Bush Hog advice

[IslandTractor]

Dealer emphasized that the tractor would get light in the front end when hogging uphill, with the 3ph.

That is only true if you have the mower lifted off the ground or have the toplink tight. A rotary mower is designed to carry about half it's weight on the tailwheel. There is some weight on the side links but those are pretty close to the rear axle and wouldn't have much lever arm to unweight the front wheels.

 

[Redgoatea]

I have some very hilly terrain that I've been discovering with my 6' BH. I have my tires set four inches wider than the hog so I won't snag unseen objects in the brush. I'm also glad the hog isn't wider as I've already scalped a fair bit of bumps, mole hills and rugged terrain. The second I hit something (stumps, branches, a half buried bucket) I just raise the 3pt BH.

Can you raise a pull along when it starts chewing into things that are bad for it?

 

[TripleR]

I have some very hilly terrain that I've been discovering with my 6' BH. I have my tires set four inches wider than the hog so I won't snag unseen objects in the brush. I'm also glad the hog isn't wider as I've already scalped a fair bit of bumps, mole hills and rugged terrain. The second I hit something (stumps, branches, a half buried bucket) I just raise the 3pt BH.

Can you raise a pull along when it starts chewing into things that are bad for it?

You may not be able to on some of the older ones, but mine is hydraulically controlled, so just hit the lever like on a three-point.

I am not advocating one over the other, just pointing out things to consider. Conditions and even personal preference will play a part in which one someone prefers.

 

[beppington]

If the fields are that wild you MUST, I say MUST have a filter-screen before the radiator or you will overheat the engine with all the crud that is vacuumed up.

I can attest that the filter-screen in my Kubota has been used to the hilt ... moreso than I ever realized it would be when I first got it. I was bush hogging 5'-6' weedy stuff with "whispy" tops. Those whispy tops were getting sucked right on to the filter-screen. I was shocked at how completely packed the filter-screen was the first time I looked at it. Now I check it more frequently.

 

[beppington]

A wide deck will scalp high spots on uneven ground, doesnt do much good for the blades.

I don't think bush hog blades are actually sharp even when new, are they? And, the blades are on shackles. I've never had any problems when the blades have hit dirt. Probably better if you don't, I guess, but no problems so far.

 

[Redgoatea]

You may not be able to on some of the older ones, but mine is hydraulically controlled, so just hit the lever like on a three-point.

I am not advocating one over the other, just pointing out things to consider. Conditions and even personal preference will play a part in which one someone prefers.

I can't advocate for one over the other as I didn't even know they made pull alongs. Hence my question. The dealers around me don't carry them that I've ever seen and none of my neighbors or friends have one. Sounds interesting but I use my BH as my ballast.

 

[TripleR]

I can attest that the filter-screen in my Kubota has been used to the hilt ... moreso than I ever realized it would be when I first got it. I was bush hogging 5'-6' weedy stuff with "whispy" tops. Those whispy tops were getting sucked right on to the filter-screen. I was shocked at how completely packed the filter-screen was the first time I looked at it. Now I check it more frequently.

When mowing this kind of stuff, I often keep a leaf blower handy and about mid day, pop the hood and blow everything out. For a complete cleaning I will then use an air compressor when I finish or before I start in the morning.

I don't think bush hog blades are actually sharp even when new, are they? And, the blades are on shackles. I've never had any problems when the blades have hit dirt. Probably better if you don't, I guess, but no problems so far.

No, they sure aren't sharp when new and don't need to be. I have checked them on all the new ones we have bought and the ones our neighbors bought and they are pretty dull. I have found it next to impossible not to "mow some dirt" when bush hogging and occasionally get into some gravel crushed stone, no matter which size you are using. I imagine a person can if they are not worried about how long a job takes and is very, very careful, but follow any of the farmers around in my area and you will see where they have grounded out from time to time. I have gone through almost an entire season with my Woods DS1260 and Land Pride RCR2672 and neither need sharpening yet and I have mowed a LOT of trees, brush, dirt and some rocks. The blades are very tough. Yes, I still cringe when I bottom out, but it is just part of doing business sometimes.

I can't advocate for one over the other as I didn't even know they made pull alongs. Hence my question. The dealers around me don't carry them that I've ever seen and none of my neighbors or friends have one. Sounds interesting but I use my BH as my ballast.

I personally can't see any real use/need for a pull type cutter under eight feet as the weight difference is just not enough to make that much difference. We went with a pull type because of the weight of the DS1260 or any medium/heavy duty cutter. One of the reasons for the older pull type cutters was because some tractors did not have a three-point hitch.

 

[Transit]

Here is another surprise, there are also front mounted mowers.

 

[TripleR]

Have you considered a flail mower? There are some really good threads on here about them and the weight distribution may be better for steep hills. leonz and some others swear by them. I have never used one. You might want to check them out.

 

[beppington]

Have you considered a flail mower? There are some really good threads on here about them and the weight distribution may be better for steep hills. leonz and some others swear by them. I have never used one. You might want to check them out.

I swear by them :thumbsup: ... for the right usage, that is. My dad's Caroni TM1900 doesn't "feel" like you should use it to try to cut the same size diameter saplings as a bush hog, so I do use the bush hog when bigger brush is involved. It does work great for cutting regular grass, very thick grass, tall weeds, very small saplings, & the results generally look like a lawn. In fact, when cutting a lawn with it, it makes the lawn look great.

Not the same flail mower as my dad's, but here are two videos that show exactly the results I get:

YouTube - FLAIL Mower HD by Tytan
YouTube - "Perfect" Model KP compact Flail Mower

 

[TripleR]

I swear by them :thumbsup: ... for the right usage, that is. My dad's Caroni TM1900 doesn't "feel" like you should use it to try to cut the same size diameter saplings as a bush hog, so I do use the bush hog when bigger brush is involved. It does work great for cutting regular grass, very thick grass, tall weeds, very small saplings, & the results generally look like a lawn. In fact, when cutting a lawn with it, it makes the lawn look great.

Not the same flail mower as my dad's, but here are two videos that show exactly the results I get:

YouTube - FLAIL Mower HD by Tytan
YouTube - "Perfect" Model KP compact Flail Mower

That is the primary reason I haven't spent the money on a flail as we have four rotary cutters and two RFM's as well as varied terrain and I hate changing three-point implements all of the time. Some day, however, I may very well get one once we get everything tamed so to speak.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

I would argue against a towable bush hog if you have any large rocks on the property. During my early experiences mowing the horse pasture on a drumlin, I clipped a lot of low-lying boulders hidden under the weeds. More than once the only thing that stopped the mower from whacking me on the back was the rigid top link. With a chain instead of a top link, I would have been flattened against the steering wheel on several occasions, no kidding.

Give that some thought. There's a lot of energy back there when that thing gets spinning. If it hits an immovable object, where does that energy go? The 3pt hitch is pretty good at keeping things back there in line.

I bought two new rotary mowers this summer, a five foot to go behind a 5' 6" wide tractor and a 4' to go behind a 41" tractor. If I had it to do again, I would buy a 42" instead of 48", because the extra width doesn't seem to do much good.

My dealer for the Rhino 160 explained that a finishing mower rotates its blades quickly enough to vacuum up the crushed grass behind a tractor's wheels and cut it cleanly. A bush hog doesn't create that kind of suction, so it won't cut what the tractor has tipped over, just skim over the top of it.

Sounded reasonable, so I bought a mid-range 5' rather than a loss-leader 6'.

I hope this helps.

Rod

 

[beppington]

That is the primary reason I haven't spent the money on a flail as we have four rotary cutters and two RFM's as well as varied terrain and I hate changing three-point implements all of the time. Some day, however, I may very well get one once we get everything tamed so to speak.

If I was already the owner of a bush hog & a rear finish mower, I would probably not spend more to get a flail. Since I myself own no mowers, yet have access to a bush hog on the pretty rare occassion I might need it, I plan to get that same Caroni TM1900 when funds allow.

 

[TripleR]

If I was already the owner of a bush hog & a rear finish mower, I would probably not spend more to get a flail. Since I myself own no mowers, yet have access to a bush hog on the pretty rare occasion I might need it, I plan to get that same Caroni TM1900 when funds allow.

Makes sense to me.

 

[IslandTractor]

If I was already the owner of a bush hog & a rear finish mower, I would probably not spend more to get a flail. Since I myself own no mowers, yet have access to a bush hog on the pretty rare occassion I might need it, I plan to get that same Caroni TM1900 when funds allow.

I was the owner of a finish mower and bush hog. Traded them both out and got the Caroni TM1900. I'm very happy with the small compromise in quality of cut from finish and love the single mower versatility, much quieter operation, shorter mower behind the tractor for manuvering and the simplified storage. Maintenance costs are a bit higher as I live in a rock filled area and rocks knock off about a half dozen flail sets each year at $12/set.

I might someday add a cheap beater rotary mower off of Craigslist just for backing into thick brush or for cleaning out under blueberry bushes. That long extension for backing into stuff is the only thing I really miss at all about the rotary. Never missed anything about the finish mower for a minute.

 

[Verticaltrx]

If you are looking at a 8' bush hog you need a lot more tractor than a 5045E or MX4700. They will handle a 6' unit nicely but that's about it. With a 6' bush hog you are looking at 1.5 to 3 acres per hour on average.

We have a JD 2550 (65PTO hp) that we pull a 10'8" pull-type bush hog with. Something similar to this is about the minimum I would want to mow 50ac with, especially if you will be doing it multiple times a year. With a 10' bush hog you would be looking at 3-5ac per hour.

I personally like a pull type bush hog, especially for large mowing jobs. I find that they turn corners better and you get less of that stretched out corner syndrome like you do with 3pt bush hog. Also if you do have trees you can get pretty close to them by just driving around them, the mower swings in on the turn allowing you to get right up to the trunk. With a 3pt mower you have to back up and push the mower under the tree from each side to get all the grass cut around the trunk. If you do go with a pull type, make sure you get one that has a Constant-Velocity (CV) pto shaft. It will let you turn almost 90* corners with it without it chattering.

 

[Tom_H]

the salesman....suggested I should get a pull-along bush hog, like a JD MX8, rather than a 3-point bush hog.

JD doesn't make bush hogs, but they do make rotary cutters, a.k.a. rough cutters or brush hogs

Bush Hog is a company. Bush Hog does make brush hogs, but they also make many other implements. Bush Hogs are not manufactured by anyone except Bush Hog.

I disagree with the salesman. A 3ph rotary cutter is preferable to me for the height control adjustments I need to constantly make on uneven terrain. There are also times when you can only cut certain areas by backing into them. You cannot do that with a towed unit like you can with a 3ph unit. When cutting in a creek bed, I can lift the brush hog into the air, back into position, then lower it into the depression, lift it, move, then do the next section. You could never do that with a towed unit.

A lot of salesmen are just that: men whose job it is to sell you something. There are plenty of them who have never really spent hours on hours actually operating all these implements on all the various tractors out in a real field.

 

[TripleR]

JD doesn't make bush hogs, but they do make rotary cutters, a.k.a. rough cutters or brush hogs

Bush Hog is a company. Bush Hog does make brush hogs, but they also make many other implements. Bush Hogs are not manufactured by anyone except Bush Hog.

I disagree with the salesman. A 3ph rotary cutter is preferable to me for the height control adjustments I need to constantly make on uneven terrain. There are also times when you can only cut certain areas by backing into them. You cannot do that with a towed unit like you can with a 3ph unit. When cutting in a creek bed, I can lift the brush hog into the air, back into position, then lower it into the depression, lift it, move, then do the next section. You could never do that with a towed unit.

Where I live "bush hog" means any rotary cutter regardless if it is a Bush Hog, Land Pride, John Deere, Rhino, King Kutter, Woods etc. If I tell someone I am going to go "bush hog" everyone knows what I am talking about, "I am going to go rotary cutting", just doesn't sound quite right. You can own a Bush Hog "bush hog", Land Pride, Woods, KK "bush hog" or you can go "bush hog" your weeds/pasture. Life is complicated enough without making it more-so.

A three point may indeed fit your needs better than a pull type, but for others it is preferable. We pretty much have to have both and this was determined by a lot of years experience and not some salesman.

As to what will fit the OP's needs better, I imply don't know.

 

[MBDiagMan]

When I started reading posts on TBN I was rally surprised at the fact that the term "Brush Hog" is so widely used. I lived in Lubbock as a high schooler in the sixties and was aware of the Bush Hog Company and their products. Since that time on the occasion that I hear people refer to a shredder or rotary cutter as a "Brush Hog" it always gets my attention and sometimes I explain it to them.

In my area a rotary cutter is typically referred to as a "shredder" and it's operation referred to as 'shredding."

Bush Hog made a fabulously heavy and tough product in the early days, so I guess it's only natural that an incorrect variation of their name has come into the vernacular. It's sort of like hearing any soft drink referred to as a Coke or any refrigerator referred to as a Frigidaire.

All that said, a rose is a rose, so as long as poeple know what you're saying I guess it all works out.

 

[Builder]

Gotta agree with TripleR on that one. A "bush hog" is what everyone around here calls a rear rotary mower for cutting "bush". Nobody asks me for a price to "rotary mower" their field:laughing:. they ask for a price to "bush hog" their field.

People always call all flexible bandages a "Band aid", which is really a brand of flexible bandage or a "Kleenex" which is a brand name of facial tissue.