Rotary Cutter Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X

   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #1  

jibron

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Jul 11, 2010
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Tractor
jd4500
I'm down to these two.
I can get the Bush Hog 295 for $2595 or the Woods BB600x for $2275.
Any thoughts on this decision?
I'm running a JD 4500 (35hp) with a front weight kit.
I was running an old Bush Hog 305R and it broke a center casting on the gearbox when I hit a stump last week. I wouldn't mind fixing it but can't find the obsolete part. Bush Hog says it's unavailable through them. I believe the old Bush Hog was about the same duty rating as these two new ones I've been looking at.
I'm hard on a machine.
I cut about 40 acres not as often as I should so I regularly am into treelines, 2+" saplings and hidden tree falls. I also have a habit of backing into areas to open them up which is one reason I kind of like the Woods unit because it has that 2" bumper welded across the back. From the pictures I've seen it seems to have a little beefier construction in general as far as the thickness of its ironwork and especially the rear wheel carrier.
I'll sometimes need to push a fallen tree around with the rear wheel assembly or throw a chain around one, lift it a little and drag it with the rear section.
Also, I've heard Bush Hog might be a little unstable financially but I sure liked our 305R. My Dad bought it new in 1961 and I've abused it ever since till now.

Help me decide please. I've seen neither in person.
Thanks
 
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   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #2  


Greetings from my corner of the eastern wilderness @1140 feet above mean sea level.

I would like to offer my opinion regarding your question on mowers.


I use a Mathews flail mower and have used one for thirty years. Unfortunately they are no longer made in smaller models.



I would strongly suggest that you look at the Caroni flail mowers offered by agrisupply as they are less expensive and are much less work and will cut heavy brush with much less difficulty than a rotary brush mower.



Agrisupply offers four Caroni Flail mowers for sale and has a continuos internet based sale price with the frieght cost included delivered to your door nationwide.


The base models size and price including freight charge are as follows:


36" $1189.95


47" $1731.95


59" $1789.95


73" $2097.95


The flail mowers purchased in store are less costly of course.


The flail mower is a very strong very efficient way to cut grass and brush with the four row knife rotor offering the best cutting action and quickest mulching ability and they will cut saplings with the grass knives-you would have to back over the area to bring it down to the ground but it will leave little residue.

The flail mower design cuts and lift the material over the rotor and back on the ground eliminating any possibility of throwing objects creating missles out of them.



The smaller flail mowers have the type F rotor that has twice the number of blades 4 rows of knives and gives a finer cut the first time.


The B type rotor has two rows of knives and can cut heavy brush and bushes on the 73 inch model.

the mower knives on the 73 inch mower are shackle mounted to aid in changing and reducing knife damage as the shackles allow the blade to fall away and avoid damage to the rotor and knife blade if it contacts a solid object.

the 73 inch mower has gauge skid which are supplied to set the cutting height for any rough terrain.

The 73 inch mower has an adjustable tractor hithc which allows use with any tractor of 30-60horse power.

The smaller flail mowers have an adjustable rear roller for the grass cutting height settings

All the Caroni flail mowers have a full width roller that contacts the ground to prevent scalping and aid in stability.

Ths also aids in mowing in reverse chopping material the first time and then allowing you to back over brush to grind it down to the ground.

the mower hood over the rotor aids in creating suction while cutting to lift the cut material and avoid plugging the mower as the materil ais caried over the rotor and thrown back to the ground in small pieces.


The mowers have either manual or hydraulic side shift depending on the model and ho9w you want order its options


The Caroni Mowers are belt driven with a spring tensioned flat pulley to maintain belt tension

The 73 inch mower uses 3 V belts
The 59 inch mower uses 2 V belts
The 47 inch mower uses 2 V Belts

You will find a lot of happy flail mower owners here in the implement section and the Kubota section as well.

The flail mower has a full width cut as well wherein each individual knife blade has a cutting edge and the total cutting edge length is greater in length than a rotary brush mower of any size as each individual knife blade is cutting at all timesas it is being rotated by the mowers rotor at higher speeds than a brotary brush mower where a bush hog or woods brush mower does not have a full width cut and is totally depending upon the gear box to rotate the blades as the tractor moves forward or in reverse using the short cutting edge on the flat blades.

You would benefit from having a slip clugtch PTO shaft for the Caroni mower if yuo do not own one all ready to aid in protecting the V belts too.


Agrisupply carries replacement parts in stock and the V belts are no issue as all V belts are metric in size just like bearings so you can buy them from agri supply or an reputable supplier and just be sure look at the V belts and be sure they come from the same lot number when you buy replacements when required.

The Gates green V belts are what I use as they are designed and constructed for high shock loading and long life.






bush hog 295 $2595



woods bb600 $2275



Disclaimer: I am not employed by nor do I have commercial involvement with agrisupply inc., Caroni spa., or the Matthews company.


leonz
 
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   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #3  
The 305 was designed for heavier stock mowing ability then the two you have chosen with a rating of three inch!

I think that the woods is also one step down from the 295 bush hog in heft with the 295 being at a full two inch.

I'd wonder as to what you might have hit to take out the gearbox but a rusted up slip clutch or shear pin will both get you into trouble.
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #4  
We bought a new Woods DS1260 last year and based on the quality shown in it as well as the uncertainty of the Bush Hog company, I would go with the Woods. My last mower purchased as a package deal with my tractor is a Land Pride RCR2672 which is not as sturdy as the Woods handles everything you describe, so the Woods should work well and last a very long time.
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #5  
leonz,

No doubt that flail mowers work well in many applications. Where I see them as lacking is for those of us who use our mowers as "probes" and to move stuff out of the way or push it over to cut. I also use mine to reach places such as over embankments and to pond's edge.

I am sure that flail mowers are great, but I see the rotary cutter to be more versatile; course like I said before I am still learning about them and do appreciate the information.
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X
  • Thread Starter
#6  
The 305 was designed for heavier stock mowing ability then the two you have chosen with a rating of three inch!

I think that the woods is also one step down from the 295 bush hog in heft with the 295 being at a full two inch.

I'd wonder as to what you might have hit to take out the gearbox but a rusted up slip clutch or shear pin will both get you into trouble.


Unfortunately there was no slip clutch or shear pin.
From the specs I've found, both the Woods BB600x and the Bush Hog 295 are rated as handling 3" saplings. They both have a 130HP rated gearbox and the Woods weighs 1039 lbs.where the 295 weighs 900+ lbs.
I also pulled up the old 305 specs which rate it at a 80HP gearbox handling 3" saplings and weighing 850 lbs.
Do you have reason to believe these ratings are invalid or pumped up?
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #7  
Unfortunately there was no slip clutch or shear pin.
From the specs I've found, both the Woods BB600x and the Bush Hog 295 are rated as handling 3" saplings. They both have a 130HP rated gearbox and the Woods weighs 1039 lbs.where the 295 weighs 900+ lbs.
I also pulled up the old 305 specs which rate it at a 80HP gearbox handling 3" saplings and weighing 850 lbs.
Do you have reason to believe these ratings are invalid or pumped up?


three words sum up your gear box issue.

(INTERMITTANT SHOCK LOADS)


You can buy a very heavy duty Caroni or other flail mower/ brush mower with hammer knives that will laugh at shock loads.

Even the smallest 36-48 inch orchard or vineyard flail mower with hammer or grass blades will be fine for this.


Overlapping while mowing and mowing in a circle will save you time and fuel as you will eliminate braking and stopping to turn.



It will take you longer to do but zero problems-just be sure to wear hearing protection and a hard hat with a front mesh guard if your tractor is an open station tractor.

leonz
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X
  • Thread Starter
#8  
but can I push over a 15' 2 1/2 sapling, run it over and chop it up in one pass like I can with my rotary cutter?
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #9  
You can do it easily if you have a boom mounted flail mower which is a very common practice.


If you have ground that is this bad from zero maintenance you might as well buy a surplus mowing tractor with an Alamo rear and side hydraulic boom mounted flail mower from a municipal auction.


you asked:laughing:
 
   / Bush Hog 295 vs Woods BB600X #10  
Bump. Hey, jibron, curious as to which rotary cutter you ended up buying and if you are happy with it as I am now trying to decide between these same two cutters - Bush Hog 295 and Woods BB600.
 
 
 
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