Help with chosing rotary mower size

[tiogajoe]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be purchasing a 4 or 5 foot rotary mower. I have a Kioti CK2510 that has just a tick under 20hp at the PTO. I will be mowing 3 to 5 acres of mostly twistle and golden rod some thorn apple here and there. Anything over 11/2" I will remove with the FEL. Once I mow this area I don't plan on letting it get over grown again....probaly will keep after it by mowing a couple times a season. I'm leaning toward the Kodiak brand standard duty mower. They are rated at being able to cut up to 11/2" diameter material. The 4 ft mower is $1166 down the road including a slip clutch and the 5 ft is $1272 w/ slip clutch. I have no fence line to mow against and I have all the time in the world to get the job done. My main concern is beating up my machine w/ too large of a mower. My dealer also sells woods mowers. The brushbull models are 1650 and 1950 for the 4 and 5 footer with slip clutches. I think the Brushbull is a nice mower but would be way overkill after the first cutting. The only woods mower I may consider is the HC54. My tractor is 51 inches wide and this mower seems like a nice compromise? I also can purchase a lightly used Frontier Rc2060. It has the chains in front and rear and no slip clutch for $1000. Any input would be appreciated. I'm wet behind the ears on this stuff so I'm trying to learn as much as I can.:thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

I'd opt for the larger 60" cutter. Your tractor is physically big enough to handle it just fine.

No matter what you buy, it will be slower going the first time, but once under control, 5' will likely be faster. Cause once maintained, with a 4' cutter, you will likely be slowing down because of rough terrain or because you are overrunning the cutter and not cause of lack of power. Thus a 5' would be better.

And given your 51" width, a 5' cutter will allow you to actually mow along edges, fencerows, and next to trees.

Alot of people think that if you cannot maintain 5MPH that the cutter is too big. I dont buy into that theory. As long as the cutter isnt too heavy for the machine, go as big as you can. I'd rather run a 8' cutter at 2.5MPH than a 4' cutter at 5MPH. Even though time to cut an acre is the same, going slower makes for a smoother ride. I run a 6' heavy cutter on my 29HP PTO and wish I had an 8'. I have never cut anything that required me to slow down below 3rd gear, and only in the thickest of thick, do I use 3rd gear. But there are a ton of times I have to slow down just cause the rough terrain. If they werent so heavy and unable to trailer without a permit, I'd be looking for a 10' cutter.

 

[LD1]

I'd opt for the larger 60" cutter. Your tractor is physically big enough to handle it just fine.

No matter what you buy, it will be slower going the first time, but once under control, 5' will likely be faster. Cause once maintained, with a 4' cutter, you will likely be slowing down because of rough terrain or because you are overrunning the cutter and not cause of lack of power. Thus a 5' would be better.

And given your 51" width, a 5' cutter will allow you to actually mow along edges, fencerows, and next to trees.

Alot of people think that if you cannot maintain 5MPH that the cutter is too big. I dont buy into that theory. As long as the cutter isnt too heavy for the machine, go as big as you can. I'd rather run a 8' cutter at 2.5MPH than a 4' cutter at 5MPH. Even though time to cut an acre is the same, going slower makes for a smoother ride. I run a 6' heavy cutter on my 29HP PTO and wish I had an 8'. I have never cut anything that required me to slow down below 3rd gear, and only in the thickest of thick, do I use 3rd gear. But there are a ton of times I have to slow down just cause the rough terrain. If they werent so heavy and unable to trailer without a permit, I'd be looking for a 10' cutter.

 

[HEC]

I have exactly the same pto hp you have and my dealer suggested the 5 ft. and that's what i bought . If you keep the fel on that will off set any rc weight issue . I only cut tall grass ( 12 inches or so ) with mine and the tractor does fine with that . Many will say the 4 ft. or 4 1/2 ft. is best and they may be right ,especially if someone is always going to be in heavy stuff which it seems you will not be after your first cut .I would now prefer the 4 1/2 but that was not a choice for me at the time ,as I feel the 5 ft. med. duty cutter is right at the max for my tractor. The hp. is not so much the issue as it is the weight of the cutter compared to the weight and stability of the tractor itself .

 

[LD1]

I have exactly the same pto hp you have and my dealer suggested the 5 ft. and that's what i bought . If you keep the fel on that will off set any rc weight issue . I only cut tall grass ( 12 inches or so ) with mine and the tractor does fine with that . Many will say the 4 ft. or 4 1/2 ft. is best and they may be right ,especially if someone is always going to be in heavy stuff which it seems you will not be after your first cut .I would now prefer the 4 1/2 but that was not a choice for me at the time ,as I feel the 5 ft. med. duty cutter is right at the max for my tractor. The hp. is not so much the issue as it is the weight of the cutter compared to the weight and stability of the tractor itself .

if you are talking about your B2650, his bare tractor is about 500# heavier. He should not have any weight/stability issues with a 5' cutter

 

[tiogajoe]

Thanks for all the replies! I agree that once I get things cut for the first time the mower would be used almost loke a finish mower. As far as weight I think my tractor is about 2300lbs. w/o the loader?

 

[motownbrowne]

If you want a look more like a finish mower, a flail mower will be much better for that. If you will only need the bush hog for the first cutting, I'd vote for borrow or rent one, then buy a flail for the rest of your mowing. Just a thought. Regarding your original question, I'd go for the 5' either with bush hog or flail.

 

[LD1]

If he only plans to mow a few times a year, then I wouldnt get a flail. And even if I did, it wouldnt be a 5'. They use a ton of HP. They are a nice bridge between a finish mower and a rotary cutter IMO. Stuff that is a little thick for a finish mower, but not quite bushhog territory is where they shine. Something like 8-10" grass and not too dense.

Let it go a little to long in the spring, and get 18" thick grass, and a flail is gonna be alot slower

 

[HEC]

Thanks for all the replies! I agree that once I get things cut for the first time the mower would be used almost loke a finish mower. As far as weight I think my tractor is about 2300lbs. w/o the loader?

Sounds like a 5 ft. will be a good match .

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I'd vote for the 5' also. If you get into the thick stuff, keep in mind that you don't have to take a full 5' wide cut if you don't want to (except on the first pass). You can always let a foot or so of your cutter hang out over what you've already cut so you're only cutting 4' +/- of new material.

So, in effect, you can make a 5' cutter act like a 4' one, but not vise versa.