Tractor Sizing 6' brush hog on a 30Hp tractor

[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