which 6' rotary cutter by HP rating would be good for me??

[RoMad]

I have been looking at rotary cutters for my new (to me) tractor. It is a Kubota L3710. As I have been looking at them I have learned that some are rated for 40HP and some 65HP or 75HP and some are much heavier built than others.

What I mow is pasture that is mostly bahai grass about a foot tall and a few weeds and an occasional small tree up to about 1" diameter. I currently have a 52" cutter that looks silly on my new tractor and I can't get close to anything with it.

I have a couple of questions:
1. Does a heavier duty cutter with a 75HP rating verses a 40HP rating work my tractor harder just to spin the heavier components?
2. For what I do, wouldn't a medium duty cutter work just fine?

I plan on buying a used one, but I don't want to save a few dollars on a super heavy duty cutter that may be harder on my tractor in the long run.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[nybirdman]

The HP rating is for the gear box,higher is better.Just means it's a stronger gear box and makes no difference to your tractor..Even if buying used find out what the cutter weighs,too much will tax your three point .
I just purchased a Landpride 6ft.that has a gear box rated for 65 HP and weighs 719lbs;considered a medium duty.My tractor is 37 HP at the PTO.More weight means more steel is used and heavier duty.
When I was looking for a six ft.cutter ,the weights ranged from 519lbs to 1200 lbs.,light duty to extremely heavy duty.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Just about any rotary mower that's rated for the same hp as your tractor would work for what your doing a little heavier is better I had a L3700 and used a 5 ft bush hog I tend to stay with a mower that is no wider than my tractor so if I can get my tractor thru then the mower will go thru ok and not hang up.
the grass in Fl. you said is mostly Bahia but and it shoots up fairly quick and is tough to mow with a bushhog style mower if you are not cutting thick brush and small trees then think about a finish style mower they make some for pastures.
I am considering a flail instead of a rotary. Used mowers are hard to find in Fl. because the mowing season is so long they tend to be well used. Good Luck

 

[buickanddeere]

Keeping the front wheels on the ground will be primary concern if it's a beefy rotary cutter.
Try to avoid cutting until late in summer. We regularly hear near city folk who move to the country and mow the whole place down to a lawn. Then they wail about those nasty farmers and hunter killing off all the cute little wild animals.
It was the land owner that chopped up the habitat and you animals in the nests that caused the problem .

 

[jeff9366]

Make sure the R/Cs you consider are shock protected with either a Shear Bolt or Slip Clutch.

Simple Shear Bolt protection may be preferable if you buy a used R/C which has been stored outside.

Slip Clutch protection is perhaps preferable if the R/C has been stored inside so slip clutch is not corroded.

 

[RoMad]

Thank you for your replies. The one I looked at was an old Bush hog brand and it looked like it weighed at least 1000lbs. It was an easy decision since the top needed replacing due to rust and he said his botom dollar was $850
I will keep looking.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Thank you for your replies. The one I looked at was an old Bush hog brand and it looked like it weighed at least 1000lbs. It was an easy decision since the top needed replacing due to rust and he said his botom dollar was $850
I will keep looking.

Smart decision. No reason to pay someone $850 just to make their problem your problem.

 

[WALT]

Along with the previous replies, here are some additional things to consider with a rotary cutter:

1. A rule of thumb is 5 hp per foot of cutter, so you should comfortably run a 72" cutter with your (30+) PTO hp. especially cutting mostly grass.
2. If you are using it near animals, people or traffic, chain shielding guards offer more protection than rubber guards against flying objects from the cutter.
3. Woods brush bull cutters offer easy blade removal for sharpening or replacement, from the top, vs. working from under the cutter deck.
4. Brush cutters take a beating in use, it is better to err to the heavier side, instead of being disappointed by a light duty model.
5. Look with a careful eye at a used rotary cutter, unless you know the history of its use. Your post indicates you have seen an example of this already.

WALT

 

[HEC]

I would go at least med. duty which ever brand you choose . It doesn't take hardly anymore HP to run a med. duty over a light duty . The blades will be just a bit heavier . I have a 20 plus yr. old 6 ft. med. duty bush hog that is still going strong and it sees considerable use .

 

[RoMad]

Medium duty it is. Since all of my mowing is done for now and I am keeping my 52" cutter until I find a 6' one I should be able to be patient and find a good used one.