HP difference between finish and rotary mower

[RoyJackson]

How important would you say it is for the cutter to be wider than the tractor? My TC24 is right at 48" (maybe an 1" more...cant recall right now). I was thinking that it might be good as I could mow right along side fence lines. I dont think these mowers can be offset...right?

Yep, that cutter should be wider...however, if you're running a lower HP tractor (say, the Kubota B7500) spacing the rear tires out for stability might be more important then the cutter or mower width. Personally, I think it's more important for the finishing mower to be wider to get close to the house, fence and such. Also, if your tractor's tire mash down the grass, a wider mower might lift the grass up a bit. My cutter work is on a powerline right of way, so I'm not overly concerned if the tires mash down the brush a bit.

If the tractor can handle a 60" cutter, that is the best all around size IMHO. My 790 could sure handle a larger finishing mower (got a 60" RFM), but the 60" rotary cutter is a great fit!

There are mowers and cutters that can be offset, but these are commercial units and pretty expensive. Probably cost prohibitive for residential or small farm work.

The 670 is a manual transmission (4 speeds plus reverse, high/low ranges) as is the 790. I just prefer gears.

 

[jimg]

Thanx!

 

[Keith_TN65]

Soundguy,

I think he is more concerned about the weight. I'd like to get a 84" (7') to at least be a little wider then the tires, but the dealer says the TN65 won't handle it. But if I wanted to go with a pull type, he said it would handle a 10' cutter. Too big and too pricey for me.

I used it once with my old 6 foot King Kutter and you couldn't even tell it was back there. Unfortunately, that old cutter needs replaced.

Keith

 

[Keith_TN65]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Keith: As for the 5hp/1' rule of thumb: If you search around the older threads you can find it. )</font>

I've since discovered that. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Not the first time I've leaped with out looking /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif, probably won't be the last. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Keith

 

[kemartin3]

Keith,

Have you looked at a bat-wing style cutter. My neighbor has a 10' one that he uses with a tractor no bigger than yours. I haven't seem him do it, but it also appears to be able to have one side flex up/down some while it is cutting. He used it to mow the edge of our shared road and the half that was hanging off of the road followed the bank as it changed from downhill to flat to uphill. I would have sworn he had used his sickle mower until one of the other neighbors told me "nope, used the bat." And because they don't stick so far out behind the machine (10' wide, but only about as long as a 5' or 6' cutter), the leverage isn't so bad.

Kevin

 

[Keith_TN65]

Kevin,

I don't think I really need any thing that big. Also, as soon as you go multiple gearboxes, the price increases dramatically. Too rich for my pocket book /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif . I probably end up just getting a 6 or 7 foot 26 series from Land Pride.

Keith

 

[AndyMA]

Keith

I went to the Bush Hog website and checked on minimum hp required for various rotary cutters.

Model 285 5' medium duty 30 min hp Model 305 5' heavy duty 30 hp
Model 286 6' medium duty 40 min hp Model 306 6' heavy duty 40 hp
Model 287 7' medium duty 50 min hp Model 307 7' heavy duty 60 hp lift 40 pull

At least Bush Hog's specs show a difference in hp requirements for medium and heavy duty 7' units

Andy

 

[RedDog]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( TN65 with 47 PTO HP should be able to handle a 9' rotary cutter I don't think so. My dealer seems to think a 6 foot rotary cutter is all I should )</font>

I think I would get a new dealer.. My dealer told me my NH 1920 will pull a 6' cutter...

47 pto hp is pretty decent.. I would think you could at least get an 8' back there..

Soundguy )</font>



I think he should be able to do way better than that!!

What is it with these "high horse power ratings" to run a mower? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Do they need these high HP ratings because people are "scalping" their grass?

I have a 12' Bush-hog cutter that I mow my parents field once or twice a year. I do not have it set real low, but my old Massey Ferguson 65 (gas) handle it with ease! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I mowed in high range without any problems. I'm thinking that Massey was around 40 PTO HP.

Now if the field was a little smoother,,,,, I would be in "road gear" with the Kioti /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


I'm actually thinking of selling my Landpride 7' finish mower, because I like the 12' Bush-hog so well,,, not to mention the less time it takes to mow.


RedDog

 

[jimg]

Good question...HOW do they come up w/ these hp recommendations??? Id be interested to see what the list consists of. Its not limited to just mowers either.

 

[Keith_TN65]

Thanks for the info Andy. Land Pride's literature also shows different minimum horsepower requirements for Standard, Medium, and Heavy duty cutters.

One thing I find interesting is that the minimum HP requirement for the 7' Land Pride medium duty 3 point rotary cutter is 60, while the minimum HP requirement for the 7' drag medium duty is only 30.

Keith