Rotary Cutting Need to Knows!

[Ridonkulus]

I’m a new tractor owner and my next purchase is a rotary cutter. Naturally I have tons of questions before buying any type of rotary cutter. Before I make a post is there a post somewhere that lays out the need to know info before setting out to spend thousands of dollars. TIA

 

[jeff9366]

Is there a thread that lays out Rotary Cutter requirements?

Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog Considerations for Compact Tractors

If you buy a Rotary Cutter too light it will visit the dealer yearly for $600 repair. NEW Rotary Cutters cut everything at first. As the light blades dull a light cutter undergoes increasing stress. 60" - 72" Rotary Cutters: 400/500 pounds = light duty = grass only. 600/700 pounds = medium...

www.tractorbynet.com

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[jeff9366]

Ridonkulus​

Sep 26, 2019 / Newbie Question on Rotary Cutters

I have 60 acres (50/50 split timber/field). Im thinking that an 8' cutter would be a great size for the mowing. Im curious how many acres you guys mow and with what size cutter/tracker? Also how long does it take you? Curious if I can get away with a smaller cutter and save some money without it taking me an entire weekend, sun up to sun down, to get the job done. Thanks in advance.

Edit:
Mowing is probably not the right word. I only plan to brush hog it 3 maybe 4 times a year.

What has changed since September 2019?​

Newbie Question on Rotary Cutters

So I have 60 acres (50/50 split timber/field). Im thinking that an 8' cutter would be a great size for the mowing. Im curious how many acres you guys mow and with what size cutter/tracker? Also how long does it take you? Curious if I can get away with a smaller cutter and save some money without...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[scootr]

There are many considerations. We need more information to make more than a general recommendation.
What make/model tractor.
What exactly are you cutting? Grass, weeds, brush, sm trees? What is the greatest diameter ?
What kind of terrain? Hilly, flat, Steep ?

 

[Ridonkulus]

Is there a thread that lays out Rotary Cutter requirements?

Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog Considerations for Compact Tractors

If you buy a Rotary Cutter too light it will visit the dealer yearly for $600 repair. NEW Rotary Cutters cut everything at first. As the light blades dull a light cutter undergoes increasing stress. 60" - 72" Rotary Cutters: 400/500 pounds = light duty = grass only. 600/700 pounds = medium...

www.tractorbynet.com

none

Add your tractor brand and model to your T-B-N PROFILE.

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thanks for the link. I will look this over and any specific questions I have Ill start a new thread.

 

[scootr]

No need to start a new. Take a minute and put your tractor in your profile too

 

[Ridonkulus]

No need to start a new. Take a minute and put your tractor in your profile too

Updated.

 

[kirkawilson]

 

[scootr]

Updated.

I had to google that one. Looks a capable machine, 43 hp is good.

 

[JasperFrank]

Good info, and/or reminders here on #8.

 

[Torvy]

I had to google that one. Looks a capable machine, 43 hp is good.

That's a 65 HP machine.

 

[nch77]

I use a Woods Cadet 72 for trimming and a John Deere HX10 for large areas and roadside mowing. I'm getting rid of the Cadet because I rarely use it now, I highly reccomend the HX10 though, its a great mower.

 

[Hay Dude]

I use a Woods Cadet 72 for trimming and a John Deere HX10 for large areas and roadside mowing. I'm getting rid of the Cadet because I rarely use it now, I highly reccomend the HX10 though, its a great mower.

I also recommend Deere HX & CX mowers. Theres a new lineup now. But if you want a used rotary cutter, the HX & CX are great.

 

[nch77]

I will warn that my 72 hp Ford tractor will power the HX10 but its not happy about it. John Deere says that it can be run with as little as 45 hp which is complete BS, no way a 45 hp tractor could do anything except move it around the yard. I also wouldn't use the HX10 with a 3 pt hitch on less than a 100 hp tractor, its a very heavy cutter.

 

[Willie B]

1987 I bought an old tractor, then a Bush Hog 105. My land included two small "meadows" totaling ten acres. 1946 the land stopped being used for cattle. By 1967 it was overgrown with 8" cherry trees. those trees were cut down & left there. By 1987 when I bought it each stump had sprouted 8 to ten 4" diameter suckers & they each lay on the ground a few feet before going vertical. They averaged 25' tall. Between the cherry was a jungle of Honeysuckle bushes. It was so dense it wasn't possible to walk through.
Clearing this was an overwhelming job for old equipment. I spent the summer every weekend in a rotation between mowing & repairing. My beater Bush Hog now has as much weld filler as original steel! I've replaced main shaft on the gearbox twice, countless blades, several oil seals, & welded/reinforced multiple breaks. Twisted the PTO shaft inside the tractor transmission, & broke it another time.

Advice is you want to select your hog to match the job. If you are only going to mow weeds & grass, a light duty mower will do.
I prefer shear pins over a slip clutch. Machine can take a severe beating whaling a rock at 1000 RPM blade speed.
I'd insist on a stump jumper, a bowl shaped device blades are attached to. It helps get over a stump or rock & helps (somewhat) to keep stuff from winding around the blade shaft & ruining your gearbox oil seal.

 

[Ridonkulus]

I had to google that one. Looks a capable machine, 43 hp is good.

Not sure what you found but this is the tractor I own.

TractorData.com Zetor Major HS 65 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[scootr]

Not sure what you found but this is the tractor I own.

TractorData.com Zetor Major HS 65 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Looks like I made a mistake.

 

[nch77]

1987 I bought an old tractor, then a Bush Hog 105. My land included two small "meadows" totaling ten acres. 1946 the land stopped being used for cattle. By 1967 it was overgrown with 8" cherry trees. those trees were cut down & left there. By 1987 when I bought it each stump had sprouted 8 to ten 4" diameter suckers & they each lay on the ground a few feet before going vertical. They averaged 25' tall. Between the cherry was a jungle of Honeysuckle bushes. It was so dense it wasn't possible to walk through.
Clearing this was an overwhelming job for old equipment. I spent the summer every weekend in a rotation between mowing & repairing. My beater Bush Hog now has as much weld filler as original steel! I've replaced main shaft on the gearbox twice, countless blades, several oil seals, & welded/reinforced multiple breaks. Twisted the PTO shaft inside the tractor transmission, & broke it another time.

Advice is you want to select your hog to match the job. If you are only going to mow weeds & grass, a light duty mower will do.
I prefer shear pins over a slip clutch. Machine can take a severe beating whaling a rock at 1000 RPM blade speed.
I'd insist on a stump jumper, a bowl shaped device blades are attached to. It helps get over a stump or rock & helps (somewhat) to keep stuff from winding around the blade shaft & ruining your gearbox oil seal.

you need a heavier bush hog lol. Those little shear pin models just aren't made for it. The ones with slip clutches can usually take more abuse, and then you don't have to deal with shear pins. Though for that kind of field a mulcher is more appropriate.