light or med cutter for mostly grass?

   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #1  
FamilyFarm

FamilyFarm

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Joined
Jul 10, 2002
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476
Location
Crane, MO
Tractor
Kubota L4740HST, Kubota RTV 1140 Camo
I will soon be purchasing a larger tractor (32-45 pto hp) and a few implements. I am planning to use a rotary cutter for clearing part of my 25 acres, but also plan to use it long term as a "finish" mower for about 8 acres.
Very little of the brush, etc. that I need to clear is over 1 in dia. stuff. Most of it is just tall grass that needs to be cut to reclaim the pasture. Obviously once the rocks and junk get cleared, it will be easy mowing. The 8 acre parcel I have to clean up is tall grass and rocks that I have to get out first.
The bottom line question: will a lighter duty (700 lb) cutter do as good on tall grass as a med duty (1000 lb) cutter? I know the heavier duty cutter will handle larger brush better, but will it actually cut the tall grass any better? I don't want to spend the extra dollars only to find out I don't really need it!
Thanks!
Terry
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass?
  • Thread Starter
#2  
I will soon be purchasing a larger tractor (32-45 pto hp) and a few implements. I am planning to use a rotary cutter for clearing part of my 25 acres, but also plan to use it long term as a "finish" mower for about 8 acres.
Very little of the brush, etc. that I need to clear is over 1 in dia. stuff. Most of it is just tall grass that needs to be cut to reclaim the pasture. Obviously once the rocks and junk get cleared, it will be easy mowing. The 8 acre parcel I have to clean up is tall grass and rocks that I have to get out first.
The bottom line question: will a lighter duty (700 lb) cutter do as good on tall grass as a med duty (1000 lb) cutter? I know the heavier duty cutter will handle larger brush better, but will it actually cut the tall grass any better? I don't want to spend the extra dollars only to find out I don't really need it!
Thanks!
Terry
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #3  
Terry, in my opinion, the light duty cutter will do just as well. I had a Bush Hog Squealer, rated for 1" stuff, and have cut some brush 2" in diameter with no damage. My cousin also has a Squealer and the salesman who delivered it, along with a new tractor, promptly went to mowing 2 to 3" stuff with it. Later I had a light duty Howse 500, rated only for grass and weeds, which is what I needed to mow. I did mow quite a few small mesquite bushes and some small cedars (juniper) with it, but mostly 1" or less. And I've mowed Johnson Grass that was over 6' tall with each of them. In fact, I suspect the light duty ones actually may do better on grass and weeds because the blades are not as thick. I know everything I mowed looked a lot better than what the highway crews were doing with their heavier duty rigs.
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #4  
Terry, in my opinion, the light duty cutter will do just as well. I had a Bush Hog Squealer, rated for 1" stuff, and have cut some brush 2" in diameter with no damage. My cousin also has a Squealer and the salesman who delivered it, along with a new tractor, promptly went to mowing 2 to 3" stuff with it. Later I had a light duty Howse 500, rated only for grass and weeds, which is what I needed to mow. I did mow quite a few small mesquite bushes and some small cedars (juniper) with it, but mostly 1" or less. And I've mowed Johnson Grass that was over 6' tall with each of them. In fact, I suspect the light duty ones actually may do better on grass and weeds because the blades are not as thick. I know everything I mowed looked a lot better than what the highway crews were doing with their heavier duty rigs.
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #5  
I'll certainly second Bird on this one. A light duty mower should do you just fine. Think of it this way. The first time you cut it, you may, once-in-a-while, need to take a smaller bite, but once you've cut it all and gotten it under control, you will have just what you need without having spent more money.

I have a light duty Howse Mower that I use on 1" and greater stuff, but I'm a patient person and SLOWLY back into material and let the mower ease into the cuts, sometimes taking up to a minute or two to finish cutting through thich saplings. The cutter doesn't suffer because it's only cutting small amounts at one time.

Then the next time I cut the same area, I just fly through the area without having to spend much time on it. Save your money.

John
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #6  
I'll certainly second Bird on this one. A light duty mower should do you just fine. Think of it this way. The first time you cut it, you may, once-in-a-while, need to take a smaller bite, but once you've cut it all and gotten it under control, you will have just what you need without having spent more money.

I have a light duty Howse Mower that I use on 1" and greater stuff, but I'm a patient person and SLOWLY back into material and let the mower ease into the cuts, sometimes taking up to a minute or two to finish cutting through thich saplings. The cutter doesn't suffer because it's only cutting small amounts at one time.

Then the next time I cut the same area, I just fly through the area without having to spend much time on it. Save your money.

John
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #7  
You mention rocks...? How many? How big? What's the chances of hitting a few when first mowing the place?

If you beat up a new mower on the VERY FIRST cut, it will live (or not) with that damage for the rest of its usefull life.

I bought a Bush Hog 286 in Feb. While at the dealer, I looked over (and seriously considered) the SQ series (72") The biggest difference I see in the two was the deck bracing. That comes in to play when you start hitting solid objects with the mower blades. The SQ series also comes equipped with lighter duty blades too.
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #8  
You mention rocks...? How many? How big? What's the chances of hitting a few when first mowing the place?

If you beat up a new mower on the VERY FIRST cut, it will live (or not) with that damage for the rest of its usefull life.

I bought a Bush Hog 286 in Feb. While at the dealer, I looked over (and seriously considered) the SQ series (72") The biggest difference I see in the two was the deck bracing. That comes in to play when you start hitting solid objects with the mower blades. The SQ series also comes equipped with lighter duty blades too.
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #9  
I agree with most of the others... The LD cutter.. probably a 6'er in your case, should do fine.. DO try to remove rocks before cutting. Once you are down to 'finish' maintenance, you can sharpent he hog blades just a tad, and you will get a 'closer' to finish lawn appearance. No golf course work.. but almost as good a cut as an average cheapy rider mower..

I've got a 5' KK mower that is 6 years old.. has cut 2" woody stuff on occasion.. and 2.5" green for sure.. mostly 1" stuff and tall weeds like dog fennel and rag weed, pluss 2" tall bahia , has hit it's share of ant mounds.. rocks.. etc.. sheared a few pins.... works fine.. no leaks...

Soundguy
 
   / light or med cutter for mostly grass? #10  
I agree with most of the others... The LD cutter.. probably a 6'er in your case, should do fine.. DO try to remove rocks before cutting. Once you are down to 'finish' maintenance, you can sharpent he hog blades just a tad, and you will get a 'closer' to finish lawn appearance. No golf course work.. but almost as good a cut as an average cheapy rider mower..

I've got a 5' KK mower that is 6 years old.. has cut 2" woody stuff on occasion.. and 2.5" green for sure.. mostly 1" stuff and tall weeds like dog fennel and rag weed, pluss 2" tall bahia , has hit it's share of ant mounds.. rocks.. etc.. sheared a few pins.... works fine.. no leaks...

Soundguy
 
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