40 or 42 inch bush hog

simpilot · May 26, 2008

How do I get one? Checked all my stores in SW Missouri. Called Gearmore in CA. Called Kingkutter in Winfield, AL. and they said to use their web site for a dealer. Nothing. Two places said they would try to order one for me. One said $1100.00 the other $875.00.The $1100.00 one is at my Kubota dealer and the other is a light duty one of some kind from another place Did not like the sound of that. One had their front parking lots full of bush hogs priced at $675.00. When I ask why so much more for a smaller one they said those were ordered months back and the price is up 50% now. I'm running in circles with cash in hand and weeds getting higher. I have a BX2230. Most dealers I talked to sell compact tractors but do not sell bush hogs for them.

Thanks for any help.

charlz · May 26, 2008

I run a 48" on my 16hp b7100.... I don't know the size of your tractor but horsepower wise I would think you would be fine with a 48". In the thick, tall stuff you have to go real slow on first pass and then take 1/3 or 1/2 passes after that.

Ductape · May 26, 2008

I would also run a 48"...... there are plenty of really nice used 48s around here. If you are set on new, i would say $1,100 should get a decent rotary cutter around here.

Tom_H · May 27, 2008

48" would be the max for a light duty. I run a 40" heavy duty Gearmore on my BX2200. It cuts most anything, 14' weeds, even clusters of 2" poplar sapplings, without slowing. Very dense broom grass is the only thing that lugs it a bit.

I like the Gearmore also because the width of the chassis is the same as the tractor. This way, I can see that if the tractor will fit between 2 trees, then the cutter will fit with the same amount to spare as it trails behind. The chassis is 42" and the diameter of the cut is 40".

Available brush hog widths that will work on a BX are 36", 40", 42" and 48". The Gearmore is the only HD model that I know of. All others are LD. I cannot recall any Medium Duty models in these sizes, though there may be some 48" HD and MD that are slipping my mind right now.

If they existed, I think a 54" light duty, and a 48" medium duty could work on a BX with a 22-23 hp engine, if you were just cutting hay. A BX with 15 or 18 hp engine would probably do best with a 36" LD. A BX2660 might be able to get by in hay with a 60" LD.

BTW, Bush Hog is a manufacturer of many tractor attachments. Brush hog is a synonym for rough cutter, rotary cutter.

swmpbgy1 · May 27, 2008

simpilot said:
How do I get one? Checked all my stores in SW Missouri. Called Gearmore in CA. Called Kingkutter in Winfield, AL. and they said to use their web site for a dealer. Nothing. Two places said they would try to order one for me. One said $1100.00 the other $875.00.The $1100.00 one is at my Kubota dealer and the other is a light duty one of some kind from another place Did not like the sound of that. One had their front parking lots full of bush hogs priced at $675.00. When I ask why so much more for a smaller one they said those were ordered months back and the price is up 50% now. I'm running in circles with cash in hand and weeds getting higher. I have a BX2230. Most dealers I talked to sell compact tractors but do not sell bush hogs for them. Thanks for any help.

I have a 42" Howse brush cutter that I purchased new in August 2004 when I bought my new BX2230. Traded the 2230 in July 2007 for the B3030 and kept the Howse. Have been considering upgrading to a 60".......Might considering selling?????

Swmpbgy1

jcpwrsprt · May 27, 2008

I run a 48" Befco with no problems. You will need ballast on the front end regardless.

BEFCO - Products - Rotary Cutters - Tornado RSD

Tom_H · May 27, 2008

jcpwrsprt said:
I run a 48" Befco with no problems. You will need ballast on the front end regardless.

What does your unit weigh? I run my hd Gearmore 40" without rear ballast and have never had a problem.

Those who are running 48" models, do you have light, medium, or heavy duty models? Also, what are you cutting: hay, tall thick weeds, saplings? This would likely help the o.p. with his decision.

hdbikercouple · May 27, 2008

i run a 60 in with a stump jumper on my bx2200 .weight is needed on the front end i vary the speed i travel in thick slower and others as fast as it goes in low range.

jcpwrsprt · May 27, 2008

You mean front ballast..Right? The 48" Befco weighs 438lbs according to the link included in the post. Medium/Heavy Duty cutter. RM's hang farther back than most other implements so the weight has more of an effect on the tractor.

Tom_H · May 27, 2008

jcpwrsprt said:
You mean front ballast..Right? The 48" Befco weighs 438lbs according to the link included in the post. Medium/Heavy Duty cutter. RM's hang farther back than most other implements so the weight has more of an effect on the tractor.

Yes, front ballast. Sorry about that. My Gearmore 40" is a heavy duty RM. The weight is 390 lb. I run it all the time with no front ballast, uphill, downhill, and mild sidehill. I never have any problems at all. Of course the rear wheel is usually down and supporting weight while the PTO is engaged. I lift it to put it on and off the dolly, and I have one steep slope where I back the tractor up to the slope with the RC hanging out in the air and then lower it to cut one patch, lift, reposition, and cut another little patch. I just never have any difficulty with balance. Of course, it could be that there is so much ballast in the operator's seat that is solving what would otherwise be a problem! Ahem,