Rotary Cutter BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing

   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #1  

Piston

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Kubota L4610 Hitachi UH083LC
BROWN 472 brush cutter max diameter brush mowing

I've been on the prowl for a good used medium duty brush mower and have been really looking for a Bush Hog 306,286,296, woods 720, or LandPride RCR 2672.
I see on the specs for the above mentioned mowers that they are rated for up to 3" material. (Bush Hog 296 is rated for 3.5" I believe.)

I recently came across a Brown 472 for sale and am curious what the max rated cutting capacity is? It appears to be very well built and is a solid cutter with a 130hp gearbox, 7 gauge deck (compared to 10 gauge of the 296), and weighing in at 1200lbs. However, the Brown website doesn't list a cutting capacity for the mower. Compared to the other mowers mentioned, it appears it should be rated at least as much as them at 3"+. The specs seem very comparable, if not even a bit better on the Brown.

I did some searching and found a few old posts where people mention that they think the cutting capacity is only 2"? Is this correct? That seems like not a lot for what seems to be such a substantial mower.

Does anyone have experience with the brown 400 series mowers? How do you like them and would you recommend one?
I would like to buy a mower that I will keep for the next 20 yrs and won't fail me assuming I take good care of it. Should I try to buy the Brown or stick with the bigger names?

Anything I should look for that they are known for?

What would be the max diameter brush you would think is safe to take down with this?

Thank you.
 
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   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #2  
As heavy as Browns are built I would think 3"-4" range. For heavy brush you need a stout gear box mounted on a heavy platform. Brown has both. The only Browns I found when I was looking were in AL. too far from MI.
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #3  
I also checked out their website. Although they don't provide the cutting diameter, at 1205 lbs and the specs provided, that make and model should be capable of handling 3+inches. Their website has a 1-800 number. Perhaps a call to them would provide a more detailed answer to your question. I sincerely wish that I could be of more assistance, but placing a call is my only suggestion. Best wishes. Rotary Cutters | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Oops, I must have missed it, I was just looking on their site again and found this, that also states a 2" cut capacity for the 400 series? I wonder if maybe I should keep looking, although realistically, I'm not going to be cutting down trees with a brush cutter. I would assume the occasionaly 3" sapling wouldn't hurt this cutter but I just hate to spend the money on one and end up breaking something. I only have 40pto HP though and with the slip clutch I'd think the cutter could take whatever I could throw at it.

Rotary Cutters


Brown Rotary Cutters are engineered to give you years of dependable service and performance. Designed to be rugged machines that can handle heavy cutting, they are perfect for pasture clipping, and stalk cutting. The heavy construction is tough enough to cut heavy brush and trees up to 2" in diameter (4" for 600 series).

Easy cutting adjustments allow cutting heights from 2 to 12 inches. The heavy construction and balanced blade holder keeps vibration to a minimum and the open rear reduces clogging and stalling. For added operator safety, we've added a rubber shield on all of the "400" series rotary cutters and available options include a front and rear chain guard for the Series 460, 472, and 484.
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #5  
2" sounds ultra conservative. Bush Hog 290 series is 120HP gear box, and lighter deck and they are rated higher.
Unless the weight is too much for your tractor or the price too high, I would not hesitate to get the Brown. I would prefer to cut down 4" trees than push them over with my tractor and run them thru the cutter. Now heavy brush is a different matter, but it's rarely 4".
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing
  • Thread Starter
#6  
2" sounds ultra conservative. Bush Hog 290 series is 120HP gear box, and lighter deck and they are rated higher.
Unless the weight is too much for your tractor or the price too high, I would not hesitate to get the Brown. I would prefer to cut down 4" trees than push them over with my tractor and run them thru the cutter. Now heavy brush is a different matter, but it's rarely 4".

Thanks for the info, and your right, it certainly does sound conservative. I guess I'm a little skeptical simply because there isn't much information about these Brown cutters. It doesn't seem like many people have them, however, it looks like I may be able to make a deal with this Brown 472. A friend of mine owns it and he just doesn't use it anymore since he bought a Bush Hog 287 for his larger tractor. I'd love to hear some other opinions from anyone who has seen/used this rotary cutter before.
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #7  
The difference is whether you are cutting softwood or hardwood.

I have a 472 and I like it a lot. The 472 is virtually identical to a Bush Hog 286 - I think they were designed by the same guy or something. They even have the same little access door in the top deck for putting a socket drive onto the blade bolts.

I've cleared an area of 2-1/2" poplar (maybe 20ft tall) - which it did in 2 or 3 passes. Make sure subsequent passes are the same travel direction so leaning leftovers can't poke up through the engine bay.

The 472 will grind up 3-4" field pines, but not 3" hardwoods. For hard stuff like apple prunings, 2" is about the limit. Bigger than that is better saved out for the woodstove.
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Roger,
Where did you buy your 472? I see your from MA as well and I'm curious if there is a local dealer? I'd like to buy the "decal kit" for it if the stickers are banged up and faded. (I know they'll just get banged up and faded again but I like to freshen the look when I buy something used :D)

I imagine your 5450 handles the cutter great, what is your PTO hp? I have the minimum required to run that mower at 39pto hp. Do you think I'll be alright with that? I will mostly be using it in the woods, on smaller saplings and some small fields on overgrown fields, not really tall, thick overgrown grass/weeds, and the woods mowing I'm doing is more sporadically spaced saplings, not super thick.
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing #9  
I bought it new several years ago from Bacon's Kubota in Williamsburg, MA (west of Northampton on Rte 9) 413-268-3620. Yes the L5450 handles it very well, both for power and weight. The 472 is heavy enough that it will yank the L4610 around a bit - you may want to keep your FEL mounted so it doesn't feel so light in the front. Power-wise the 4610 should be fine unless you wade into a 30-foot-wide juniper or something - need a slow ground speed. Sometimes I've put the 472 on my L345 - it's over matched but it will cut grass ok. Take care, Dick B
 
   / BROWN 472 brush cutter max dismeter brush mowing
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Thanks Dick (for some reason I thought your name Roger).

I always keep my loader on with the grapple which should be plenty of weight to keep my front end down. Thanks for the input, your one of the few people it seems that have one of these.

Now I just need to sell my light duty mower!
 
 
 
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