Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter

   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #1  

jasonf

Silver Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2000
Messages
235
Location
Saratoga N.Y.
Tractor
Kubota 2710
OK boys:
I have a firm price of around $950 for a Bush Hog SQ-600 Brush Hog and I want some opinions on whether I should go with a 60" KingKutter instead. I think the Kingkutters are around $200-300 cheaper.
Does anybody out there have a KK and how well is it built and how well is it holding up? The price on the Bush Hog includes a slip clutch PTO. Does the KK come with a slip clutch, or can that be ordered as an option?

Thanks Jason
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #2  
Jason,

I had a SQ600. Mine had a shear bolt rather than the clutch but I only paid $700 for it. Unfortunately that was about $699. more than it was worth. It was a piece of junk and I sold it (practically gave it away).

GET THE KINGKUTTER.

TBone
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Yeah, but tell me what you really think...../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif What about it didn't you like, wall thickness, gearbox ? Thanks Jason
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #4  
Jason,

I have the 60" King Kutter rotary cutter. I have the shear pin model. I maintain about 7 acres +/- and although most of it is not too hard on the machine, I've had no problems. I do have a few dents (from the inside out) in the sheet metal where I've hit stones and thrown them. Other than that it's held up well. My only gripe is the flat shape of it and the lack of weep holes in the web of supporting metal. The top will hold water and all other crap and makes it a little challenging to keep the top clean.

Kevin
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #5  
Real estate people will tell you the thing to look for is location, location, location. The SQ600 I got rid of had vibration, vibration, vibration. Bush Hog admitted they had a problem with some of the units and swapped out the first one. It was so bad it shook the whole the tractor. The second one was better but far from being right. I had previously owned a light 5' COOP special $399. that was much smoother than the Bush Hog.

I have since bought a new heavy duty Howse and it is also much smoother than either of the Squealers.

Every time I complain about it on TBN I send Bush Hog a copy of my post. The last time (before this one) I did I received an email from them saying that they had spent a ton of money to improve their manufacturing process and felt like they had eliminated the problem, which was the stumpjumpers being drilled off-center.

For the sake of future Bush Hog owners I hope they have but personally I will never own another one. Although they swapped out the first one (I wasn't home when they came), they refused to even acknowledge a problem with the second one.

Another problem that I had was breaking shear bolts. I replaced 12 in one day. It would shear a bolt every time you hit a piece of tall Johnson grass. Again the cheapie I had only sheared 2 bolts in 8 years.

A buddy of mine recently bought a new Bush Hog cutter (Model 286, I think). He really likes it and says it is smooth as can be.

TBone
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #6  
When I was looking at rotary cutters, I looked at the Bush Hog SQ-600. I made some quick measurements and observations and concluded it wasn't build any stronger than a KingKutter L-60-40-P. The hitch pins where way too high on both. I ended up with the KK, it was much lower in price and I got a blue one to match my NH. I lowered the hitch pins and so far have no complaints.

I think the higher end Bush Hog brand mowers are probably much better quality, but they have tried to compete on the lower end and what they've ended up with is mowers of the same quality as KK, except maybe for better quality paint, but for a few hundred dollars more.
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #7  
<font color=blue>...$950 for a Bush Hog SQ-600 Brush Hog and I want some opinions ...</font color=blue>

Hi Jason,

Bush Hog makes some great products... but everyone has a "good, better, best..."

(Razorback is the leader "cheap" unit)
The Squealer line is the "entry" or standard duty, nothing spectacular about it, except the "Bush Hog" name...

The KingKutter has standard and medium duty, again nothing special except "great value" for what you get for your money...

The current non-sale price locally for KK 5' standard duty @ TSC has been $595. (less 10% with a coupon or 1st. purchase TSC credit card)

I would equate the KK standard with the Squealer standard... the KK is crude with a basic no frills working design, the Squealer is "prettier" and has that famous Bush Hog logo, however both will cut the same stuff... the KK is about $350-450. less...

I don't know about you... but with all else being equal... I think you could buy a lot of diesel fuel with $450... left over... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #8  
jasonf,

I have owned and used my new Bush Hog SQ600 (w/clutch) for a year with absolutely no problems. I have used it to cut chest high weeds and much taller saplings, buried it in the dirt and bogged it down too many times to count and run over small logs and large roots that made goshawful noises, but like a Timex it has taken a licking and kept on ticking.

However, based on what the other guys here are saying about the KK, if I had it to do all over again I might consider going with the KK and keep the cash difference in my pocket.
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #9  
Very well stated John !

We hope to offer a real alternative to KK: better looking, great performance, best paint in the business with color choices, but at their machine price level and with much lower parts prices.

You TBN-Ers really push and challenge us.

Stay tuned !
 
   / Rotary Mowers Bush Hog Vs Kingkutter #10  
FirstChoice.jpg


<font color=blue>...We hope to offer a real alternative to KK: better looking, great performance, best paint in the business with color choices, but at their machine price level and with much lower parts prices. ...</font color=blue>

Hi Pieter,

I'm actually looking forward to seeing your rotary cutters... from the pictures on site... the RC30 series look pretty good... now I want to kick some "tires"... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

If your company does all the above... I can assure you, you will have a winning line of implements... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

By the way... will First Choice be displaying at Empire Farm Days next month...? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
 
 
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