Rotary Cutter Discussion

[Darth_DMack]

Hello everyone... new tractor owner here (well, had it now about six months). I have a 2023 Mahindra 5155 (55 hp) tractor, and I am shopping for a good rotary cutter to maintain parts of my property that my Gravely ZT HD can't do.

Not a need for a "commercial" cutter, but I subscribe to the buy once, cry once rule. I don't intend to use the cutter as a forestry mulcher, but something that can handle small saplings, or downed limbs (2-3" max) and not scalp every time I turn.

What recommendations would you give me to start shopping for?

I'm thinking a 6' cutter would do it well for what I need it for. Definitely want to buy something that will last.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations. Much appreciated!

 

[EddieWalker]

At 55hp, you have plenty of power for a 6 foot cutter!!! You could probably go bigger if you wanted to.

I personally have a Land Pride 6 foot cutter that's worked good for me over the last 20 years. They offer Light, Medium and Heavy duty cutters. The price just keeps going up for each model.

How much do you want to spend will decide how big of material you can cut.

The thing that I like about Land Pride is how easy it is to get parts for it. I can go online to Messick's, or some other site, look up a diagram of my mower, and order the part that I need. I can also go to any Kubota Dealer and order the parts from them. If I'm lucky, they might have it in stock, but usually they have to order what I need.

 

[repete]

I have two rotary cutters. One is an old beater with no rear wheel that works well for backing into weeds when a drive through is not possible. The other is an older JD with a wheel that I use to mow primarily grass with some maybe 1/2' saplings.
If you buy used be sure the parts are in good shape. My JD, that I purchased used, was in good shape exterior wise but the blades where they attach to the bolts were worn badly unknown to me. I was in the field mowing maybe 12" dry grass (no load) and one came off. It was quite a ride when it went out of balance and the blade went out the side of the mower. Now I regularly put them in the air and check them both for integrity.

 

[fishheadbob]

If you want lasting, and parts availability buy a Woods or a BushHog in the light, medium, or heavy duty your needs determine. $$$. There are cheaper brands out there. A good thing about the 2 above brands is that parts are available; in my experience I've never had to look for parts with decades of owning those 2 brands.

 

[Darth_DMack]

Great replies so far... all words heard.

I'm looking at Bush Hog, Rhino, Land Pride, etc... I don't know what I don't know.

 

[oosik]

I'll be getting a rotary cutter soon. I'm on 80 acres and in an area called the Scab Rock. It's all open range land. Lots of sage brush and stands of Ponderosa pines.

I've been out here for 42+ years. I have had my share of experience with light and standard duty implements.

For a cutter - serious consideration for the Rhino TW35. I will not be cutting anything bigger than one inch. I've found that heavy duty works best and less chance of damage. Same philosophy for my other land engagement implements.

 

[EddieWalker]

There isn't going to be much difference with the name brands, and their rating. Compare a heavy duty cutter from each big name brand, and you are looking at the same engineering, the same quality of materials, and same design. There just isn't anything special over one brand compared to another with the same rating.

Being able to find parts for it ten years from now, or more, is what you need to decide on. If I didn't have Land Pride, I'm sure that I would be happy with any of the other top name brands out there.

Before buying, go online and look up some basic parts for it. Stump jumper. Bolts for the blades. A new gear box, or a new tail wheel. Simple things that wear out or get destroyed that you will need to buy eventually.

Blades are interchangeable, so that's not going to be an issue. Once you know your blade size, you can order them from dozens of places. Same with the driveshaft. It's not hard to destroy one when you get into some nasty stuff.

Be sure to get a cutter with a slip clutch. The other option, that's cheaper is a sheer pin, which are Grade 5 bolts that breaks when the mower hits something. You can break a lot of bolts mowing trees and saplings!!!! With a slip clutch, you just keep going!!!!

 

[Darth_DMack]

I'll be getting a rotary cutter soon. I'm on 80 acres and in an area call the Scab Rock. It's all open range land. Lots of sage brush and stands of Ponderosa pines.

I've been out here for 42+ years. I have had my share of experience with light and standard duty implements.

For a cutter - serious consideration for the Rhino TW35. I will not be cutting anything bigger than one inch. I've found that heavy duty works best and less chance of damage. Same philosophy for my other land engagement implements.

That is the same Rhino I'm looking at. I most likely will do the Rhino or Bush Hog...

When I bought my tractor, I didn't know what I didn't know. The tractor is and has been awesome so far, but the package I bought had the FEL with bucket, a Mahindra branded 72" rake grapple and box blade. The box blade is standard (light) duty and I'm already having to weld some 3/8" plate because the root tines (lack of knowledge of what to call them) have bent the steel they push against.

The Mahindra branded 72" rake grapple has two hydraulic cylinders, and it has been working great, but I wish I had bought a more heavy-duty grapple.

I won't make that mistake with my cutter. I will get a lot of use out of this thing, I want to make sure I buy the right one the first time.

 

[Darth_DMack]

There isn't going to be much difference with the name brands, and their rating. Compare a heavy duty cutter from each big name brand, and you are looking at the same engineering, the same quality of materials, and same design. There just isn't anything special over one brand compared to another with the same rating.

Being able to find parts for it ten years from now, or more, is what you need to decide on. If I didn't have Land Pride, I'm sure that I would be happy with any of the other top name brands out there.

Before buying, go online and look up some basic parts for it. Stump jumper. Bolts for the blades. A new gear box, or a new tail wheel. Simple things that wear out or get destroyed that you will need to buy eventually.

Blades are interchangeable, so that's not going to be an issue. Once you know your blade size, you can order them from dozens of places. Same with the driveshaft. It's not hard to destroy one when you get into some nasty stuff.

Be sure to get a cutter with a slip clutch. The other option, that's cheaper is a sheer pin, which are Grade 5 bolts that breaks when the mower hits something. You can break a lot of bolts mowing trees and saplings!!!! With a slip clutch, you just keep going!!!!

Very good advice... and all words heard!

I'm zeroing in on a 6' with slip clutch, heavy duty rating, front / rear chains, and parts availability. Very sound advice! I have a dealer near me that carries the Bush Hog brand. Gonna roll by there this weekend. One just may come home with me!

 

[leonz]

Hello everyone... new tractor owner here (well, had it now about six months). I have a 2023 Mahindra 5155 (55 hp) tractor, and I am shopping for a good rotary cutter to maintain parts of my property that my Gravely ZT HD can't do.

Not a need for a "commercial" cutter, but I subscribe to the buy once, cry once rule. I don't intend to use the cutter as a forestry mulcher, but something that can handle small saplings, or downed limbs (2-3" max) and not scalp every time I turn.

What recommendations would you give me to start shopping for?

I'm thinking a 6' cutter would do it well for what I need it for. Definitely want to buy something that will last.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations. Much appreciated!

A Maschio or Del Morino flail mower with cast hammer knives should also be something to consider.

 

[aesanders]

The flail recommendation is good. Also, Brown Manufacturing is slightly heavier built than any mentioned so far. These are about as good as it gets in my mind for a rotary cutter. Last I checked price wise was comparable to the others.

 

[leonz]

Good morning Darth_DMack,

I suggested the MASCHIO or Del Morino flail mowers for your use as a new user
of a brush clearing attachment because the flail mower with side slicer knives or
cast hammer knives is a safer mower as it will not eject an object if it strikes a
hidden piece of debris.

There are many cases of objects struck by rotary cutter blades and ejecting them
at a very high velocity and damaging property, hitting cars and killing humans.

 

[kneedeep]

What you need will be based on what it will be mowing, width of tractor tires, PTO rating and size of wallet.
I have 3 mowers for different reasons.
5 foot Howse bought new with 35 hp compact used many years in rough and steep terrain. Retired it when bought the farm.
7 foot med duty LMC bought new to cover more acres. About all the 3510 wants.
10 foot JD MX10 for a 85 hp tractor to cover even more acres, If you can bend it over, it will cut it to a stump. All the 8560 wants
Unless I have to mow some thick or brushy stuff, the 7 footer is usually hooked to one of the tractors and is well used.
It’s an odd size but fits my needs, LMC makes the same mower now as a 8 footer.

What type of mowing will you be doing?
Pastures or over grown power lines?
Makes a difference!

 

[big bubba]

you could go with a 7' but imho it's a ******* size w/large blades that certainly vibrate when you hit something, etc. agree 6' 3ph would be ideal for you. personally, wouldn't look at anything less than medium duty. just look at weight to compare models. i always tend toward heavy duty.

all of the above name brands are good. i would never let go of my 8' Rhino twin gearbox. they make a turbo model (at least in my model) that has a double layer top deck. whatever you decide, never get a finish mower. regards

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My Woods BB 720X is a 6' wide, medium cutter for up to 4" material and has been a good cutter. I have over the years broken the PTO shaft (I mow backward and hit an unseen log and it jacked up the back hitting the driveshaft while working), I lost a blade on another old, unseen stump, and two weeks ago, I broke the entire tailwheel assembly off when I hit an unseen beaver-cut stump. The actual cutter has been tremendously tough and I'd buy it again.

Here is a link to how the cutter actually works where I cut the very things you described in your OP.

 

[big bubba]

can't image tackling a 4" caliper material even on a heavy duty cutter. sounds like you found a good match

 

[MinnesotaEric]

can't image tackling a 4" caliper material even on a heavy duty cutter. sounds like you found a good match

It would work on less than 48pto hp tractors as my max set rpm on my tractor is 2600rpm and I run my cutter at 2000rpm.

The second time I used my (then) new Woods cutter before I got the angle set up on it correctly.

 

[big bubba]

Eric: nice vid & rig...though didn't see those 4" caliper growth
robust mower, have basically the same in 8', but still don't attack growth more than 2", plus larger stubs pose risk to tire puncture.
regards

 

[Hay Dude]

Hello everyone... new tractor owner here (well, had it now about six months). I have a 2023 Mahindra 5155 (55 hp) tractor, and I am shopping for a good rotary cutter to maintain parts of my property that my Gravely ZT HD can't do.

Not a need for a "commercial" cutter, but I subscribe to the buy once, cry once rule. I don't intend to use the cutter as a forestry mulcher, but something that can handle small saplings, or downed limbs (2-3" max) and not scalp every time I turn.

What recommendations would you give me to start shopping for?

I'm thinking a 6' cutter would do it well for what I need it for. Definitely want to buy something that will last.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations. Much appreciated!

Deere

 

[aesanders]

can't image tackling a 4" caliper material even on a heavy duty cutter. sounds like you found a good match.

The Brown tree cutter models can go up to an 8” tree.