Rotary Cutter Heavy-Duty 5ft Bush Hog??? 2800 bucks!!

mattgo · Mar 27, 2008

I'm looking for a heavy duty 5ft bush hog to clear some old fields with. The land we own is an old homeplace, and it's been years since these fields have been cut down. There are a bunch of small saplings about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Specifically I'm looking for one with a slip clutch. I just got off the phone with my dealer and he said a new Bush Hog 325 was going to cost 2800 bucks!! Can that price be right?

I don't want to pay more than $1000, but maybe I will have to. I don't care to buy used, as long as whatever I'm buying has been taken care of, or not used too hard and all tore up.

What are your suggestions for me? My tractor is a MF 135 diesel. Thanks.

Deere Hunter · Mar 27, 2008

2-3" stuff can usually be cut with a Medium Duty Bush Hog if you slow down a bit to make sure the blades do the work. HD machines, especially a good quality hog are very expensive new, but tend to last a long time if well-kept. If you plan to keep the field mowed regularly once cut, a MD hog may be fine for your needs- it will save a few $100 anyway. A good new one will still be around $2000.

Farmwithjunk · Mar 27, 2008

mattgo said:
I'm looking for a heavy duty 5ft bush hog to clear some old fields with. The land we own is an old homeplace, and it's been years since these fields have been cut down. There are a bunch of small saplings about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Specifically I'm looking for one with a slip clutch. I just got off the phone with my dealer and he said a new Bush Hog 325 was going to cost 2800 bucks!! Can that price be right?

I don't want to pay more than $1000, but maybe I will have to. I don't care to buy used, as long as whatever I'm buying has been taken care of, or not used too hard and all tore up.

What are your suggestions for me? My tractor is a MF 135 diesel. Thanks.

He actually quoted you a very good price on that particular model (at todays ridiculous prices)

studor · Mar 27, 2008

Alarming ain't it

I looked all last summer at both new and used cutters to the point where my wife actually accused me of not really wanting to buy one -- cause then I would have to use it. Now she who must be obeyed has ordered me to get a new one! The problem with finding one on the used market ( from my experience) is that even the ones that are "heavily experienced" (read scrap metal) were expensive versus new and almost never had slip clutches. Also interesting was that size seemed to matter --the bigger they were the cheaper they went. Don't know where you are located but around here I am now going to buy a medium duty and some extra shear pins -- soon as I can see last years dealer inventory under the snow

eblanks · Mar 27, 2008

Just last month I purchased an old, and I mean really old heavy duty bush hog for 300 bucks. It weighs a freakin ton but really does a job on heavy brush and sapplings up to 4, even 5 inches. The previous owner installed a slip clutch which is a good idea. In hind sight, I think it was a good move, the work I've done already beats the daylights out of the mower and I would rather punish an older cheaper mower than subject a new expensive one to the same abuse.

smitty9266 · Mar 27, 2008

look at the 295 cutter it says 3" And I know from clearing 5 acres of dense
2"-4" extremely thick growth (trees every 8 to 10 inches apart ) it cuts it fine. I used a tc40 New Holland and the 295. The trick was to fill the bucket with dirt curl back all the way and keep it 8 to 10 inches off the ground it pushes the trees down then cuts them up works great, .... but you have to be careful that you don't get into a position where you have to back up because you will tear up the bottom of the tractor.

Good luck Jeff

mlauk · Mar 27, 2008

The miniumum tractor HP requirement for a 325 is 50HP. That is way too much bush hog for your tractor. I would recommend the medium duty 285 for your tractor at the most. The squealer is probably better suited for it, but can't handle 2-3 inch saplings.

john_bud · Mar 27, 2008

The other option is to pay someone to run thru it with a big bat wing and get it into shape so you can maintain it with an LD cutter that only costs $800 or so.

jb

Farmwithjunk · Mar 27, 2008

mlauk said:
The miniumum tractor HP requirement for a 325 is 50HP. That is way too much bush hog for your tractor. I would recommend the medium duty 285 for your tractor at the most. The squealer is probably better suited for it, but can't handle 2-3 inch saplings.

While I think the 295 is enough mower for the task at hand, the 325 ISN'T "way too much bush hog" for that tractor. I run a 326 Bush Hog behind my 150 Massey. That's the same exact engine and drivetrain as his 135 and I have no issues with power or durability (either the tractor's or the mowers) . That term "minimum" should read "suggested" in order to use it's strength to the fullest potential. In most conditions, the tractor won't know the difference between one 5' cutter and another.

I also have a 286, the earlier version of what is now the 296 and have used it in conditions that would make most people run for cover. No complaints with the durability there either.