Can my tractor haul a large rotary cutter?

[jb1390]

My L39 TLB is a Glide Transmission. Will that adversely effect something?

My mistake I thought I read somewhere that you had hydrostatic. No big deal to shift gears if you need to, though slightly more annoying than a hydrostatic.

 

[ovrszd]

Not criticizing, just clarifying. Hydro is water. Hydra is hydraulics.

 

[jb1390]

Not criticizing, just clarifying. Hydro is water. Hydra is hydraulics.

Hydrostatic transmissions don't use water.

Hydro is a prefix, which denotes used of liquids - water is the most common liquid.

We are getting off topic though.......

 

[RalphVa]

I've heard many times here the rule of 5hp/foot, but think larger trees this size might take more. Plus, you'd probably need a tougher housing than what's in a typical bush hog.

Ralph

 

[jb1390]

I've heard many times here the rule of 5hp/foot, but think larger trees this size might take more. Plus, you'd probably need a tougher housing than what's in a typical bush hog.

Ralph

I'm not sure that I completely buy the hp/ft rule. Maybe if you are looking to move fast, but if you are ok going slow it's not much of an impact in the HP ranges we are talking about here.

I find that the momentum of the blades are what help make a cut on a sapling. The HP of the tractor will just affect how quickly you can hit the next sapling.

Heavy blades and a robust gearbox will help - since heavy blades are less prone to swinging out of the way instead of punching through.

OP what kind of saplings are you cutting? I find maple are tough, but I could mow a field of pines with no concern. Also, if the saplings are spaced, you'll have a much easier time breezing through than if they are tightly spaced.

 

[sandman2234]

With a FEL, mowing thicker brush, I would push the brush into a pile rather than trying to mow it, if the bush hog doesn't like mowing the brush. A tooth bar on the FEL might make ripping the trees out by the roots easier, depending on the soil type. No sense in beating up a mower just to clear land, unless the mower doesn't mind it. Be careful not to twist the FEL pushing on brush, but if it is close to mowing size, it probably won't hurt the FEL.
David from jax

 

[ovrszd]

Hydrostatic transmissions don't use water.

Hydro is a prefix, which denotes used of liquids - water is the most common liquid.

We are getting off topic though.......

Okay.

 

[Black Sheep125]

Agreed, my Kubota had the glide shift and if I came to a spot that was thicker and needed to slow down, I just dropped it a gear or two if need be then bumped it back up when I got through that spot.

Thanks for the great advice! Ill keep that in mind. Hoping to do some cutting soon!

 

[Black Sheep125]

I'm not sure that I completely buy the hp/ft rule. Maybe if you are looking to move fast, but if you are ok going slow it's not much of an impact in the HP ranges we are talking about here.

I find that the momentum of the blades are what help make a cut on a sapling. The HP of the tractor will just affect how quickly you can hit the next sapling.

Heavy blades and a robust gearbox will help - since heavy blades are less prone to swinging out of the way instead of punching through.

OP what kind of saplings are you cutting? I find maple are tough, but I could mow a field of pines with no concern. Also, if the saplings are spaced, you'll have a much easier time breezing through than if they are tightly spaced.

Most of the cutting will be through thickets and bushes. A real assortment of kinds. I’m planning on going real slow and even backing up to some if I have too. I h am not in any rush. This is an area I am clearing to build some houses, so I am only planing on cutting it once.

 

[WVH1977]

I was worried about my PTO hp also when I bought my rotary cutter last year. I ended up buying a Woods BB600X. I have 35 PTO hp and have used the cutter a lot since buying it. It will eat up pine saplings and brush like they are not there. I probably would of been fine with a BB60X or BB72X also but wanted a heavier duty cutter for the type of work I am doing with it.