Tractor Sizing 6' brush hog on a 30Hp tractor

[b3bt459]

I currently have a very old 5' brush hog that I use with my 30 Hp Kubota L3130. I recently broke the shaft on the brush hog. The repair is likely more than the value of the mower. I'm looking at replacing it with a 6' brush hog. The question is: can the L3130 handle the larger size? I'm of the theory that if I can drive over it, I can cut it down.

 

[bigtiller]

TractorData.com Kubota L3130 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

You likely can mow with it but it will be slow.

 

[ruffdog]

If you want to maneuver around trees etc or raise the cutter going through the rough, you will notice that a 6' is much more weight than a 5'. My NH TC33D (2500 lbs and 28.6 pto hp) could power the 6' but when it came to man handling it, the weight was an issue.

 

[mwayne]

If you mow on uneven ground or slopes consider the extra weight of the 6 ft rotary cutter. There will be a significant tail wagging the dog effect. Good luck with your choice.

 

[big bubba]

yes to above, it's more about tractor weight than pto hp. if you're on slopes & areas where you need to raise the 3ph, you'll certainly notice the extra weight. you can put ballast in FEL & load rear tires w/fluid to help

sometimes the tail wags the dog as mwayne mentions above. check your owners manual re: max implement weight on 3ph. this is a compact tractor forum, & the subject of stressing a small tractor with tasks & implements beyond it's means is a common subject here. keeping in mind safety is the primary concern
good luck in your choice.

 

[2manyrocks]

^check your owner's manual for Kubota's recommendation. If you have thick/tall vegetation, 6' may be too much for 30hp without having to slow to a crawl.

 

[bigtiller]

^check your owner's manual for Kubota's recommendation. If you have thick/tall vegetation, 6' may be too much for 30hp without having to slow to a crawl.

I see that as part of the problem, he doesn't have 30 hp. at the pto.
The L3130 with a hydro tranny has 24 pto hp.
Geared tranny has 25.5 pto hp.

 

[CADplans]

My first mower was a 6.5 foot bush hog,, ( John Deere )
I owned a 404 IH ( gas ) tractor then,,
If the grass was over a foot tall,, I had to pull the bush hog to the top of the field,, and only mow going down hill,,,,,,,,

 

[Mike1955]

My first mower was a 6.5 foot bush hog,, ( John Deere )
I owned a 404 IH ( gas ) tractor then,,
If the grass was over a foot tall,, I had to pull the bush hog to the top of the field,, and only mow going down hill,,,,,,,,

It depends. You may have owned a heavy five footer, and you may be replacing it with a new light weight six footer. Making the handeling of you new bush hog the same as before. Now if you have enough horse power all depends on what to are going over, and only you know that. May be an opportunity to investigate a newer bigger tractor. What do you think. Blessings come in disguise

 

[Sawyer Rob]

NO 25 hp tractor will run either of my 6' rotary cutters in anything but light cutting, and even then, on a hot day you will be going like a turtle.

It will be hard on the tractor either way...

SR

 

[Quaffer]

Isn't a rule of thumb 5 pto HP for every foot of mower? So a 6 foot mower would ideally like 30hp at the PTO?

 

[Mike1955]

NO 25 hp tractor will run either of my 6' rotary cutters in anything but light cutting, and even then, on a hot day you will be going like a turtle.

It will be hard on the tractor either way...

SR

I pull a ten foot woods with a 75 HP Massey. In rank stuff it almost runs hot. But I cut fast. Long straight field go forward then switch to reverse to save turning. Don’t look hardly as good but I get out of the heat and dust quicker. Thanks for the reply

Isn't a rule of thumb 5 pto HP for every foot of mower? So a 6 foot mower would ideally like 30hp at the PTO?

i have heard that. We all know when you get in that thick stuff close to the ground they get difficult to pull. When you have to raise the bush hog to keep going it ain’t good. I one of these that likes extra HP pulling anything. You’ve got to pull a disk or chisel plow fast enough, or it isn’t a complete job. I’m old fashioned

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

OP,

As was mentioned earlier, you don't have "30 hp" to run a mower. You have 25 hp at best (gear). That is a big difference. I don't think you would be happy running a 6' mower on 25 hp.

For pto powered attachments, it's the "pto hp" rating that matters. Here is TractorData's breakdown of your specs:

TractorData.com Kubota L3130 tractor information

 

[big bubba]

I pull a ten foot woods with a 75 HP Massey Mike1955
assume it's a drag type rather than 3ph. my rig could handle something like that, but i like the lift as i'm in rough terrain, (have 8') regards,

 

[shirleyujest]

I pull a Rhino TW16 with a Kubota B3030. Yes it is slow. I needed a mower that was wider than the outside edge of my tires.

 

[Mike1955]

That’s ok, if it suits you and satisfies your needs. You are use to it and handle it fine. Someone else might get on it and say it want work. This is all about opinion this forum

 

[TORQUIN]

I have a 39hp Kubota with GST (direct drive) and the 5 foot Howse I have is all that it wants. In the thick stuff (hood height) I can't really use higher than 4th gear, at PTO speed.
I did pick up a 6' Woods at auction a couple years ago, but it needs a gear box. Someday maybe I will put the gear box on it and try it out.
Do you have a friend with a 6 footer, or a place you can rent one to try before you buy?

Chris

 

[hosspuller]

IMHO .. Your main issue is weight. Can your tractor lift it?

Power at the PTO will limit your speed, width of cut (take less than 6 foot per pass) and density of the vegetation.

 

[Canuckz]

My Zetor 4911 45hp struggles with my Bush Hog BH216 6' rotary cutter sometimes and is quite heavy to cause tail wagging sometimes. I would think a 6' rotary cutter is too large and heavy for your 30hp tractor.

 

[Hodado]

It would probably work on flat even ground but I think I’d downsize
My brother gave me an old heavy 6’ and I used it for awhile with my little 855JD it would spin it fast enough but maneuvering it was ridiculous.I ended up selling the 6’ and purchased a 4’ Frontier. A narrower swath but much better