Looking for bush hog/rotary mower

   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #11  
I ran a 5' rotary cutter on a very early (late 1947) Ford 8N that had only 22hp, and it was fine. Sure, if I got in really deep stuff that hadn't been cut in a while I'd have to slow down, but it wasn't terrible.

Keep in mind that 4' cutters are often more expensive than 5' models. If you try a 5' model and you think the tractor is struggling, you can always sell it pretty easily and go for a 4' model.
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #12  
We have run a 5' cutter on our B7500 (19HP, 16PTO HP). It does well in light stuff, but you have to slow way down in heavy stuff.
It makes the front of the tractor a little light when you try to lift the mower, but if you disconnect the toplink, it does ok.
The L3830 hardly notices that mower back there though.

Aaron Z
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower
  • Thread Starter
#13  
Interesting that the 4' would be more expensive. They are certainly harder to find in the looking that I have done. Thanks to this site just found a relatively local dealer that seems to have a ton of used equipment. Much better than the guy selling them from his front yard that I have seen.

As for it making the front end light can't I just pick up some rocks or something with the FEL to offset?
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #14  
I have a Kioti CK20 with 22-hp and 15-hp at the PTO. The manual says max width for a rotary mower is 4' with manual transmission and 5' with a hydro. I asked the dealer about the difference and he said that with the hydro, even though it is less hp, if it starts to bog down you will let up on the pedal and slow down. Also you must mow in low range and it is not fast. So I bought the 5' mower and have never regretted it. Basically anything I can get my little brute to push over or ride over I mow over. Sometimes it sounds like a small war going on under the cutter, and I wouldn't want to be standing within 200', but I've only choked it down two or three times in the last five years. In a regular field it is pedal to the metal in low range ALL the time.

Now the CK20 is a slow little tractor with a two speed hydro. A tractor with more hp and weight might need the same size mower if it moved faster. But I am happy like mine is.

I would not waste my money on a 4' rotary mower. Not with your hp.

We use an old heavy duty Ford 6' behind a 52-hp Ford 4600. That tractor is twice as fast as my little one while mowing. I can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. But a smaller, lower hp, and much slower tractor would also pull the same mower. We have used a 10" behind the Ford but had to go very slow and it was not productive. Also hard on clutch engaging the mower.

I want to point out something else to somebody looking for a tractor to bushhog with. The larger the tire diameter the better off you are. The 4600's tires are shoulder high, the CK20's are waist high. The difference in ride across a rough field is astonishing. I can mow with the Ford comfortably at speeds that would be unbearable on the Kioti. I usually take the Kioti around the edges, pushing fallen limbs out of the way and tearing low hanging ones off with the loader. Have wife or mother (91-year old, can't keep her off the tractor) on the more comfortable Ford. Then I stay on the opposite side of the field from them because that Ford will throw stuff a longggggg way.

RSKY
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #15  
I'd get a 5'. I pull a 5' with a ck25 and a L2550. Both tractors handle it fine. If someone gave me a 6' I'd retire the 5' and use it.
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #16  
Typed my previous post in a hurry so let me clear it up a little. Get the wider mower and drive slower if you have to. You will be more comfortable if the field is rough. You will get a better cut too. Speed is bad on a small tractor in a rough field. I think a 4' mower on anything with 20+ hp is just a waste of money.
 
   / Looking for bush hog/rotary mower #17  
Do yourself a favor and take a look at flail mowers. Not only do they do a much better job, spreading the clippings evenly, but they are safer, and are much more compact so they are better suited to small compact tractors. Just make sure you are looking at a quality brand. In most cases, regardless of color, the best machines are made either in Italy or Germany.
 
 
 
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