like the way rotaries windrow. Plus if one examines the
The intent of a rotary, it takes a bull nose blade and tears vegetation out of the ground, my finish mower uses sharp blades to cut not tear or rip. I have owned rotary mowers over the years and I put an edge on the blades. Had to sharpen often so abandoned this type of cutter.
It is a trailed model so lift should not be an issue.
As times, if terrain is rather thick, two passes may be necessary. In fact, just saw a Messick's video where Neil stated most rotary cutters require two passes for acceptable result.
I operate a 108 inch finish mower w/ swinging blades and my MX has sufficient power even in tall grass. It will cut 1/2 brush as well. If I were interested in a rotary mower and this woods machine were priced competitively, would not hesitate. I just do not like the way rotaries windrow. Plus if one examines the
The intent of a rotary, it takes a bull nose blade and tears vegetation out of the ground, my finish mower uses sharp blades to cut not tear or rip. I have owned rotary mowers over the years and I put an edge on the blades. Had to sharpen often so abandoned this type of cutter.
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I wouldn't recommend a 12' cutter for that size tractor. Even though woods has made them very light weight and it's min hp rating is 35hp I'll promise that number won't apply in heavy grass. I pull a 15' all the time and doing pastures it's fine but get in tall grass or brush it will work my M9000 hard.
Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to discourage you about a batwing because I love mine. But from my experience you don't have enough tractor. Again depending on what you plan to cut but a dual spindle 8' cutter may be a better choice.
Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to discourage you about a batwing because I love mine. But from my experience you don't have enough tractor. Again depending on what you plan to cut but a dual spindle 8' cutter may be a better choice.
A poster does NOT own or operate the tractor size in question
A poster has NO direct experience w/ this tractor/mower combination
A respected manufacturer states that the hp requirement is compatible for
this tractor mower combination. Further, mfg states requirement in writing
Which impacts their reputation.
Which advice above offers more validity?
Note Messick's two pass comment from post #8
A poster has NO direct experience w/ this tractor/mower combination
A respected manufacturer states that the hp requirement is compatible for
this tractor mower combination. Further, mfg states requirement in writing
Which impacts their reputation.
Which advice above offers more validity?
Note Messick's two pass comment from post #8
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It depends entirely what you plan to cut, how often you plan to cut it, and how fast you want to travel while cutting.
I've been mowing with various tractor/mower combinations in various conditions for nearly 50 years and I would not even consider it. Indeed, I would consider nothing larger than a medium duty 6' cutter.
If your tractor is a hydrostat, you can slow down enough to pull it in most conditions but I would not want to do so.
Currently, I use a 1,250 LB Woods BB720X, 6' cutter on my GL6060. Believe me, that is all it wants. I also use a HD Woods BB840X, 7' cutter on my M9960 with EPTO. Again, when conditions are heavy, the 7' cutter is all the 90 PTO HP tractor wants when in EPTO. Caveat: I mow close and as fast as my cutters will mow well with lawn mower sharp blades.
You know what your 641 will do with a 5' cutter in your conditions. Your MX is only marginally more powerful and not much heavier.
SDT
dvcochran
Active member
Equipment
Kubota M9000, New Holland TN90, Deere 2640, Vermeer 504N, Vermeer 504SI, more
In short, I would not recommend paring the two. The first response is correct, more information will help. To make a 12' mower light enough to work with a 35 pto horsepower machine you give up a LOT of service factor and life of the mower. Much lighter deck and frame, smaller gearboxes and driveline, etc... resulting in a short mower lifespan vs. cost. Even mowing the 1.5" rating repeatedly will damage a mower made light enough for 35hp. As you said, it is a "BRUSH hog" so at some point you will want to mow those 3" saplings. Think of a lawn mower, if you only mowed fields close to the same makeup as your yard just with higher grass you may be ok. Another big factor is tractor weight vs. mower weight. If you tractor is NOT 4wd a 12' mower will push you around on even slightly hilly terrain. Most people will tell you they buy a 4wd tractor as much for stopping power as for pulling traction. I have a good friend with a M4950 4wd and an 8' Landpride Very heavy duty cutter. The cutter can handle anything you are willing to try to cut with it. If mowing very heavy field/pasture you can overheat the tractor pretty easy. This tells me this cutter is at the max width for his machine. Your pto hp might be a few hp less that a 4950. In short, a SALES brochure is aptly named.
Accordingly to manufacturers, your tractor can theoretically operate a light weight 12' BW mower but I certainly would not recommend it. Manufacturer's literature is intended to sell equipment.
The size of rotary cutter that a tractor can operate well depends upon conditions and weight of tractor and mower.
You can operate a light/medium duty 6' three point mounted cutter with your tractor if cover is light to moderate and you plan to mow it often enough that it does not become heavy. You will be power limited in heavy cover forcing slow ground speed.
I operate a 1,250+ Lb., Woods BB720X, 6' three point mounted cutter on my GL6060 in various conditions. Believe me, it's often all the 6060 wants.
Before buying a BW or other type of pull type cutter, be sure to check the minimum required distance between the drawbar and PTO shaft.
SDT