Re: 6 or 7\' brush-hog on an L4400
Gotta agree with HEC, zkubota. A 6 footer is about right for 40-50 HP tractors. The 6' BB720 I use on my L4300 is almost too much from a weight standpoint, but just about right for size. The standard duty BB72 would've been a better match.
A lot depends on what you're going to cut with it. If just keeping a pasture knocked down, you might get away with a 7 footer, but stick to a standard/light duty model to keep weight down....and watch out for those fenceposts. The overhang could get you in trouble.
If you're cutting heavy growth grasses like orchard grass, 6 foot is about the max for 45HP. The tractor will get a good workout, but you should still be able to keep your speed up. Again, go with standard/light duty for fewer hassles.
If you're trying to reclaim overgrown land with lots of heavy, woody growth, 6 ft. would be the absolute maximum and you might want to look into a medium duty cutter. They can handle woody growth up to 2 inches, so 1 inch saplings aren't much of a challenge.
If your land is flat or fairly even, you can pull a heavy 3-pt. cutter using only the lower lift arms....leave the toplink off. This eliminates most of the heavy lifting as the mower's tailwheel stays in contact with the ground and supports about half of the mower's weight. When doing this, the tailwheel is set to hold the back of the mower fairly high; well above the height you wish to cut to and high enough to clear any obstacles you might mow over. You will then regulate the height of the cut with the 3-pt. hitch by raising and lowering the front of the mower. However, on uneven land, this can be a recipe for scalping. It doesn't make for the most even cut either.
FWIW
Bob
