Rotary Cutter

[Trustable]

I'll throw a proverbial wrench in the works.
Have you looked at flail mowers?
They have some advantages over rotary mowers.
And if your thinking about doing contract work, they can be a lot more forgiving on the latent garbage left in a yard or the hidden stump, or rouge engine block that's half sticking out of the ground.
They can also make cuts as fine as a finish mower.

Rogue engine block? I am sure there is a story behind that one!

 

[old and tired]

That's a difference in thickness of .015" ... so is that really a criteria worth considering?

I would not have to replace the deck of my LandPride 1260 this year if it was thicker....

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Rogue engine block? I am sure there is a story behind that one!

We found several odd things buried or half buried in our yard.
Pick up truck frame with axles, all sorts of engine parts, bicycles, toys, household appliances, pots and pans, (bunches of them), and hey did you know that bras, socks, pantyhose and some underwear don't completely fall apart when buried??? Real fun digging them up with a spring tooth cultivator!

 

[nbryan]

So far after 2 summers running a gifted Woods M5-4 "Dixie Cutter" 5' rotary mower my B2650 seems to have no trouble handling it, and cut 1 1/2" weed poplars taking over some of my fields. It's a 490 lb unit bare bones, no skirt apron or stump jumper, and within our tractor's 3-point limit for a mower.
Neighbor had downsized his 60 HP Massey to a BX and got a 48" rotary for the new machine so had the big OLD beat up but quite intact Woods and offered it for free. I wasn't sure my machine could run it well but now am really glad I've got it!
First summer using it it developed a wicked gear oil leak at the bottom seal so gave up for a while running it while seeing what I could do to fix the leak. Having a shop tackle it would be quite pricey.
Somewhere I read to try JD brand corn head grease to replace the 80w-90 and did that - haven't lost a drop of lube since and it runs smooth and quiet. NICE.
I've saved countless hours of overwork on my little riding mower now all its used for is finishing, and no more forcing it through old tall crap.
So find an old Woods M5 if possible, bet if one that is out of service because of leaking gear oil. Easy fix.

 

[kcs]

So far after 2 summers running a gifted Woods M5-4 "Dixie Cutter" 5' rotary mower my B2650 seems to have no trouble handling it, and cut 1 1/2" weed poplars taking over some of my fields. It's a 490 lb unit bare bones, no skirt apron or stump jumper, and within our tractor's 3-point limit for a mower.
Neighbor had downsized his 60 HP Massey to a BX and got a 48" rotary for the new machine so had the big OLD beat up but quite intact Woods and offered it for free. I wasn't sure my machine could run it well but now am really glad I've got it!
First summer using it it developed a wicked gear oil leak at the bottom seal so gave up for a while running it while seeing what I could do to fix the leak. Having a shop tackle it would be quite pricey.
Somewhere I read to try JD brand corn head grease to replace the 80w-90 and did that - haven't lost a drop of lube since and it runs smooth and quiet. NICE.
I've saved countless hours of overwork on my little riding mower now all its used for is finishing, and no more forcing it through old tall crap.
So find an old Woods M5 if possible, bet if one that is out of service because of leaking gear oil. Easy fix.

Woods is one the Kubota dealer wants to sell me. It’s $1,000 more than the LP he has in stock

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Woods is one the Kubota dealer wants to sell me. It’s $1,000 more than the LP he has in stock

Wood's makes some really nice equipment.

 

[kcs]

Wood's make some really nice equipment.

Would you say it’s worth $1,000 more than a LP 1260 or a Ironcraft 1205

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Would you say it’s worth $1,000 more than a LP 1260 or a Ironcraft 1205

YES!

 

[kcs]

YES!

Hahahahahaha ok thanks. I’m going to talk to my dealer on Wednesday probably.

 

[cthomas]

I’m looking at getting a rotary cutter for my B2650. I’ve looked at Ironcraft and Land Pride. Both are 60” and have shear bolts. Any advice for this newbie. I’m getting ready to retire and want to make some extra money doing odd jobs with my tractor. Thanks in advance

My late father wanted to make extra money bush hogging and did it for 6 years, did not make a dime after finding the forgotten things out in the fields that "has nothing in it just overgrown". 1. a pile of steel t-posts(bent one blade) 2. Mine shaft air vent that was boarded up years ago(That put the JD5420 on its side) 3. An old well pipe that WAS about 1 foot above the ground(That ripped the gear box off of the Bush Hog). 4. Can't remember how many piles of metal fencing wires found(just remember multiple times father calling my work and asking me to bring home me Milwaukee cordless grinder). 5. And a MWFD driveshaft that was found to be bent one day. Just so you know he went thru 2 heavy duty Brush Hogs(the real ones) within those years before giving it up. His tractor was 81 HP running a 8 or 9 foot Brush Hog. Also, did a lot a welding and un-tweaking within those years. Did get to spend some quality time with him fixing equipment with him.

 

[kcs]

My late father wanted to make extra money bush hogging and did it for 6 years, did not make a dime after finding the forgotten things out in the fields that "has nothing in it just overgrown". 1. a pile of steel t-posts(bent one blade) 2. Mine shaft air vent that was boarded up years ago(That put the JD5420 on its side) 3. An old well pipe that WAS about 1 foot above the ground(That ripped the gear box off of the Bush Hog). 4. Can't remember how many piles of metal fencing wires found(just remember multiple times father calling my work and asking me to bring home me Milwaukee cordless grinder). 5. And a MWFD driveshaft that was found to be bent one day. Just so you know he went thru 2 heavy duty Brush Hogs(the real ones) within those years before giving it up. His tractor was 81 HP running a 8 or 9 foot Brush Hog. Also, did a lot a welding and un-tweaking within those years. Did get to spend some quality time with him fixing equipment with him.

Wow thanks I’ll take all
That in mine when I decide to move forward

 

[GeoHorn]

I would not get too concerned over a shear-bolt versus a slip clutch. I mowed my 27 acres for a dozen years and never had to replace one. For the last ten years I’ve had a shredder with a slip-clutch and I have to service it every year….something i never had to do with the previous shear-bolt cutter.
Soo…. spend more money for a more expensive, more troublesome slip clutch..??

 

[SDT]

My late father wanted to make extra money bush hogging and did it for 6 years, did not make a dime after finding the forgotten things out in the fields that "has nothing in it just overgrown". 1. a pile of steel t-posts(bent one blade) 2. Mine shaft air vent that was boarded up years ago(That put the JD5420 on its side) 3. An old well pipe that WAS about 1 foot above the ground(That ripped the gear box off of the Bush Hog). 4. Can't remember how many piles of metal fencing wires found(just remember multiple times father calling my work and asking me to bring home me Milwaukee cordless grinder). 5. And a MWFD driveshaft that was found to be bent one day. Just so you know he went thru 2 heavy duty Brush Hogs(the real ones) within those years before giving it up. His tractor was 81 HP running a 8 or 9 foot Brush Hog. Also, did a lot a welding and un-tweaking within those years. Did get to spend some quality time with him fixing equipment with him.

Agreed.

I NEVER mow property other than mine.

 

[mcmxi]

I would not have to replace the deck of my LandPride 1260 this year if it was thicker....

If it was .015" thicker? I'm with you in that I like a thick piece of steel, but only where it counts. The deck on my RCR1884 is supposedly 10 gauge and it's got at least a couple of significant dents from rocks smashing into it. I tried pounding them out from the top side with a 4lb hammer but the metal won't budge without heat of some sort. I have a Hougen magnetic drill and could cut out the dents with a plug bit and weld in a new piece, or heat and pound. Either way, I'm able to fix as needed.

Obviously, the problem with going to 7 gauge as some manufactures do is the increased weight and cost. A 7 gauge deck would be great since it'd take a lot of abuse, but the cutter would be over 1,000lb and probably $1k or more over what I paid for the 1884 which is an excellent rotary cutter in its current form, and expensive enough at $3,700 or so.

 

[SDT]

If it was .015" thicker? I'm with you in that I like a thick piece of steel, but only where it counts. The deck on my RCR1884 is supposedly 10 gauge and it's got at least a couple of significant dents from rocks smashing into it. I tried pounding them out from the top side with a 4lb hammer but the metal won't budge without heat of some sort. I have a Hougen magnetic drill and could cut out the dents with a plug bit and weld in a new piece, or heat and pound. Either way, I'm able to fix as needed.

Obviously, the problem with going to 7 gauge as some manufactures do is the increased weight and cost. A 7 gauge deck would be great since it'd take a lot of abuse, but the cutter would be over 1,000lb and probably $1k or more over what I paid for the 1884 which is an excellent rotary cutter in its current form, and expensive enough at $3,700 or so.

Agreed.

Heavy duty is good but heavy isn't always.

MY 6' Woods BB720X (bought for a MF tractor that I once owned) pushes my L6060 around at times and tractor hitch parts have broken 4 different times. It's just too heavy.

Would replace it with something 250-300 Lbs. lighter but plan to downsize and sell just about everything in a year or two and hope to get by until I do.

 

[nbryan]

Woods is one the Kubota dealer wants to sell me. It’s $1,000 more than the LP he has in stock

Just be sure that new Woods 5' rotary cutter at the dealer is under 500lb, as the weight can change in the same models over the decades. Adding safety skirt chains and maybe a stump jumper may add too much weight to be healthy for a B2650 3-point.

 

[nbryan]

Woods is one the Kubota dealer wants to sell me. It’s $1,000 more than the LP he has in stock

Woods RC60.20 has stump jumper and belt skirt cover as standard, and still comes in a 494 lbs. That's a unit to last a long time!

If you go for this make or pretty much any fixed rotary cutters like it I advise you ask for an experienced tech at the dealers to show you how it's mounted and adjusted to perform properly.
There's a LOT of available adjustments and play on both the tractor 3-point and the mower especially which need setting at first for your specific tractor, then adjusted according to conditions as necessary.
Having someone who knows this stuff show you will help greatly. Just getting it already set up is nice but you'll want the know how.
I received my gifted M5-4 cutter as is, set up for a tractor twice the size and horsepower of mine. It took a LONG time without prior experience to figure out how best to setup and attach it. I think I've got it about right by now! Took almost 2 summers ...
Another thing is that the cutter weight our 3-point can handle is to move it around a bit while lifted off the ground, not for while cutting. The rear pivot wheel should ride nice and comfortably and take up most undulations while carrying the rear weight of the mower. Up/down 3-point slack is built in to the mower frame design to allow minor height adjustments while cutting. Heavy bumps and sways while moving with the mower raised can get hard on the 3-point frame on our machines' size. Easy does it!

 

[kcs]

Woods RC60.20 has stump jumper and belt skirt cover as standard, and still comes in a 494 lbs. That's a unit to last a long time!

If you go for this make or pretty much any fixed rotary cutters like it I advise you ask for an experienced tech at the dealers to show you how it's mounted and adjusted to perform properly.
There's a LOT of available adjustments and play on both the tractor 3-point and the mower especially which need setting at first for your specific tractor, then adjusted according to conditions as necessary.
Having someone who knows this stuff show you will help greatly. Just getting it already set up is nice but you'll want the know how.
I received my gifted M5-4 cutter as is, set up for a tractor twice the size and horsepower of mine. It took a LONG time without prior experience to figure out how best to setup and attach it. I think I've got it about right by now! Took almost 2 summers ...
Another thing is that the cutter weight our 3-point can handle is to move it around a bit while lifted off the ground, not for while cutting. The rear pivot wheel should ride nice and comfortably and take up most undulations while carrying the rear weight of the mower. Up/down 3-point slack is built in to the mower frame design to allow minor height adjustments while cutting. Heavy bumps and sways while moving with the mower raised can get hard on the 3-point frame on our machines' size. Easy does it!

Wow great thanks for all the info on everything I’m going to my dealer tomorrow and talk to him about an LP and woods. Not sure what model woods he has in stock