Hey Daren

bucktail

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L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
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Or anyone who has a tractor similar to an L1500 with a brush hog. Without a front end loader is the weight up front necessary or nice to have?
 

Russell King

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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
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Austin, Texas
Re: Hey Darren

You will need the weight on front!

I use a 4 foot shredder (Modern Competitor) and it would not turn without weight on front. Tractor is L185 (similar to yours)

I put 4 x 55lb weights on mine


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bucktail

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L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
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63
MN
Re: Hey Darren

Thanks Russell. I have a loader for it but I'd like to be able to shred without on. I remember that you got me straightened out when I was putting a seal in my hydraulic pump but didn't remember you having a brush hog. I just picked up a 4 foot king kutter. It's beat up but I only paid 250 for it so I'm happy with it. Now I just need an over running clutch and to check the PTO length
 

bucktail

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L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
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63
MN
Re: Hey Darren

That means I need to either keep the front bumper when I mount the loader or figure out how to fix something to the loader bracket.
 

Daren Todd

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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
May 18, 2014
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Vilonia, Arkansas
Re: Hey Darren

With the loader on, you won't need extra weight on the front. With out the loader, you'll want between 150 and 200lbs to off set the weight of a 4 ft rotary cutter or 60in finish mower.

I won't remove my loader unless it's for a repair on the tractor. And actually prefer having the loader on when brush hogging. I run with the loader just off the ground with the bucket curled up slightly to find that stump or rock that I inadvertently forgot about. :eek: It's also used to help protect the grill if I'm running over small growth trees and such.

Plus it's handy shoving large limbs out of the way if I'm mowing logging trails.

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Russell King

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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
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Austin, Texas
Would you be able to remove the bucket and install a steel plate in its place to add weight onto the loader arms? I assume you just want a more compact length so the bucket removal helps you out in length.

I missed the fact you have a loader on the tractor.


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bucktail

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Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
191
63
MN
I don't have a loader on it yet, but I did buy one and am in the process of figuring out the subframe. There are a couple of reasons for my question. One is what I need to do if I want to run the brush hog before I get the loader mounted. The other is transportation. Without the FEL, I have an 1800lb tractor with a 420lb brush hog. I borrow a single axle trailer once in a while. It's 7X12, probably weighs 800 or more. In Minnesota, the lifetime trailer license is only good for up to 3000 lbs. which only shaves 500 off what it's rated for anyway. The loader will probably put it over the weight limit and make it so long that there won't be much room to balance the load. I'm planning on getting a tandem axle flatbed trailer anyway, but was hoping that I could put it off for a little while.

The steel plate is a good idea, but I'm not sure I'd need it. I'd put an SSQA on it if it was bigger. Pretty sure the loader is well over 200 without the bucket. Granted the weight isn't as far forward as suitcase weights, but I doubt I'd need much.
 
Last edited:

xmikew

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L1500DT
Apr 15, 2017
226
1
16
Charleston
I have a 4ft brush hog and a l1500dt no loader, little bumper and while it is possible I pop a wheelie a little if I really take off fast, I brush hog with it no problem. Can’t remember if you have a dt or not but that probably makes the difference. No clue what my brush hog is. Beat to hell but works and came with tractor.


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bucktail

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L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
191
63
MN
Thanks Xmike. Daren and Russell both have 2wd's from the looks of things but I can't see the DT adding more than 50 lbs. or so. I might give it a go. I know how to steer with brakes and I'm pretty sure I'll be running pretty slow anyway.
 

Daren Todd

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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
May 18, 2014
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Vilonia, Arkansas
Thanks Xmike. Daren and Russell both have 2wd's from the looks of things but I can't see the DT adding more than 50 lbs. or so. I might give it a go. I know how to steer with brakes and I'm pretty sure I'll be running pretty slow anyway.
The amount of weight is to off set for the distance that the rotary cutter hangs off the back of the tractor. The further back the weight hangs, the more weight you need on the front to off set the difference.



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bucktail

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Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
191
63
MN
Yup. And the further it hangs off of the front the less you need for the same reason.
 

bucktail

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Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
191
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MN
As one might expect from a 250 dollar hog the leading edge of the blades are duller than the back.. if l want to splinter brush instead of cutting it clean leaving tire poking sticks should I leave it dull? I moved the tail wheel all the way down so I should be cutting at 6 to 8 inches
 

xmikew

Member

Equipment
L1500DT
Apr 15, 2017
226
1
16
Charleston
As one might expect from a 250 dollar hog the leading edge of the blades are duller than the back.. if l want to splinter brush instead of cutting it clean leaving tire poking sticks should I leave it dull? I moved the tail wheel all the way down so I should be cutting at 6 to 8 inches


I angle grinder mine but my blades had giant chunks missing and were dull. I considered them “serrated” :) Just slightly less dull after I flipped it up and “sharpened” them. I leave tire pokers but my tires are 40 years old so it don’t matter! Also just depends on speed, brush size and thickness whether tire pokers are left.
 

bucktail

Well-known member

Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,260
191
63
MN
Front end was light but it steered ok the over running clutch that I bought turned out to be for an undersized shaft so I ran without it. Works as long as you think ahead.