Brush hog and covering tractor tracks

[Tompet]

Hi,
I need some advice from experienced brush hog users.

I'm going to purchase a brush hog, standard duty, to run primarily with an old Ferguson TO20 with ORC (over ride clutch) and maybe run it with my Kubota B2920. A 4' seems too narrow and a 5' may be too large for some work (or tractor) but will cover tire tracks of the Ferguson (take narrower cuts when necessary make sense?). Woods makes a 54" that would be just shy of covering full track width of the Ferguson.

Anyway, my question is...how important when brush hogging is it for the cutter to be as wide or wider to cover the tractor's rear tire width?
tp

 

[Marveltone]

While I'll make no claims at being an experienced brush hog user, I've had the same questions with my Ford 1510. I've recently ordered the Woods HC-54 rotary cutter, and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. Like you, I didn't want the tractor tires sticking out past the mower, and my little 23 HP engine only puts out roughly 19.5 HP at the PTO, thereby casting some doubt on its ability to handle a full 60" deck adequately. When my mower finally arrives and I get a chance to use it, I'll post my findings and opinions.

 

[beenthere]

I'd say the TO-20 will handle the 5', depending on what you want to brush hog. The kicker will be the speed selection of the tranny. Low (first) gear may not be slow enough.

I ran a 4' hog behind my TO-30 and 420 Deere, and didn't have a problem not "covering" the tracks. It has more to do with not being able to get close to a wall, or a tree, than mowing over the tracks. Not as critical as a rotary tiller where the tire tracks are more of a nuisance.

 

[Tompet]

Marveltone,
You looked at this like I am, I think the 5' may work the Ferguson too hard and be a little big for the B2920 so that's why the Woods 54" sounded like a good compromise. Did you see the Heritage series next to the Brushbull models? Wood's seems like the only cutters dealers carry around here.

beenthere,
Yes, not getting close to objects crossed my mind, but even with a 4' I would come within about 6". Good point about tranny speed. Anyway, when you ran a 4' with your T0-30 did it seem like "enough" of a load on tractor or would you rather have had a 5'?

 

[Marveltone]

Tompet,
Your T0-20 has a little more power than my 1510, (25 @ PTO as opposed to 19.5) which may be enough to allow it to pull a full 5' hog. But, as beenthere has stated, having only a four speed tranny may factor in, as your speed selection will be more limited. Maybe the 54" would be more forgiving in this light. I don't have any practical experience, just a gut feeling from what I've read.

Perhaps somebody with real hands-on knowledge will pipe in.

 

[SARG]

I've got a New Holland T1030 SCUT that I have started using this year on a four acre field with a 48" Countyline cutter from TSC. After doing the field twice, I realize I have to overlap the cuts to prevent "most" of the ridges or rows of missed weeds caused by the tires pushing them down.

I essentially now take a 40" swathe.

 

[TripleR]

"Experienced" does not always equate to "good", I have the experience, but still working on the good part. I have bush hogged most of my life and now use bush hogs/rotary cutters from four foot to ten foot six inches. I don't see tire width v mower width to be all that big of a deal and like Sarg will overlap if I want a "better" cut. What you are cutting, cutting conditions and how picky you are will dictate how well your equipment works and your results.

No matter how wide your mower is, unless you mow backwards, you are going to be mowing over tracks, so I focus more on matching the implement to the tractor capabilities.

 

[MMagis]

I agree with Sarg and TripleR as well. Covering the width of the tracks isn't a big deal. You'll be overlapping either way. Match the cutter to the tractor and what you'll be cutting. It would be my opinion that a 5' cutter would be much too large for your tractor, unless you're cutting very sparse grass/weeds.

 

[beenthere]

........................
beenthere,
Yes, not getting close to objects crossed my mind, but even with a 4' I would come within about 6". Good point about tranny speed. Anyway, when you ran a 4' with your T0-30 did it seem like "enough" of a load on tractor or would you rather have had a 5'?

The T0-30 had plenty of power to handle a 5'. Ground speed would have been the main problem as the tranny wasn't split hi-lo.
If your plans are to keep the TO-20, then I'd match it with the 4' cutter. Save the 5' for your next tractor. The 4' will give a better cut and handle larger brush size too.

 

[Tompet]

Thanks to all for replies. As usual, people/info on this site always good. beenthere thanks for additional feedback. Based on what was said here I'll eliminate the 5' size. I'll either get the 54" heritage or the 4' brushbull both by Woods. I figure either one of these would also be a better match to my Kubota B2920.
tp