Rotary Cutter Best rotary cutter for the $$$$

[aturne67]

Hi guys, pretty new to the site here and new to the tractor world. Just wanted to get some opinions on the best rotary cutter for the money. I have about 10-12 acres of open area to reclaim and maintain. Kinda leaning towards a slip clutch simply because they seem to be easier to use. Thanks for the input.

AT

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

The best is the one that works every single time you go to use it. There are lots of good ones. I've got a Rhino 172 and it is very well built and I've been very happy with it. Is it the "best"? Beats me, probably not because there are some that will cut much larger brush and cost a lot more. For a good quality medium duty 72" cutter with a slip clutch, I'd expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,000.

Rhino, Bush Hog, Woods, Land Pride, Brown and others all make good rotary cutters. Most of them have various grades or levels of mowers. As you might suspect, the lighter ones with a lower rated gear box that are cheaper, and the heavier ones with a thicker gauge steel on the deck and sides and a larger rated gearbox that will cut heavier/thicker brush are more expensive.

I would definitely get a slip clutch for cutting any brush. (You mentioned "reclaiming" land.) Learn how to set the spring tension on the friction plates. It's a 15 minute job once or twice a year.

 

[747driver]

I am also looking for a rotary cutter. I have narrowed it down to the Kodiak 5ft medium duty or the Everything Attatchment 5 ft extreme duty. Going with the slip clutch. I have rocks and small saplings to deal with so the medium duty will work best for my size of tractor. Plus i won't be using but 3-4 times a year. Go to youtube and watch the various videos of all the different brands. Good Luck !

 

[kebo]

Hi guys, pretty new to the site here and new to the tractor world. Just wanted to get some opinions on the best rotary cutter for the money. I have about 10-12 acres of open area to reclaim and maintain. Kinda leaning towards a slip clutch simply because they seem to be easier to use. Thanks for the input.

AT

What size tractor do you have??? With slip clutches, technically you are supposed to check the plates (for correct tension and slippage) at least once a year. They can seize up due to moisture, condensation, or just getting wet from rain. That is one advantage to having a BH with a shear bolt instead of a clutch.

Are you looking for a new mower, or a used one?? If new, what brands do your local dealers carry? One of the most regarded brands is Bush Hog, but Woods and LandPride are also regarded as good ones too. Just keep in mind that most brands have a standard line, and a heavy duty line, and obviously the heavy duty units will cost more.

If your 10-12 acres is all easy mowing (like grass), then you probably can get by with a standard duty unit. If you're cutting really nasty stuff in the woods and have lots of rough land (stumps, rocks, etc), then a heavy duty mower is the way to go.

What a lot of people here recommend is to hire out the first cutting to someone with a heavy duty mower. Let them take the risk of tearing up something. Once it's been cut, you will probably be able to maintain it with a standard duty mower. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[aturne67]

Don't have a tractor yet, Most likely going with a Kioti CK 3510 HST. Kinda just trying to get opinions on what rotary cutter to go with when I purchase the tractor. I do have a fair amount of the 1-2" saplings and some briars/brush to clear out initially but after that it should mostly just be mowing the fields and maintaining them. I just don't want to spend a 1000 bucks on something now and a year from now wishing I had spent that extra 500-1000 bucks on a better cutter. My local dealer I know carries land pride and bush hog brand cutters. I am going to pay him a visit soon to drive the tractor again and check out some implements.

 

[nybirdman]

Can't go wrong with either Bush Hog or Landopride.I have a five ft.Bush Hog with a shear bolt and a six ft.Landpride with a slip clutch.Make sure to service the slip clutch model every year.

 

[jtygoku]

I have a 6' Titan w/slipclutch that has done everything I've ask it to. It was less expensive than some of the name brands mentioned but as thick or thicker steel than those same brands.

 

[EddieWalker]

Best is what you can spend. They are all pretty much the same in the same price range. There is no secret technology and all the bigger name brands know exactly what each other is building and what they are selling for. Avoid the non names, you just can't rely on them for parts, and you will need parts!!!!

Look online at the brands local to you and see if they have a website with parts diagrams. See if you can buy parts online for that brand if you don't drive by your local dealer regularly or if they are out of the way. I have Landpride and I'm very pleased with them. I can get parts online, or I can go to any Kubota Dealer and order parts from them. Usually it's just faster, easier and cheaper to buy from Home | Messick's for what I need. Blades last a year, other parts will last longer depending on use. I've replace my gear box three times since 2003. My drive shaft three times. My stump jumper once. and my tail wheel three times. I use it for everything from mowing grass, to clearing my land of small trees. If I can run it over, I'm going to cut it. Sometimes this costs me money in repairs, but overall, it's still cheaper then hiring it out, or digging them out and hauling them to the burn pile.

 

[IndyIan]

I've had pretty good luck with a cheap agriease/braber 5' 40hp gearbox model, I've had it 4 years now, stored outside. It seems to eat everything I'm brave enough to run over with my tractor without an issue, but I don't fold over 10' hardwoods under my tractor, 4-5' is it. I found the paint and welding looked better than many of other standard duty cutters.
It was only $750 and I think I can get that now for it. I mostly cut trails and fields with it, but it's trimmed many ant hills and the odd rock. It also has a round stump jumper where many "good" standard duty ones had a bar.
If you're just going to put 20-30 easy hours a year on it like me, I think it will last a long long time.

 

[CCWKen]

Don't turn your back on used models either. I picked up my Ford 954 (5' heavy duty w/slip clutch) at an auction for $10 simply because it didn't look pretty, I guess. No one else bid. It had new blades and a new wheel on the back. Another auction find was a 6' flail mower for $35. The same thing there. Old paint but well maintained.

Set your budget and go get one! If you do buy used, be sure to look it over but don't base your decision on paint. If that matters, paint it any color you want.

 

[MMagis]

Don't turn your back on used models either. I picked up my Ford 954 (5' heavy duty w/slip clutch) at an auction for $10 simply because it didn't look pretty, I guess. No one else bid. It had new blades and a new wheel on the back. Another auction find was a 6' flail mower for $35. The same thing there. Old paint but well maintained.

Set your budget and go get one! If you do buy used, be sure to look it over but don't base your decision on paint. If that matters, paint it any color you want.

X2. Can’t imagine why one would spend new price for something like a brushhog, especially one that will get light usage.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

X2. Can’t imagine why one would spend new price for something like a brushhog, especially one that will get light usage.

Because when I bought mine all the old worn out ones around here were priced almost as much as brand new. And also because I don't want to be one of those guys posting a thread on here about where to find a bearing or a seal or blades or gearbox or output shaft for some old Brand X mower that I thought I was saving money on. I don't have the time or the patience for it.

And, frankly, I think some guys save $500 buying some old beat up Brand X cutter and then spend most of that savings fixing all the broken and worn out stuff.

The most expensive part of a mower is the gearbox, and that's the part that is least susceptible to inspection by a potential buyer.

 

[tman1020]

I have the king kutter 60" with the flex hitch. It works well and I have had no problems with it. It is made in the USA. I also found the price very good.

 

[CCWKen]

Well, even if the gear box blew out tomorrow, I got my $10 worth out of it. That works out to a buck a year. I haven't put a dime for parts in it. And I wouldn't call Ford "Brand X". Do I sense a bit of jealousy on a good find?

At least it wasn't bugger green, hemorrhoid red or baby-poop yellow. unch:

 

[coobie]

Because when I bought mine all the old worn out ones around here were priced almost as much as brand new. And also because I don't want to be one of those guys posting a thread on here about where to find a bearing or a seal or blades or gearbox or output shaft for some old Brand X mower that I thought I was saving money on. I don't have the time or the patience for it.

And, frankly, I think some guys save $500 buying some old beat up Brand X cutter and then spend most of that savings fixing all the broken and worn out stuff.

The most expensive part of a mower is the gearbox, and that's the part that is least susceptible to inspection by a potential buyer.

Pappy,I agree ran into the same problem around here junk used brush hogs that were beat to death for high $$.I ended buying a new brush hog BH16 no regrets yet.

 

[MMagis]

Because when I bought mine all the old worn out ones around here were priced almost as much as brand new. And also because I don't want to be one of those guys posting a thread on here about where to find a bearing or a seal or blades or gearbox or output shaft for some old Brand X mower that I thought I was saving money on. I don't have the time or the patience for it.

And, frankly, I think some guys save $500 buying some old beat up Brand X cutter and then spend most of that savings fixing all the broken and worn out stuff.

The most expensive part of a mower is the gearbox, and that's the part that is least susceptible to inspection by a potential buyer.

In other words, you’re scared to work on things. There’s nothing wrong with that, but not all of us mind a little rust and some welding.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I gearbox is less than $200 for most cutters so it's not a huge deal. Two hour job if everything goes well.

 

[TerryR]

In other words, you’re scared to work on things. There’s nothing wrong with that, but not all of us mind a little rust and some welding.

No, not all of us think working on equipment is fun. Some think it's fine that the last time they had a welder at hand was over 50 years ago, and that equipment is purchased to get the job done, not as a repair project.

If you like working on stuff fine, but that's no reason to make nasty and baseless remarks about people who don't.

 

[MMagis]

No, not all of us think working on equipment is fun. Some think it's fine that the last time they had a welder at hand was over 50 years ago, and that equipment is purchased to get the job done, not as a repair project.

If you like working on stuff fine, but that's no reason to make nasty and baseless remarks about people who don't.

Then be honest, it was clear you were making up things to justify your opinion. I made no “nasty and baseless remarks”. In fact, you verified exactly what I said. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to work on equipment, but that doesn’t make something with a little rust “junk”. The bushhog I have was bought used in the mid 80s, and to this day has never had anything done other than a little straightening/welding from pushing trees with it. If you don't wan to work on equipment, you probably shouldn't own any. Everything fails eventually, and I'm not one to throw something away in order to avoid a little work.

 

[Silvic]

Many opinions many makes and models.

I favor Woods Brushbulls. Their medium duty models BB-720X, 600X, 840X just can't be beat IMO.