Rotary Cutter 48" rotary cutter productivity?

Agentiron · Feb 14, 2006

48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I am trying to get an understanding of what I can expect from a 48" rotary cutter mowing lots. Most of my lots will be 1/2 acre and will be cut 4 times per year. I will hopefully take on some lots here and there that are out of control. I would really like to get a good estimation of how long it will take to mow these 1/2 acre lots with a 20 hp ck20 and 48" bush hog type rotary cutter? Any thoughts would be awesome!

I would love to hear input on what to expect from those of you who have experience with them, and also if you can give me ideas of time it takes with bigger hogs using higher hp units.

I don't want to be floundering around on a lot forever as I will be doing this for higher. I don't know what kind of speed I can maintain, but suppose terrian will be smooth enough.

Any reccomendations of a decent cutter would be great. I have access to Rhino, Woods, Howse, Midwest, and King Kutter to my knowledge. Howse is the cheapest with Midwest next followed by KK. I don't know how good the hog must be on such a small cutter deck.

Thanks

RonMar · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

There are quite a few variables, you mentioned a few. A half acre is roughly 208' X 104'. At a 4' cut, that works out to be 26 rows 4' wide which is 5408' or 1.024 miles of travel to cover the surface. At 1/2 MPH that is a little over 2 hours, not taking into account time to turn(26 turnarounds minimum), ammount of overlap which will require extra passes and turns and the time required to maneuver around obstacles. You mentioned terrain, that will be one factor in determining how fast you can go comfortably/safely. Grass condition and moisture will be another. Your 20HP tractor is probably around 15-17 at the PTO. That into a 48 inch cutter should do ok as long as the grass is dry. Add a little moisture or something other than grass(brush and sapplings) and you could find yourself really crawling or running the cutter reallly high up(requiring a second lower pass) to keep from bogging the engine down. If you could do 2 MPH then it would take you 1/2 hour plus the additions I mentioned above. It is of course all dependant on the conditions and your equipment capabilities. You will probably have to try it to see what your combination is capable of.

As for equipment, with a lighter tractor, mower weight will be a factor in how fast you can travel to-from and how fast you can mow over terrain(bouncing a heavy impliment can be real hard on a 3PH). If you are not planning on mowing too many rocks or busting real heavy brush, you should look into the lighter models. Preferably something that still has reenforcement on the leading and bottom edges of the sidewalls though as this will help retain the overall shape with prolonged use. We have a older JD light duty hog where I work, that you can barely tell was originally square /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

Bowhunter · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I have a 48" rotary cutter (we call them all bush hogs down here, regardless of who made it) that I use behind my BX2200. It works great behind my little tractor, and I'm sure will work even better behind the larger framed CK. Smoothness of terrain and thickness of growth will dictate your speed, but the larger tires of your CK will allow you to travel faster over the same terrain than I would be able to on my BX. I can easily mow an acre per hour as long as what I'm mowing isn't tremendously thick or tall.

Of the brands you mentioned, I'd have to give the nod to Woods for best quality.

Farmwithjunk · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

( (we call them all bush hogs down here, regardless of who made it) )

Well, at least SOMEONE get's it right.

And by the way, I favor BUSH HOG brand mowers, but find it increasinly difficult to justify the cost of MOST of the "up-scale" brands, considering the very low cost of some of the more "generic" brands. A bush hog will get destroyed if used enough. Some expensive ones last longer, but not 3 or 4 times longer. Not uncommon to see them PRICED 3, 4, maybe 5 times higher though.

silo36 · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

Ditto. I have a 4' hog on my 1700 Yanmar, and i average an acre an hour without undue strain on the tractor. I have taken down some pretty heavy vegetation.

RalphVa · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I've a 4' LX4 on my 18.5 hp 4010. It will generally only bog when sinking into sandy areas such that the blade starts hitting the sand or in really dense grass.

A fellow I met has a 20 hp Kubota that he runs a 5' brush hog on. He says the main problem with it is the weight of the hog on hilly terrain.

You speed mainly depends on whether you have abrupt dips or rises that require you to go slow for safety. These can toss your tractor over on its side if you go very fast.

Ralph

Justaplain · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I have used a 60" on a Ford 17HP You don't have to cut full swath in heavy going, But /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

pennwalk · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

Take care. Even a little 48" bush hog will throw rocks and metal a looong way. I am always nervous when I am using my King kutter on the farm near the neighbors and if there are kids out in the yard I just forget about it. If I was doing it for hire I would rather have a flail mower.
I am using a Yanmar 186D which is 18 hp at the engine and puts around 14 hp to the PTO, I have mowed grass more than head high but the Yanmar has some very low gears and I have used them in heavy going.

Chris

Soundguy · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

( but find it increasinly difficult to justify the cost of MOST of the "up-scale" brands, considering the very low cost of some of the more "generic" brands. )

Ditto. I also find it hard to pay 2x to 3x the cost. While the cheaper brands are of lower quality.. the user is the biggest variable. I've seen a 'new' guy tear up a brand new rhino mower in under an hour... etc.

I have a KK 5' mower.. bought it solely on price.. use it 5ys, and parked it in the pasture.. never had a single problem with it. Upgraded tractors went from 33hp to 95 hp, so I got a 10' mower.. again.. went 'cheap' and got the HD line of howse. Have mowed a couple seasons with it with no more problem than a single loose lift pin...and I assembled it.. so that was my fault. Unit is decent.. and 60% of the price of the next cheapest model... followed by about 33% of the name brand units.

Soundguy

Agentiron · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

You guys are great!

I know what you mean about paying big bucks for a cutter. I hope to do alot of commercial mowing so I do not want something that will quickly fall apart. I don't know how much damage one can do with a 48" deck. I am having a hard time paying nearly the same price for a 48" as I can for a 60". I would like to go for the 60" really, and take smaller swathes but am being advised that the 60 is to heavy for a ck20. It is only 135 pounds heavier then the 48". Does anyone have experience with the 60" on a ck20? I want to be safe and not hurt the machine.

Thanks