What size bush hog for my tractor??

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> The front tires will actually come off the ground on occasion and when that happens, you just cant steer anymore. </font>

That is when steeering really gets fun with the brakes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif--Ken Sweet

 

[JCS_in_KY]

Thanks for all of the info so far. My tractor has the 12x12 trans. The weight on my 1533 should be about 5500 lbs with the loaded ag tires and the FEL. Tomorrow or the next day I'll take a couple of pictures of some areas I'd like to mow and see what you think. I'd like to go with the 6' if possible but it looks like I may need to stick with the 5'.
John

 

[greg_g]

I can relate to the fenceline concern, but you're probably better off using the riding mower up close regardless. I have a 72" swath behind my 66" wheel width, and still can't get close enough without risk of damage to the posts and/or slashing the bottom wire. Once I get the heavy stuff with the tractor, I'm back out with either the riding mower or the string trimmer for the finish work.

Because of your 26 PTO horsepower, my vote goes for the five footer. And if you've got reasonably level land, you can always narrow the wheel width. At least I think you can narrow a Massey.

//greg//

 

[JCS_in_KY]

I couldn't take any pictures today, we've been getting rain all day long. Maybe the 5' is the way to go. We've got a Grasshopper mower that I plan to use to get up around trees and it wouldn't take too long to mow around fences with it too. John

 

[BB_TX]

I run a 6' on 27 PTO hp on a tractor that weighs about 3500#. My mowing is mostly clean pasture now. But when I first started, I cut a LOT of brush and saplings along the creek and overgrown fence rows. I can run the pasture about as fast as I dare unless I let it grow too much. There are some parts of the lower pasture that the grass really gets thick and heavy if I let it go too long. In that part, I just slow down some or take smaller bites. But I am glad I bought the 6 footer.

 

[wolc123]

26 pto hp is definitely borderline on a 6-footer. If you have a gear trans, I would go for it as it is sure nice to cover the full tractor width with the cutter. You can always use a low gear in the thick stuff or take a partial cut. Increased power loss thru the transmission should limit you to a 5-footer if you have a hydro.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a 1260 Massey, 40hp, 33pto hp with a Land Pride 6 foot rotary cutter. My problem has never been bogging down even in fairly deep grass. I have always had problems with the temperature running too hot. Early on, I took it to the dealer who simply said the radiator was dirty. It does suck in a lot of debris. If it is really dry out, when I break for lunch, I will wash the radiator after it has cooled. With the FEL, I get by but really, I could use some more counter weight on occasion.

On a side note,I do most of my mowing with a 15' 3180 Woods batwing pulled with my 108hp Case. I took down some hedge rows in low gear already. Wow! It gets pretty radical!