Rotary Cutter Rotary cutter help

   / Rotary cutter help #1  

Matt_W

Bronze Member
Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
84
Location
20 mile West of Pittsburgh
Tractor
B7610
Hello,
I am looking to buy my first rotary cutter and was hoping for some insight. I have a B7610, 19HP at the PTO can lift 400 # or so (I don't have my manual close by). With this said I figured that I am pretty much bound to a lightweight cutter, I was thinking 4 foot and believe the manual states this for a rotary cutter.
I am looking to maintain my roadside drive of about 1/4 mile, keep a few fields clear not more than an acre for both of them and to maintain trails.
This would be for weeds/brush mostly if there are any larger trees I can pluck them out with my FEL.
The terrain is hilly and full of uneven dips and grades so I did want to chance it with a 5 foot.
This will all be done in a residential type setting so protection is a concern.
Last year I was doing some pricing (Farm force, king kutter, rhino, landpride, bush hog, woods) then my money seemed to be gone before I knew it.
So the tax check came in and the wife is in agreement and I want to strike while the money is hot!
I have been looking around for a used cutter but really have not found any 4 with protection and my thinking is this is something I can buy new to have for a long time so looking new now.
With protection considered the lower end cutters seemed to jump up in price when adding this as a kit so I thought it may be best to buy a higher end cutter with this already installed. (metal band type typically)
It seemed like for the money the best value out of the big named cutters seemed to be the Woods.
Does anyone have any experience with the herititage series and how is this working for you? (HC48)
Also do you think a slip clutch is worth the extra $ in my case? ($150)
Thanks in advance!!
 
   / Rotary cutter help #2  
I have a 5 foot Bush Hog brand Squealer bush hog that has protection all the way around ..the bottom of the front and rear deck is covered..it is a mulching bush hog..it seems that is what you are after except in a 4 foot model..

Funny thing is I am going to modify mine to open up the back of the mower deck so it throws the material out the back...Where I cut ..no one is around and I need to discharge the cut material faster than is occcuring...Look and see what models of mulching bush hogs that are 4 foot that Bush Hog manufacures...may be just what you are looking for.
 
   / Rotary cutter help #3  
I have no experience with the Woods in the size you are looking at, but own two of the ten foot models as well as a four foot and six foot Land Pride. I have rubber or chain guards on mine and prefer the chains though they are more expensive.

Bush Hog and others make good cutters too, I just don't have any experience with them.

I always use slip clutch machines, but I use them pretty hard; you can probably save the money, just be sure to keep a spare sheer bolt with you.

A sheer bolt is really much simpler as the slip clutches will need occasional maintenance/adjustment.
 
   / Rotary cutter help #4  
I believe you are correct staying with the 4 foot model. I have a 4 foot Brush Hog Squealer that I run with my BX23, and it does a great job doing what you are planing to use yours for. Woods and Land Pride make great cutters too, I also own a 72" Woods Heritage rear finishing mower. But that is run by my B3200. I'd stay with the major manufacturers, buy It once and have it forever.
DevilDog
 
   / Rotary cutter help #5  
When I bought a 60" Land Pride cutter (for a 16.5 PTO HP Deere 670...I was looking for a 48" unit), one of the factors that convinced me was the dealer (a Kubota dealer) said they sold these cutter for use behind the B7500 Kubota tractors.
Although skeptical, I went for the cutter. And it did fine.

I'm pretty sure your B7610 can lift quite a bit more then 400 lbs. What you do have to watch is the ratio between the tractor's weight and the weight of the cutter. You don't want to get into a "Tail wagging the Dog" situation when transporting the cutter.

So, there you go...make a good decision.
 
   / Rotary cutter help #6  
I have a 5' generic mower. Having had welding repairs done (it's in the shop now) if buying again, I'd get a brand name rotary unit or flail mower.

RE: slip clutch - I got tied of replacing shear bolts and bought a slip clutch from Agri-Supply for much less than $150. Easy to mount also.
 
   / Rotary cutter help #7  
Your B7610 is very near the size and weight of my 4010 JD. I've been running an LX4 behind it for 5 years. I'm sure your B7610 will lift around a 1,000 #, but your tractor is probably only about double that weight, maybe only around 1,500 #. So, like Roy pointed out, you don't want the tail wagging the dog. If you have fairly level land, you could easily run a 5' cutter. I've even heard of people with a 16 hp Kubota running 5' but with it needing more weight in front.

The LX4 would work, of course. It's just over 400#. I use mine with my 800 # loader, generally. If I need maneuvability (e.g. space), I've removed just the bucket, leaving the lifting machinery on. One friend of mine has a 4010 with an underbelly mower. He mows with the bucket removed. An underbelly won't go torquing the tractor around with its weight out back like a brush hog.

Ralph
 
   / Rotary cutter help
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for all your replies!
Brin
I really liked the shape of the bush hog and can see why removing the protection can help with moving material through it quicker. But on the down side bush hog was close to $330 more than the woods.
TripleR
A sheer bolt does seem much more simply, I also would be leaving this outside so would that cause more adjusting with the slipclutch?
Daveinnh
I never consider purchasing the slip clutch separate but will have to check into that.
Roy and RalpVa
I do plan on keeping the FEL on when using this so that may help with weight distribution but my main concern would be on the hills, I have very little flat property. I have notice so many more 5 cutters out there than 4?
I was also thinking that having a dealer closer is an advantage? For parts/problems?
 
   / Rotary cutter help #9  
There are 42 brush hogs out there, too. That way, there is no need for slowing down for really thick stuff. As to how much to spend, up front money is cheaper in the long run. Think about smacking engine blocks, hot water heaters, tree stumps, rocks, and whatever with your hog. Do you want the hog to bounce off, or crumple like tin-foil.
 
   / Rotary cutter help #10  
I bought a new Land pride at a dealer going out of business auction 72" rotary cutter. Sorry don't have the numbers it's been sitting at the repair shop all winter waiting for repair. It's been the biggest pain in the butt. Something must not have been put together right it broke shear pins constantly. I bought it to replace 2 old junkers I have to cut grass in a orchard. They worked fine but are missing some guarding. The lp looked like a nice heavy cutter. Used it about 5 times each time the pto shaft seemed to be a little bit tighter sliding apart when taking the mower off and it was breaking shear pins in tall grass. When I went to fleet farm to get more bolts a farmer I met there said he had one and had to use grade 5 bolts so I bought those. It worked better but still sheared 1 without hitting anything. I probably should have found a dealer to check it out but used it again and hit a chunk of dirt where the tractor sunk in when it was wet. This time it sheared a gear in the gear box. When you start thinking this fool hit something bigger I didn't. My old blue cutter and 50 year old tire slip junk mower cut this area fine for years so there are no rocks. A new gear box is just under $500. + labor. Land pride won't stand behind it because it was sold at auction. Even though new. So even though Land pride looks good don't expect them to stand behing their poducts if they can find a out. Not sure yet if I will have it repaired or use it for a anchor for a raft in the pond. Fleet farm sells 72" for the price close to the price of the repair.
 
 
 
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