6 or 7ft Cutter

rvaitor · Oct 26, 2005

I have been looking at what unit to buy. Have about settled on Kodiak brand. I have 6000 4wd and don't know whether I should go with a 6 ft or 7ft HD unit. I have some cleaning up to do but am also wary of it being too wide. My tractor is 77 inches wide and was thinking I need something at least as wide as the tractor.

Any thoughts on single vs dual wheels on the cutter?

Thanks in advance.

LeadPoison · Oct 26, 2005

If maneuverability is not an issue go with the 7 footer.

BobG_in_VA · Oct 26, 2005

Get the 7ft. I've got a 6000 as well and have a 7ft IMC cutter with twin tailwheels. Overlaps the rears by about 6 inches on either side. You can't go wrong with this unit...I like the the twin tail wheels, gives a very smooth cut and keeps the cutter "square". BobG in VA

DmansPadge · Oct 26, 2005

I would say go with the 7ft. It will make it a lot easier to mow close to fences, trees, etc. With a 6ft which would be more narrow than the tractor you will not be able to get close and it would require backing up and sharper turns to mow edges.

Tim_in_IA · Oct 27, 2005

Bob,

What's an IMC? You have good taste in equipment and I've been looking for a cutter like this. How thick of saplings can you take out with that puppy?

BobG_in_VA · Oct 27, 2005

Tim, It's International Machine Co. I think its out of Ohio. SweetTractors sells IM. Here's the link to the page the the 7ft IM702 is located. As far as "how big" will it cut, the mower weighs a bunch. I usually back up (put the sapling between the tailwheels) and it pushes the tree till the blade tips find it. ThunkThunk and its down. I haven't found the need to raise the unit up and set it down on a sappling (2-3inches), just back over it and the weight of the cutter does the rest. BobG in VA

http://www.sweettractors.com/new_equip_pg3.html#lift

jwcinpk · Oct 27, 2005

A second nod for the IMC cutter it's a bear. I don't take it easy on my equipment and have mowed a bunch of not nice stuff with mine. No problems to report and it's a heavy cutter.

rvaitor · Oct 27, 2005

Thanks everyone for the responses - I haven't had a chance to respond.

What are folks thought on chains? The Kodiak 7 ft HD cutter is priced at $1595 / dual wheels / 90HP transmission / 7 guage deck/

Also the stump jumper is an angle welded to the deck in front and back of the the spindle(?) This only on the HD - I think the MD has and dish type set up.

rvaitor · Oct 27, 2005

Here is a picture of the cutter I am considering.

fig · Oct 28, 2005

rvaitor,

The equipment that you are looking at; is it at a dealer in Hickory or Nashville? PM me and let me know where they are; I'm not that far away from Hickory.

Newton

KennethBrown · Oct 29, 2005

By all means go with the 7. I have a 5500 witha 6 modern. I love my tractor and shredder. They are both tough as nails. I have 36 acres half wooded, half pasture. I am cutting all of the small trees and saplings for more grass area and to clean the place up. I got the 6 for that reason. I sure wish I had the extra foot when I shred now.

rvaitor · Oct 30, 2005

How do you like the Modern? Aren't those the galvanized ones? They also supposedly have a round strip of metal under the deck that keeps the blades from deflecting up and hitting the deck.

A bush hog dealer near here is looking at carrying these.

DmansPadge · Oct 30, 2005

I had a Modern 4ft. cutter with my Kubota. I think for the money... they are about the best bang for the buck. Well built, optional galvanized dip (only about $60 more than a painted one), heavy gauge steel, stump jumper, shear pin or slip clutch. Modern attachments are very popular here in SE Texas since they are made in Beaumont. A lot of guys around here wouldn't have anything else. Their website is www.modernusa.com.

KennethBrown · Nov 2, 2005

So far I really like it. The only complaint I have is the top kink mounting. It uses the "swiveling U" instead of a slot. Most of the times it is dropped down so there is no play. I am sure that I just haven't figured out how to set it up properly. I'm too busy playing on it, uh working I mean.

rvaitor · Dec 18, 2005

Well,

Ended up buying a 7ft IMC - Seems to be very tough. The tractor hardly knows it's there. I had the option to buy another unit the dealer had 6ft for $695(40HP gearbox stamped chassis), but decided based on the theory you never have more power than you need. I paid $1600 from West End Tractor in Vale, NC.

West End Tractor is a fairly new dealership that seems to sell everything from Mobile Homes to cars to tractors(Massey & Kioti).Clean and lots of inventory.

They happen to be the closest to our farm 8 miles so that is another reason I wanted to buy there. The Mahindra dealer in Lenoir priced it a little less, but it was 30 miles each way.

This was my first recent experience hogging. Went through some fairly tough stuff(a grown up powerline, some pasture that hasn't been cut in a couple of years). I was running in low range 2 or 3rd gear. The property has terraces so there can be some topo.

Tough equipment and I think it will allow me to do what I need. Thanks to the guys with experience with this unit and my tractor for recommending it.

rvaitor · Dec 18, 2005

Another picture - this one shows in the foreground what I call a 'terrace'. This actually was part of a field at one time and I hope to clean it back up and maintain it.

The cutter didn't seem to have a problem with this area.

KennethBrown · Dec 18, 2005

Your cutting the same type of stuff I am. It gets a little rough but the tractor just keeps on going. Sometimes I get overzelous and haul a$$ thru the thick stuff, lots of banging but it keeps on going.

twin88cam · Dec 19, 2005

I don't know if there is a dealer in your area, but you may want to consider one the cuters from Brown Mfg company.
Very heavy duty and well built,come in many different styles and sizes. http://www.brownmfgcorp.com

rvaitor · Dec 19, 2005

Looks like nice equipment. I had seen some other posts about these , but didn't see them at the dealers I shopped.

tractorboy5500 · Dec 25, 2005

i am a little new at this, i have been useing my 6' mohawk cutter, and put 5 hours on it, and sheared about 4 pins, and a freind of mind with a tractor for years gave a grade 5 bolt, that fixed that problem, but he told me becareful when buying bolts, because a grade 8 bolt might be to much and cause gear box problems. any one had any of the same problem??