6 Foot Howse, Is It Worth it?!

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's a light duty brush cutter. I have one almost identical to it. Runs just fine on 32 pto hp. Had it for 5 years now.

As long as the gear box is good, it's worth it. Make sure it's got oil in it, and it's not turned to milk inside. Not much really can go wrong with those that isn't visually obvious when you walk up to it.

Mine doesn't look that good, but it still works.

 

[big bubba]

keeping sharp knives will play a large part too. stay safe removing & sharpening them

 

[Rockbadchild]

Add about $1200
Copied from Howse website:
6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards
$2,715.00

6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards

6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards **Due to high demand, please call for availability and shipping quote

www.howseimplement.com

If you don't want the chain guards, knock off about $400

ho didn’t know it was that much

 

[RoyJackson]

ho didn’t know it was that much

Yeah...everything has gone up significantly...sucks, doesn't it?
Just got a heating oil...$5.46 per gallon...this is insane...

 

[Citydude]

Add about $1200
Copied from Howse website:
6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards
$2,715.00

6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards

6' Economy Cutter With Chain Guards **Due to high demand, please call for availability and shipping quote

www.howseimplement.com

If you don't want the chain guards, knock off about $400

Holy cow! $2700.00? Guess I'd better do some repairing on my Howes 6 footer. I bought mine slightly used for $450.00 in 2013.

 

[RoyJackson]

My Deere's have 25 and 30 PTO hp. I am most interested to see if the 6 foot vs. my 5 foot brush hog makes any real time savings on certain areas I mow. The areas are a bit rough so travel speed is limited. So if you can't mow faster, mow wider!
The Frontier RC2072 has a minimum PTO rating of 25HP so it is my choice if I can justify it!
So before I spend a bunch on a good 2072 I'd like to get a feel for how the tractors handle a 6 footer in general.
This Howse seems like a lighter duty one so I think it won't sap too much power from the tractor.

No one has really screamed "stay away" from the Howse so it may be a good one for the price point if it is in decent mechanical condition.

We'll see in a couple days when the snow melts.

I suggest you buy it before it's sold to someone else...
I've had 3 brush cutters. The only new one was a LandPride (that was pulled by the 670 I described earlier) and a Deere 790 after the 670.
The last one was a well used BushBull (Bush Hog brand) which was pretty beat up, but did it's job on my field. I lent (read "gave") this one to a friend to maintain his deer camp. He passed away and I just let the deer camp keep the cutter
I have a flail mower now, but I do want another rotary cutter and I will buy used...in fact, I'd buy the one you're looking at if I was closer!

 

[rScotty]

It's a light duty brush cutter. I have one almost identical to it. Runs just fine on 32 pto hp. Had it for 5 years now.

As long as the gear box is good, it's worth it. Make sure it's got oil in it, and it's not turned to milk inside. Not much really can go wrong with those that isn't visually obvious when you walk up to it.

Mine doesn't look that good, but it still works.

I have one too. Sounds just like yours. Old and beat up. $500 for a used and abused bush hog that still works is a standard price almost everywhere. Mine is an old M5, and they had heavier steel throughout.
You are lucky it has a good wheel and PTO shaft. At worst it might need new bearings and seals. If it does, you can fill it up with half grease and half 90wt for a trial outing. Be aware that what those cheaper hogs really need is a chain skirt to catch things thrown by the blade. Mine will send a baseball or golf ball or rock 50 yards easy. It can be real scary when it throws one past your tractor.
Unless your tractor is real tall, I recommend you put some skirt chains on it if you get it. And don't ever cut where a rock thrown out the side would hurt someone.
rScotty

 

[Citydude]

I have one too. Sounds just like yours. Old and beat up. $500 for a used and abused bush hog that still works is a standard price almost everywhere. Mine is an old M5, and they had heavier steel throughout.
You are lucky it has a good wheel and PTO shaft. At worst it might need new bearings and seals. If it does, you can fill it up with half grease and half 90wt for a trial outing. Be aware that what those cheaper hogs really need is a chain skirt to catch things thrown by the blade. Mine will send a baseball or golf ball or rock 50 yards easy. It can be real scary when it throws one past your tractor.
Unless your tractor is real tall, I recommend you put some skirt chains on it if you get it. And don't ever cut where a rock thrown out the side would hurt someone.
rScotty

Agree 100% Scottie but as the operator, I've had to stop mowing until a person was clear.

I contract mowed for the town I live in and it's amazing how people don't understand the hazards of moving machinery. One lady stopped her car and walked behind my mower because she wanted to talk to me. She was within 10 feet of my brushhog before I noticed her. Dang.....

 

[earljr59]

Many years ago I bought a Howse mower like this brand new. It has been a reliable cutter. So good when I saw a twin to mine for sale beside the highway about five years ago I bought it. It has been as tough as my first one that still mows fine. I do run a chain on top front to my tractor rear for slack. Both cutters have been very tough and trustworthy.

 

[LD48750]

If you already have a 5' the 6' won't make enough difference to notice.
At $500, that is a good deal using my 20 year old 5'er as a judge.