Lowery Mfg (LMC) Rotary Cutters?

[Olympus]

I'm in the process of selling my 4ft County Line cutter I got from TSC. I've hated that thing since I bought it. It's cheap and thin metal and the sides are too high so it doesn't cut as short as I want. The sides are thin sheet metal and they've gotten bent. And 4ft is not big enough to cover my wheel tracks on my LS 2023 tractor.

I've been looking at the LMC Andy 500 cutter and it looks heavier built and seems to have what looks like an I beam for the side rails instead of thin sheet metal and looks beefier than my County Line cutter. Does anyone have any experience with LMC cutters, good or bad?

 

[Areeves08]

From just a quick glance at their website, it doesn't look like enough of an improvement over the County Line to be worth it. Why not look at the leading brands like Bush Hog, Woods, and Land Pride? A 5' cutter seems like a lot for just 17.5 PTO HP.

 

[Olympus]

Their website isn't much, but I can tell you that the cutter itself is a lot beefier and better built than my current County Line. I'm not looking at Bush Hog, Woods, or Land Pride because they are about twice the price. I have 4 acres that I use a brush hog for that is what I call "woods" but I've thinned it out so much that only the mature trees are left, so the ground gets enough sun to grow a lot of weeds, but not thick like a pasture. I'd prefer to just use a finish mower, but there are lots of small stumps and what I call "stobbs" that a finish mower would not last very long. It's too rough for a finish mower, but not really thick enough for a brush hog. But there are roots, stobbs, and stumps on the ground as well as good size limbs that fall out of the trees that I need a heavier duty cutter. The weeds never get thick enough to put any kind of strain on the tractor, so my dealer says that a 5ft cutter would work just fine for my purposes.

 

[LD1]

I agree, the Andy500 dont look like much of a step up from country line, if any.

Light duty, 12ga top, only says 6" channel sides( but how thick is the channel)??? No bearings in the tail wheel, only a bushing, No slip clutch option, etc.

 

[Olympus]

I've seen them and can tell you the LMC is heavier built, especially the sides. I'm really looking for anyone who actually has one or has had one.

 

[LD1]

I dont have one and have never seen one, so I am of limited use.

But I will say, I dont like MFG's of implements that dont list detailed specs.

The TSC unit, I know used to be made by tartar. Their standard duty stuff had 14ga top and 11ga (1/8") side bands. If the 4' cutter you have happens to be their "sub-compact" line (usually painted orange instead of yellow), its only got 13ga sides.

There is limited info on the LMC. Just what does "6 inch channel sides" mean? Is it just 11ga rolled to channel configuration? or is it actually a common channel iron size?

One of the important specs IMO when it comes to a cutter, especially if you want it to cut grass well, is blade tip speed. Neither LMC or TSC list that tidbit. If they would at least give gearbox ratio, one could figure it.

I know that my cutter with 10,200fpm blade speed dont cut grasses well at all. My cutter that is 12,400 is better, but not great. Havent tried a cutter up in the 15-17k range, but am currently shopping myself.

Is there a reason you arent considering Landpride, woods, bushhog, etc. Any of the well know brands? Not likely to find someone with much experience with the lesser know brands. Heres some comparisons..

Brand/model.................Weight.........Blade tip speed..........Deck thickness...........Side thickness........gearbox HP
Landpride RCR1260.........478#.............16,536.......................12ga..........................???..................50HP
Landpride RCR1860.........599#............16,363.......................10ga.........................10ga..................???
Woods BB60x...................604#.............14,355......................?..................................?.....................65HP
Woods HC60.....................534#............14,355......................11ga..........................11ga................65HP
Bushhog BH5....................491#............15,497.....................12ga....................8" channel, 10ga........60HP
Bushhog BH15..................636#............14,369......................11ga..........................11ga..................45hp
LMC Andy 500.................?????............?????........................12ga.....................6" channel???...........40hp

 

[Olympus]

Price is why I'm not considering big name brands.

 

[LD1]

Price is why I'm not considering big name brands.

Have you priced them? And vs the LMC? What kind of prices were you getting? or are you just assuming they are too much $$$

 

[Olympus]

LMC Andy 500 is $770. Everything else is $1000 or more.

 

[LD1]

I would be leary. Sometimes you do get what you pay for. Where did they cut corners to get price down? How much does the Andy 500 weigh? thats a good reference to how well its built. If something goes wrong, is there gonna be an issue getting parts.

Have you considered shopping for a used cutter? For a $700-$800 budget, you should be able to get a real nice cutter.
5ft Woods bush hog
5 foot 3 point brush hog
5ft bush hog
5 ft Howse bushhog
Ford Brushhog
http://carbondale.craigslist.org/grq/5626597856.html

Any of those close to you?