Can you buy too heavy of a rotary cutter?

[LD1]

As others said, it's not too much. Just do as already mentioned. 1. Make sure slip clutch is set properly. 2. Make sure the tailwheels is on the ground when mowing to take weight off. 3. Have to leave loader on, or stack up some front suitcase weights.

 

[JimCan]

S-N, I don't have a pine forest with, hopefully, nice clean rows, but I just sold a heavy steel bush hog with bigass/thick blades that I pulled with a Ferguson 40 for 20+yrs and the last few with a 40hp Deere. I'd guess when I went over a largish downed limb (pine, oak, maple, gum, cherry) that 70% of the time the bush hog would de-bark the top edge and leave the rest. The only reason I am replying is that I just got a med/light (I imagine..) duty Caroni Flail and am kicking myself for not having looked into these years ago. Mine may not be suitable for the large limbs you have, but pine is certainly a lot more 'wreckable' than Cherry or Oak. I manually pull the big stuff out of the woods - I'm german/polish - I like the work.

Jim

I just posted this in the flail thread.. I found I can mulch'ish leaves and pine shats from around the house I normally 'dump' back here.

 

[SammyNole]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am backing off this mower, because it is a former county mower, and I just got prices for a replacement gearbox, just in case. They list at around $1100, so I think I may be better off looking at a more reasonable standard/medium duty Woods. I have been kicking the idea of flails around, too, but everyone I have talked with have steered me toward the rotary cutter.

 

[DieselBound]

That rotary was more than what you really needed. I don't think that I'd want to be near a lot of 4" stuff being cut up, not for very long! And, the BB6000X's blade tip speed is quite a bit slower than their "Medium Duty" BB600x (13,575 vs 15,525), something that would factor more in cutting grass. Differences in weight of almost 300 lbs.

If you go rotary then a "Medium Duty" (3" dia) is likely going to be plenty for you. I believe the "cut" ratings are based on being able to cut up to 10 items of that diameter at one time: that's what someone on this forum had stated.

 

[leonz]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am backing off this mower, because it is a former county mower, and I just got prices for a replacement gearbox, just in case. They list at around $1100, so I think I may be better off looking at a more reasonable standard/medium duty Woods. I have been kicking the idea of flails around, too, but everyone I have talked with have steered me toward the rotary cutter.

=========================================================================

And why are "they" telling you to avoid flail mowers?????

Are "they" trying to sell you a rotary cutter?? If that is the case they only
want to make sale.

Do they own and operate and maintain them?

If they do own and operate them why do they dislike them?

Telling you to avoid a flail mower as an viable option for your
use is just hearsay, especially if they do not own or operate them.

Before you totally disregard flailmowers please PM DoctorJay
who is near Ocala, Fla.and ask him about his Caroni Flail Mower
and tell him Leon sent you to him.

He is running his Caroni flail mower on his third season know from
what I remember.

Its up to you, I do not have my hand on your wallet.

I am not smiling and blinking my eyes at you while
I am telling you investing in a flail mower as an implement
should be avoided and you should buy a rotary cutter instead.


If you have time look at the flail mower thread and do some reading.

 

[DieselBound]

If you have time look at the flail mower thread and do some reading.

Yes, it's educational. It helped me decide that I need and want a rotary more than a flail (for now).

 

[ovrszd]

=========================================================================

And why are "they" telling you to avoid flail mowers?????

Are "they" trying to sell you a rotary cutter?? If that is the case they only
want to make sale.

Do they own and operate and maintain them?

If they do own and operate them why do they dislike them?

Telling you to avoid a flail mower as an viable option for your
use is just hearsay, especially if they do not own or operate them.

Before you totally disregard flailmowers please PM DoctorJay
who is near Ocala, Fla.and ask him about his Caroni Flail Mower
and tell him Leon sent you to him.

He is running his Caroni flail mower on his third season know from
what I remember.

Its up to you, I do not have my hand on your wallet.

I am not smiling and blinking my eyes at you while
I am telling you investing in a flail mower as an implement
should be avoided and you should buy a rotary cutter instead.


If you have time look at the flail mower thread and do some reading.

Just stop. He doesn't need a Flail.

 

[LD1]

Flails:
Cut slower, require more HP for a given width, are more expensive, cost more to maintain.

On the plus side.....they are safer as there is less risk of throwing debris, and they "can" leave a better finish.

 

[DieselBound]

I'd also add, based on hearing actual accountings from others, flails are prone to damage from rocks. Having sliced many a rock with my "Light Duty" rotary (and in 6 years I'd NEVER replaced the blades- only sharpened once or twice- still looked pretty good when I recently sold it) I can appreciate the robustness of rotaries to hold up to rocks!

 

[bilrus61]

Go buy a landpride 1860. Service it's clutch. Now......go try to tear it up......when you do you can then buy the heavier duty mower. That will be a VERY long time from now.