Rotary Cutter 48" rotary cutter productivity?

sandman2234 · Feb 15, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I have had a used 48" mower on a Ford 1100 4x4, which is 13hp, 11 at the PTO. I used it to cut a friends shop, which had untold numbers of broken up concrete all over it, in it, etc.
The sides are bent and dented, but it still works fine. I would NEVER mow when anyone was around. If somebody came in, I would stop. I have sent chunks of concrete flying across the road. We picked them up, but they just kept showing up in the grass. A flying object will tear up a car, or kill a person. Be careful. I should have installed chains on mine, but never did. I think they would slow down the flying objects at least a little.
David from jax

IslandTractor · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I use a 48" Bush Hog Squealer with my CK20HST. It pulls it just fine though I have a long slope that requires me to use low range coming up. My tractor has loaded tires and the FEL in place so it pretty heavy even without the 440lb mower.

I have to mow around a lot of bushes and trees so I cannot give you a good estimate for how long it would take to do 1/2 acre fields. However, it takes me about 2-2.5 hours to mow a 3 acre area. Lots of backing and manuvering in my mowing however so I would not use that estimate for mowing fields.

Regarding brands: I certainly like the Bush Hog. I agree with Soundguy however and if I were to do it again I'd probably buy a lesser brand for less money.

For what it's worth, I am becoming concerned about using my rotary cutter in the area I mow as it borders both roads and houses. I am worrying about shooting missles of rock or even bits of tree branches towards public spaces. The area is a bit rough for a finish mower and I'm currently investigating getting a relatively inexpensive flail mower for routine mowing. I might switch after I finish a bit more meadow reclaimation with the Bush Hog.

Soundguy · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

It's easy and cheap to make guards out of truck mudflaps. i have a set on my 5' mower.. just a few bucks for the flaps and the misc bolt hardware, and the perfed angle iron i used as a frame.

Soundguy

IslandTractor · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

Now that you remind me I recall a photo you posted. It still seems a bit dodgy to use a bush hog very close to homes and public streets though I know people do it all the time.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

( It's easy and cheap to make guards out of truck mudflaps. i have a set on my 5' mower.. just a few bucks for the flaps and the misc bolt hardware, and the perfed angle iron i used as a frame.

Soundguy )

Chris, you showed pictures of your mud-flap guards and it was a simple solution that looks like it would work well. But in addition to using guards, I think many people make a HUGE and DANGEROUS mistake with how they set their rotary cutters and are just begging to throw rocks, steel, concrete out the back end.

A rotary cutter should be set nearly level but many people set them so the rear end is much higher than the front. That creates a situation where the rear guards are elevated too high and cannot do the job.

Properly set, a rotary cutter should have a rise to run of about 0.5" per every 12" of deck. So a 6' rotary cutter should have the rear end lifted approximately 3" higher than the front. Manufacturers vary in their recommendations, but 0.5" per foot is typical, some suggest a bit more.

But if you think about it, common sense suggests the higher you set the rear end, the greater your chances of throwing objects dangerious distances. Too bad so many people don't read their manuals and don't use common sense. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

EastTexFrank · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

I run a 4' mower on my B2400 with 18 PTO hp. On my slopes it will still lug down, even in low range but I can still cut about 3/4 acre an hour of tall grass and small saplings. Your speed will depend on what you are cutting and how flat and smoothe the ground is but an acre an hour should be managable.

I come from the buy cheap and beat it up school. Since I only use it about half a dozen times a year at most to cut about 8 acres, I didn't see that I'd gain anything by buying a more expensive model. Even an el "cheapo" should be able to handle 20 years of mowing at that rate.

As others have said, be careful of what's around you when using it. It can throw stuff a long way, both backwards and forwards.

IslandTractor · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

Bob,
Your point is well taken. I doubt you intended to imply that if properly adjusted a bush hog type mower will not eject stones and other objects however. Seems to me it is still the riskiest of the mower types with regard to ejecting dangerous material at high speed and therefore is not the ideal mower to be used around dwellings, roads etc.

Soundguy · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

( It still seems a bit dodgy to use a bush hog very close to homes and public streets though )

Uh /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.. you mean like the city, county and state road crews? They mow all spring & summer... they mow medians and roadsides and water retention areas, utility easements.. etc. Big 15 and 20' mowers ont he roadsides and medians, and smaller 6' cutters int he water retention areas and utility access roads... Hard to go a week during rainy season and -not- see a county mowing tractor next to you!

Soundguy

pennwalk · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

The road crews around here are using flail mowers. Your crews probably walked the medians and roadsides and water retention areas and know that there isn't any dangerous debris /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Chris

IslandTractor · Feb 16, 2006

Re: 48\" rotary cutter productivity?

Would you mow with a bush hog near house or street or pedestrians? The safety warning decals seem to rule that out. I appreciate that road crews etc do it but that doesn't make it a good idea. I thought this was one of the arguments for using flail mowers instead of rotary.