I am thinking about buying a new 6' rotary cutter medium duty for bush hogging old pasture and mowing down small bushes and up to 2" trees. What brands/quality are out there and which would be the best bang for my buck? Your input is appreciated.
Rate Rotary Cutter Brands - Quality vs Price
- Thread starter briarwood60
- Start date
In my part of the world I just bought a 6-ft light duty for $190 at an auction a month ago; at an auction yesterday I saw a slightly heavier duty model same brand go for $650.
I think if you're serious about taking down 2-in trees you're going to beat the heck out of the cutter. Find a decent used one and use it until it quits instead of buying new and reducing it to semi-junk with bent steel and loose gearbox.
No matter what it says, 2-in saplings will put a heck of a shock load on any cutter.
You can pay about as much as you want. Some colors (green) go at a premium for what is essentially a basic shredder.
Info is hard to come by. One source is Howse Mfg; find them online and ask for their catalog. You can compare HP ratings and size and get an idea of "duty" type----light to heavy to commercial.
Type ratings are meaningless between brands.
Keep blades sharp and gearbox lubed.
Be sure you get a disk-type stump jumper, not a bar-type blade carrier.
Decide if you want a slip-disk clutch type or shear pin type. Compare specs on both and maintenance issues. If pin type keep spares: use Grade-2 'no grade' bolts only and use long enough bolt to keep thread out of yoke.
If you go with used to start, make sure you know the brand and model so can remove the blades and compare them to KNOWN correct new. On used shredders you will (I have) found blades upside down, incorrect size, torch-whittled, broken, bent, you name it.
If really doing 2-in growth keep one hand on PTO control always: you will sooner or later break or badly bend a blade. You'll know when you do and you can't get shut down fast enough. After a quick trip back to the house to wash off tractor seat you can change blade (keep a spare set) and go back to cutting.
Please post back your experiences that we may all learn.
I think if you're serious about taking down 2-in trees you're going to beat the heck out of the cutter. Find a decent used one and use it until it quits instead of buying new and reducing it to semi-junk with bent steel and loose gearbox.
No matter what it says, 2-in saplings will put a heck of a shock load on any cutter.
You can pay about as much as you want. Some colors (green) go at a premium for what is essentially a basic shredder.
Info is hard to come by. One source is Howse Mfg; find them online and ask for their catalog. You can compare HP ratings and size and get an idea of "duty" type----light to heavy to commercial.
Type ratings are meaningless between brands.
Keep blades sharp and gearbox lubed.
Be sure you get a disk-type stump jumper, not a bar-type blade carrier.
Decide if you want a slip-disk clutch type or shear pin type. Compare specs on both and maintenance issues. If pin type keep spares: use Grade-2 'no grade' bolts only and use long enough bolt to keep thread out of yoke.
If you go with used to start, make sure you know the brand and model so can remove the blades and compare them to KNOWN correct new. On used shredders you will (I have) found blades upside down, incorrect size, torch-whittled, broken, bent, you name it.
If really doing 2-in growth keep one hand on PTO control always: you will sooner or later break or badly bend a blade. You'll know when you do and you can't get shut down fast enough. After a quick trip back to the house to wash off tractor seat you can change blade (keep a spare set) and go back to cutting.
Please post back your experiences that we may all learn.
beemehero
New member
Equipment
L3800, B2410HSDB tiller mowers auger scraper blade fence stretcher rake blower
I use a Land Pride RC1548, can't say enough good things about it.
I mow 2" trees with it all the time, you will not bend these blades. The gearbox has a 5 year warrantee. I've only popped 3 sheer pins in four years of use with it.
Mine was $1150 in '09, you get what you pay for.
Pics coming with my modified reinforced skirt made with 1/2" steel. East to bend the rear skirt when backing over trees, bashing your way to victory.
This cutter is one of my favorite tools.
I mow 2" trees with it all the time, you will not bend these blades. The gearbox has a 5 year warrantee. I've only popped 3 sheer pins in four years of use with it.
Mine was $1150 in '09, you get what you pay for.
Pics coming with my modified reinforced skirt made with 1/2" steel. East to bend the rear skirt when backing over trees, bashing your way to victory.
This cutter is one of my favorite tools.
Just as a side bar, were it me, and I have no idea how much you plan on cutting, I would walk with the chain saw and whack them 2 inched buggers down, cause you might find those 2 inch buggers a tad bigger than you think. Also I don't know what size tractor you have but if you have a FEL or a BH, and a couple chains you might be a lot farther ahead getting the root ball out and never having to worry about it again,, Like said a 2 inch hunk of wood can cause a lot of damage really quickly,, just MHO
I have a Bush-Hog squealer 72 with about 700hrs. on it.It has worked well with no problems but I don't routinely tackle 2 in.stuff either.
TripleR
Active member
Equipment
BX2200, BX2660, L5740 HSTC, M8540HDC and some other tractors and equipment
We have spent four yers cutting 2" stuff or better with no problems out of our Woods DS1260 or Land Pride RCR2672, we are close to being done with the regular use, but will still do some as we rotate wildlife areas and are reforesting some stuff.
Some like the route recommended by Stubbyie and some the other; can't say one is better than the other, but I hate breakdowns and repairs, had enough of that to last me, other don't mind it.
Stubbyie's approach is the one my brother uses, but he doesn't bother getting the high cost units ever; works for him.
Some like the route recommended by Stubbyie and some the other; can't say one is better than the other, but I hate breakdowns and repairs, had enough of that to last me, other don't mind it.
Stubbyie's approach is the one my brother uses, but he doesn't bother getting the high cost units ever; works for him.
Bushhog brand is pretty hard to beat. Not saying they're the best but I have had good luck with them. I don't care what brand you use if it cut's 2" stuff all the time it's going to break something.
Bush Hog, Woods, Land Pride and Rhino all are excellent cutters. But all of them have light, medium and heavy duty lines. Just don't buy a light duty Bush Hog thinking it will handle the heavy stuff like a medium or heavy duty will.