M5640 with an 8 foot cutter?
- Thread starter Testedone
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You have enough HP to handle an 8' cutter but what really matters is: 1) speed, 2) height of weeds/grass, 3) what you are cutting.
You have enough HP to handle an 8' cutter but what really matters is: 1) speed, 2) height of weeds/grass, 3) what you are cutting.
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Speed? Not sure in the spec for speed on the M5640, but on the JD I have now top speed in low is 4mph.
Height of material to be cut is 1.5 to 2.5 feet and it's just field grass, no heavy brush as it's already cut down. Just trying to maintain the fields
Height of material to be cut is 1.5 to 2.5 feet and it's just field grass, no heavy brush as it's already cut down. Just trying to maintain the fields
As funny as that is there is a ring of truth. We've considered goats at one time but would have change my fences
By speed, I mean that as your grass/weeds get higher, the speed will be reduced because it will require more power from your tractor.
With what you listed, you really should be able to cut it at the same speed or higher with the new M.
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Yes, I understood the question. I can't determine what speeds are possible as I don't know what the Kubota is capable of. But that's a theoretical question and I'm hoping to hear real world experience with the 5640.
I now know it can pull a 8 footer which was the goal of my question.
Seems like this is a pretty tough tractor also no frills compared to others.
It depends upon what you plan to cut, how fast you expect to cut it and how often you expect to cut it, but I would not even consider it.
I use a Woods BB720X HD 6' cutter with my 53 PTO HP L6060 and it's often all it wants, even on level ground.
I use a Woods BB840X HD 7' cutter on my 90 PTO HP M9960 and it's often all it wants on level ground when in EPTO.
SDT
Shopping for a 12' or 15' bat wing now for use with my M9960. It will handle it at reasonable speed when not in EPTO.
All of my areas have been mowed for decades so I mow only grass. That said, heavy grass cuts much harder than tall weeds/brush, etc., especially if one cuts closely as I do.
I engage EPTO onn the M9960 with the 7' cutter. Doing so results in 540 PTO RPM at about 1,700 engine RPM, saving wear and tear and fuel in the process. That said, the engine is making no where near 90 PTO HP at 1,700 RPM. The 7' cutter is all the 9960 wants when in EPTO.
More significantly, the 6' cutter is all the 53 PTO HP L6060 wants much of the time at about 2,400 engine RPM, which is 540 PTO RPM. The L6060 does not have EPTO.
Unlike most, I keep my rotary cutter blades sharp like a lawn mower in order to improve cut quality and reduce HP requirement and fuel consumption. I also try to mow as fast as the mowers cut well and terrain permits. If engaged, the stall guard on the 6060 routinely slows ground speed to prevent bogging the engine.
Again, it depends upon what you plan to cut and how fast you plan to cut it.
From experience, I can say unequivocally that my L6060 will not touch an 8' mower in my conditions except at quite low ground speed. Even then, it is too light to lift one in anything other than absolutely ideal (level ground) conditions. I currently use 4 front weights with my approximately 1,200 Lb. BB720X.
SDT
Solid points and some I've thought of and dismissed to a small point.
My local guy has done my fields and hillsides [I don't do the steep hills that he does] and he gets it done in 5 hours, he is using a case 115 + HP and a 15 foot bat wing.
If he does the same area I do he can get it done in 3 hours.
I can't afford nor need a 110+ HP tractor just to do my fields 3 or 4 times a year.
I also forgot to add the 7 hours and 48 minutes I took, included cutting some tall stuff that hasn't been cut in months and an area that hasn't been cut in 2 years.
Maybe I need to stick with my 5 footer and try and see how much time it takes with the fields at the current more manageable (lower height) that they are.
?? Too many options
My local guy has done my fields and hillsides [I don't do the steep hills that he does] and he gets it done in 5 hours, he is using a case 115 + HP and a 15 foot bat wing.
If he does the same area I do he can get it done in 3 hours.
I can't afford nor need a 110+ HP tractor just to do my fields 3 or 4 times a year.
I also forgot to add the 7 hours and 48 minutes I took, included cutting some tall stuff that hasn't been cut in months and an area that hasn't been cut in 2 years.
Maybe I need to stick with my 5 footer and try and see how much time it takes with the fields at the current more manageable (lower height) that they are.
?? Too many options
Sounds like quite a bit of money to change for a job you're doing 2-3 times a year - you're saving 4 hours a time at best, maximum 12 hours a year. I guess it depends a bit how you value your time, and how much money you have, but I'd be wanted to have other jobs as well probably. What does your guy cost to do it with his 115HP tractor, and how many times would you need to pay him to do it before it added up to the cost of the larger tractor? Because that'll save 8 hours a time / 24 hours a year.
Did my wife call you??
Yeah I hear ya, the FEL I can use a little more power on trail work around my property also.
The local guy would be 500 a pop and let's say 4 times a year, that 2K a year and if I can find something used and get a decent price on my current tractor, I am looking at maybe 4 years to break even (assuming an 8K make up for a used tractor and rotary cutter, optimistic but more like 10K)... I would go with a used rotary as well..
Yeah I hear ya, the FEL I can use a little more power on trail work around my property also.
The local guy would be 500 a pop and let's say 4 times a year, that 2K a year and if I can find something used and get a decent price on my current tractor, I am looking at maybe 4 years to break even (assuming an 8K make up for a used tractor and rotary cutter, optimistic but more like 10K)... I would go with a used rotary as well..
FEL needs more power I can get behind.
I think it'd be a mistake to replace your tractor for that one job, and in order to save a couple hours a few times a year - if it's genuinely a time/money question, then you are better off hiring it out.
If what you really mean is "I want a bigger tractor, but to get finance approval I need a legitimate task, so I need a bigger mower as well to justify it to the Minister of Finance"....well, we've all been there.
I think it'd be a mistake to replace your tractor for that one job, and in order to save a couple hours a few times a year - if it's genuinely a time/money question, then you are better off hiring it out.
If what you really mean is "I want a bigger tractor, but to get finance approval I need a legitimate task, so I need a bigger mower as well to justify it to the Minister of Finance"....well, we've all been there.
That's funny but not really the situation, but solid advice.
If I'm looking to spend 10K to just save a few hours a year, yeah I might be crazy.
I've already ran to the limits of my loader on the JD2032R when building and maintaining my trails..
But, I do need to consider what you've stated
If I'm looking to spend 10K to just save a few hours a year, yeah I might be crazy.
I've already ran to the limits of my loader on the JD2032R when building and maintaining my trails..
But, I do need to consider what you've stated
If what you really mean is "I want a bigger tractor, but to get finance approval I need a legitimate task, so I need a bigger mower as well to justify it to the Minister of Finance"....well, we've all been there.
I have an 8’ kodiak cutter that is harder to pull than a Rhino 15’ Batwing. It has a lot to do with the gearing of the cutter gearboxes. Had an 70 HP that didn’t like the 8ft cutter in heavy deep fescue.
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They will be listed in your owner's manual in the front under "specifications". Listed for specific tire types.