King Kutter rotary mower rumor

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I just got a King Kutter rotary mower and mentioned that to some young friends of mine who farm. Knowing my five footer is a relative toy to them, I said something about it being cheap but probably good enough for what I needed to do.

One of them immediately jumped on me for that comment. I was told that for a rotary cutter, the King Kutter would be about the best I could get. The reason they gave was that there had been some governmental regulation on blade speed the reduced the speeds from what they had been but that King Kutter was somehow 'grandfathered' in and exempted from the rule and that they had a higher blade speed by far and, hence, were going to be superior mowers.

I took it as an interesting story but am not sure how much credence to give it. Has anyone else heard this tale? Is there any basis in fact for it or not? I already have my mower so it's not like I'm basing a buying decision on this but I was curious, nonetheless.

 

[Alan L.]

I never heard that, but if its true they should be including that in their promotions. I would find it hard to believe the government would care about blade speeds of rotary cutters, but then, they get into alot of our other business they should stay out of, so who knows?

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue">…governmental regulation on blade speed… but that King Kutter was somehow 'grandfathered' in and exempted…</font>

Ahhhh… sounds like a sea story… /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Over the years, when the auto manufacturers were required to install seat belts and air bags, along with many other mandatory safety items due to ‘new” safety regulations imposed by Uncle Sam… I never seen any exemptions…

My Brown rotary cutter is about 3 years old… and is (202.3 mph) 17,803 fpm blade tip speed with safety labels all over it…

I would think when it comes to safety… it would be very tough for any exemption… /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

That was certainly my first thought. I don't think this guy is the kind to fabricate a story like this but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been taken in by it and was passing it along as fact as a result.

In either event, I'm happy with my KK rotary cutter, higher blade RPM or not. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Now I just need to get my chain guards made for it. I was given 8' of stainless rod yesterday for a chain hanger. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I went to TSC to buy my chain only to find they were down to just a couple yards left in their barrel. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Isn't that always the way? I never considered the chain to be the tough to get part of the project. It's probably just as well. I'm kind of under the weather today, anyhow. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bird]

I haven't heard of any federal regulation on blade tip speed for rotary cutters (brush hogs), but I had a lawnmower dealer tell me there was a federal regulation on blade tip speed for lawnmowers (I've been unable to confirm that), but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission did issue these lawnmower regulations for walk behind mowers several years ago. There are so many regulations that I wouldn't be surprised to find there is one for rotary cutter blade tip speed, but I would be surprised if any manufacturer were grandfathered on that point. I wonder what KingKutter blade tip speeds are. Bush Hog manuals show the blade tip speeds on their models, but I don't know whether other manufacturers do or not.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Some Differences between Farm and Consumer…

CPSC Farm Equipment Legal Opinion…

CPSC Does Not Have Jurisdiction Over All Products

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Some Differences between Farm and Consumer )</font>

Sure are some differences, and so many government regulations either way that no one knows them all. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[knucklehead]

<font color="blue">.....when the auto manufacturers were required to install seat belts and air bags, along with many other mandatory safety items due to new safety regulations imposed by Uncle Sam; I never seen any exemptions</font>

'cept school busses - carrying the most precious cargo - one of my favorite examples of bureaucratic foolishness.

 

[knucklehead]

Gary - hope you feel better!

 

[Buster57]

Hi John,

Phil Campbell was Undersecretary of Agriculture under Nixon and Ford (the time of the attached memo). About the only thing about regulation he told me, several times, was that at the USDA it was never ending. I suspect the CPSC is similar in their "big brotherhood."

Blade tip speed regulation is common in lawn mowers because of “safety shield penetration” or some kind of stuff like that. Not from the USDA, but sounds like something they would think up.

As far as KK being grandfathered in on some blade tip regulation, I doubt they were in business when that regulation came into being.

KK is a very good product for the price. I am sure who ever buys one will likely be very pleased with it, but the story about the Ag Department or CPSC and KK is extremely far fetched to me.