Rotary cutter - repair or replace WWYD

[Poncho]

Last hunting season when cutting shooting lanes on the hunting lease I ran into some lighter stumps. Unfortunately I was cutting new lanes in brush that was thick and about 4' high and ran into 2 different stumps to the point where the cutter went 90 degrees straight up. Well, the damage was pretty bad that can be seen in the pics. A welding shop that has done several other jobs for me says they can straighten and reinforce, but I will probably be into it for about $700 - $800. I believe I paid about $1,250 about 12 years ago for it (Woods XT172). I know I can pick-up a relatively inexpensive brand from Tractor Supply or local dealer (still around about $1,200), but thinking of stepping up to higher quality. Local MF dealer has a Bush Hog RD6 for about $1,900. Would like to hear thoughts from others that have more knowledge about rotary cutters than I do. Thanks,

 

[dusty3030]

700 to weld that up?
Find a buddy with a welder and knows how to use it, get some really good prime steaks and a case of his favorite beer / bottle of wine, whatever and help him fix it. That cutter has plenty of life left in it, but I wouldn't pay that kind of money to do it.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Last hunting season when cutting shooting lanes on the hunting lease I ran into some lighter stumps. Unfortunately I was cutting new lanes in brush that was thick and about 4' high and ran into 2 different stumps to the point where the cutter went 90 degrees straight up. Well, the damage was pretty bad that can be seen in the pics. A welding shop that has done several other jobs for me says they can straighten and reinforce, but I will probably be into it for about $700 - $800. I believe I paid about $1,250 about 12 years ago for it (Woods XT172). I know I can pick-up a relatively inexpensive brand from Tractor Supply or local dealer (still around about $1,200), but thinking of stepping up to higher quality. Local MF dealer has a Bush Hog RD6 for about $1,900. Would like to hear thoughts from others that have more knowledge about rotary cutters than I do. Thanks,

It really doesnt look that bad,just looks to be rolled forward.Is the blades hitting the deck now. Looks like just could cut off and re-weld it straight and beef it up. If your going to beat it up again,just spend a cple hundred,just getting hitch straight and tear yours up somemore,looks like its got alot of life left in it.Then when you get the rough stuff done sell that one and get that new shreader.I have almost totally rebuilt a shredder for a guy,200 in materials and about 4hrs cutting/welding it was good as new..

 

[greg_g]

Glad you weren't hurt; classic example of why one should always use a rigid toplink. Besides the deck repair, you might also be looking at replacing blades/stump jumper/input or output shafts/PTO shaft/toplink. I'd offer it to the welder for a little over scrap price, say $0.25/lb. With the possibility of reselling it (repaired) for profit, he might bite.

Put what cash you get toward a stouter unit that should subsequently better the 12 years use you got out of this one.

//greg//

 

[Poncho]

Blades aren't hitting the deck. I was thinking if you cut the front bar off , the top support bars would have to be cut and new sections welded in. Just don't know how easy it would be to straighten the deck up. It doesn't get used a lot, only for about 3 acres of pasture and then every year in the woods mowing roads, food plots and then shooting lanes. When cutting shooting lanes I try to stay between wind rows, however when venturing out, I sometimes get into rough stuff.

 

[two_bit_score]

Last hunting season when cutting shooting lanes on the hunting lease I ran into some lighter stumps. Unfortunately I was cutting new lanes in brush that was thick and about 4' high and ran into 2 different stumps to the point where the cutter went 90 degrees straight up. Well, the damage was pretty bad that can be seen in the pics. A welding shop that has done several other jobs for me says they can straighten and reinforce, but I will probably be into it for about $700 - $800. I believe I paid about $1,250 about 12 years ago for it (Woods XT172). I know I can pick-up a relatively inexpensive brand from Tractor Supply or local dealer (still around about $1,200), but thinking of stepping up to higher quality. Local MF dealer has a Bush Hog RD6 for about $1,900. Would like to hear thoughts from others that have more knowledge about rotary cutters than I do. Thanks,

Everyone has covered the question you asked pretty well.

But, this is a good example of how you're going to pay one way or the other.

One can buy lesser quality, inexpensive equipment, nothing wrong with that if you're going to use it in light duty applications. But if used in heavier duty jobs, it may get damaged. If you don't have the time, equipment and ability to fix it then it will cost to get someone to do it.

Or, you can buy heavier duty stuff and it will last longer but eventually it will need work and repairs too.

What I would do is try to get that one patched up to be usable and still buy a better quality one. Use the old one on lighter duty work.



.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Blades aren't hitting the deck. I was thinking if you cut the front bar off , the top support bars would have to be cut and new sections welded in. Just don't know how easy it would be to straighten the deck up. It doesn't get used a lot, only for about 3 acres of pasture and then every year in the woods mowing roads, food plots and then shooting lanes. When cutting shooting lanes I try to stay between wind rows, however when venturing out, I sometimes get into rough stuff.

Aslong as your beating it up dont worry about how the deck looks,you can also get braces welded across the deck so it doesnt bend anymore. But you get a new HD model with stump jumpers it should hold up,but cant say nothing isnt going to happen to it either.Can always sell yours,its not that bad of a fix for someone thats got the stuff,for 300/400 still looks like a good mower.

 

[Bigfoot62]

700 to weld that up?
Find a buddy with a welder and knows how to use it, get some really good prime steaks and a case of his favorite beer / bottle of wine, whatever and help him fix it. That cutter has plenty of life left in it, but I wouldn't pay that kind of money to do it.

That's what I would do. Also, ask him what welding rod is needed, and what size, and get a 10# box. Give him what's left. You wouldn't beleive the people that ask me to weld something for them, but never pony up for any welding rods.

 

[tessiers]

For $700 I would buy a stick welder, some steel and learn how to weld. Thats a skill that will pay you back in the long run and your cutter will be fixed. My father uses my bushhog as a stump grinder, its got more weld than steel left.

 

[Poncho]

Thanks guys... I appreciate the good feedback. I'll probably look at fixing it at some time in the future (definately prior to hunting season)