Mowing 6 foot rotary mower, OK for a CK35?

[Nlight]

Hi Guys!
Question: Would a 6 foot rotary mower be OK for Bobcat CT235? I believe the CT235 is the equivalent of the CK35, so I am looking for a CK35 owner that is successfully using a 6 foot mower with their Kioti CK35.

I am looking to purchase a Woods BB60x or BB72X. Bigger is not always better, Right? But I would really like to totally cover the rear tire width, and the BB60 won't.

One odd thing I have been made aware of is that Woods makes a lighter duty 6 foot model, the HC 72. Their website states the minimum HP required for it is only 20 HP, where the Bush Bull HP is 30. I don't get it, the blade diameter is the same, so why is the HP requirement 10 less?

Thanks for your input.

 

[ddb123]

I run a medium-duty 6-footer behind my 35 hp tractor. Runs it just fine, even as well as my 45 hp tractor did. If you decide on a 5-footer you can offset the mower on the back so you cover one track, then use your tire to guide you as you mow. If you aren't mowing a very large area, you probably won't notice the difference in time between 5 and 6 foot mowers. I mow a few acres and have it cut in about the same time with a 6' as I did with a 5.

You might also check craigslist for a used mower, they are usually MUCH cheaper than new.

 

[RandyT]

Neighbor uses a 6 footer behind a CK30 to mow his pasture.

 

[k0ua]

One odd thing I have been made aware of is that Woods makes a lighter duty 6 foot model, the HC 72. Their website states the minimum HP required for it is only 20 HP, where the Bush Bull HP is 30. I don't get it, the blade diameter is the same, so why is the HP requirement 10 less?

Keep in mind these recommendations are just that recommendations, but some manufacture rate their machines to cut thicker materiel than others. As an example would you need more horsepower if you were cutting heavy saplings that some would call "trees"?.. The amount of power you need is directly related to what you are cutting, and how you are cutting it.

James K0UA

 

[ddb123]

Don't listen to James, he doesn't think his Kioti can handle anything more than a four foot brush hog! :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

Don't listen to James, he doesn't think his Kioti can handle anything more than a four foot brush hog! :laughing:

Ha ha.. yeah I know my "hog" is a little on the small side, as it was sized for a B7500 I used to own. It was about right for it.. It looks pretty ridiculous behind the Kioti, but hey it is payed for.

 

[DK35vince]

My DK 35 runs a 6' King Kutter brush mower fine.

 

[ritcheyvs]

I think you need to consider what you plan to cut, not just HP and swath. I have a light duty 6 ft cutter and the DK45 is plenty of HP to spin the blades even in high grass. But if I get into heavy brush the cutter can bog down so I go slow. In my case, I suspect the light-duty cutter would crap out before the tractor runs out of shaft HP.

 

[Nlight]

I think you need to consider what you plan to cut, not just HP and swath. I have a light duty 6 ft cutter and the DK45 is plenty of HP to spin the blades even in high grass. But if I get into heavy brush the cutter can bog down so I go slow. In my case, I suspect the light-duty cutter would crap out before the tractor runs out of shaft HP.

At this time only grass and wildflowers (for weed control in the wildflowers) is what I will be cutting. I contacted Woods today and their technical support said the reason one model vs another model with the same cutting widths require different HP's is due to weight of the unit. They felt that if my tractor could lift the mower with the 3-point the 6 foot unit would be OK. My tractor with the loader on can lift 1,508 pounds with the 3-point. So with the Woods BB72X at 825 pounds, it should work out OK. They also said like others in the forums had said that if needed, I could take a smaller cutting width to maintain RPMs.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Coyote machine]

I use the BB72 on my DK-40. I like it, BUT it is big, and one needs to be careful when turning, especially on slopes, etc. to maintain balance side to side and front to back, with adequate ballast on the front end, loader, and turning smaller front tires all factored into the speed at which one moves.