Rotary Cutter 8' twin spindle shredders - who else loves em?

Interlaux · Aug 27, 2010

My first post - I do a lot of mowing and was torn on what to get for "pasture maintenance" which is hotly debated here. I have had my 1st tractor, a JD 4610 eHydro which is 43hp/33@pto for about a year. I live in east Texas and have to mow a couple of LARGE fallow pastures a few times a year. Something like 50 acres it is a little hilly and a Bahia / Bermuda mixture. It wasover grazed and over fertilized for years and needs a good rest. I read every post here on what to get for this and heard little, BUT ENOUGH about twin spindels vs. single blade shredders. I ended up getting a twin spindle 8 and I just want to thank all those on here that suggest twins over single blades. I LOVE THIS SHREDDER! So would say its too much for the tractor but I can go in B range as fast as I can hold on and shred 4 stuff on a lovely 103 degree day tractor warms a little and drinks diesel remember this is a pasture fairly smooth and just grass. Compared to my FILs' 6 HD its easier to pull and turning with twin wheels seems to leave less rutting than with one.
Thanks again guys!

radman1 · Aug 27, 2010

I pull a 10' twin spindle JD hx 10 with my JD 4520. Yes, you can cover some ground with a wider mower. :thumbsup: It can pull it down in heavy, 2-3' tall grass, but overall does well. The hardest part is engaging the pto, then the tractor can really bog down starting the blades.

Interlaux · Aug 27, 2010

Now your getting me excited - the FIL has howse HD 10 - so do you have front weights? My 8' is around 1400 lbs - the Howse HD 10 is ? (I remember 2400) How much does your 10 weigh? The 4520 is the next bro to the 4610 with the JD turbo right? so we are looking at 3800 lbs of tractor with a few more HP than mine

JoeinTX · Aug 28, 2010

Nice rig there, Inter.

Now, be prepared, as there will be some folk who will look down their collective noses at you for stooping to the level of buying an "economy" brand shredder. Apostate. Since you didn't spend the extra $$$$$$$ and buy the fashionable color and model from the local CUTS-and-croissants dealer along with a cap, a dinnerware set, a vanity plate, and the matching bed sheet set just to cut some pasture grass and saplings...........you may be looked upon with some discomfort.

Just be aware. But, us Howse owners gotta stick together.........

Interlaux · Aug 28, 2010

Thanks Joe!

For $2,650 FOB FP TX I dare anyone to find something similar. The powder coat is so thick on the thing it's like rubber coating. Howse claims the blade speed is 15k+ and it has a nice sing. The T box is 150HP and the sides are 75's - all cheetahs.

TripleR · Aug 28, 2010

Nice mower. We have some so called "economy" brands that have taken a beating and lasted for years. A couple are so worn I don't even know the names, but they are still going.

Soundguy · Aug 28, 2010

I also pull a 10' twin spindle mower.. love it as well. bettern' a 7' er that is real long.. etc.

soundguy

Interlaux · Aug 29, 2010

I was kind of hoping someone would get on with thier new 12' batwing thats rated for 35 HP pto - for only $10K!! not a Howse - no one?

ScottOkla · Aug 30, 2010

I got my 10' drag Howse last week. Other than a few quirks that I need to figure out, it cuts well and is really heavy. Plus it only costs about 3k.

Now if I can just pull it with my 50 HP (gross) HST tractor I will really be happy. The 90 hp gear tractor handles it well, but I hate using that tractor for mowing.

I am pretty new and relatively inexperienced with all of this stuff, so I appreciate the input all you guys that help me make decisions. Soundguy's posts helped push me to finally go ahead and buy the Howse.

Dead Horse · Aug 31, 2010

I run an JD MX10 off the back of a 100 90 Hesston. it is a big, heavy cutter that has seen a lot of hard use and come in contact fith way too many boulders in the 10+ years I have used it to cut my orchard.

typically we cut starting the second week in August. By then the grass and weeds in the orchard are between 4 and 5 feet tall, and usually very thick. We wait till the tops "brown off" to make it easier on the mower and time it such that the fodder growth is perfect through the late fall for the wild life.

This is a good implement for the task, however it was expensive and continues to be as things need to be repaired, replaced.

if one is cutting a flat field used for pasture, that has to be a joy of a task!

I am in the white mountains, Nothing is flat, we grow rocks here and slewing around apple trees with a mower that big, makes for a task that requires INTENSE attention.

I also run a prox 8 foot wide old Seppi flail mower for some of the work and that functions just as well, though the dodo who had it before me removed the hyd slewing cylinder so it is not as effective at mowing an orchard.

I have to put a cylinder back on it. One of these years.........

Interlaux · Aug 31, 2010

Scott - I am really interested in how you like pulling with the 50hp HST - I'm betting you'll love it. When engaging try both a "way low" and a "pretty high" throttle - you maybe surprised. Post a pic all the bota bros will love it:thumbsup:

sweettractors · Aug 31, 2010

This is addressed to the OP, Do you have any streaking between blades problems when cutting higher, say 6-8 inches? Ken Sweet

ScottOkla · Aug 31, 2010

Interlaux said:
Scott - I am really interested in how you like pulling with the 50hp HST - I'm betting you'll love it. When engaging try both a "way low" and a "pretty high" throttle - you maybe surprised. Post a pic all the bota bros will love it:thumbsup:

The 50hp is at my house and the Howse is at the farm, so it might be a while. Maybe October before we do the final mow at the farm. I'm spoiled mowing with the HST. I have been wondering how engaging the PTO with it will go.

Soundguy · Aug 31, 2010

sweettractors said:
This is addressed to the OP, Do you have any streaking between blades problems when cutting higher, say 6-8 inches? Ken Sweet

curious.. do you have a specific application inmind where you routinely cut high?

soundguy

sweettractors · Aug 31, 2010

Soundguy said:
curious.. do you have a specific application inmind where you routinely cut high?

soundguy

Yes, we do that when clipping pasture. We don't want to cut the forage that the cattle need to eat, however, we want to cut the top growth of stems to reduce pinkeye in the cattle and also noxious weed control. Ken Sweet

Interlaux · Sep 1, 2010

Ken - I've never tried to mow high - my set-up is back wheels to the last/lowest or one less hole and I'm shooting for a 3" cut- watch out fire ants!:laughing::licking:. The dealer claimed around 2" of blade over lap and the center of the cut is truley smooth but the edges/wheel depresions are noticable. The main problem I see with the "sloped-back-front" design is tall grass can push to the outside and never see the blade. This type of front on mowers is to allow smaller/closer arm cuts to pull and turn but maybe a outside 'gatherer' could force the outside edges to their death! I've read many of your posts and have a sense you've had issues??

sweettractors · Sep 1, 2010

Interlaux said:
Ken - I've never tried to mow high - my set-up is back wheels to the last/lowest or one less hole and I'm shooting for a 3" cut- watch out fire ants!:laughing::licking:. The dealer claimed around 2" of blade over lap and the center of the cut is truley smooth but the edges/wheel depresions are noticable. The main problem I see with the "sloped-back-front" design is tall grass can push to the outside and never see the blade. This type of front on mowers is to allow smaller/closer arm cuts to pull and turn but maybe a outside 'gatherer' could force the outside edges to their death! I've read many of your posts and have a sense you've had issues??

The issue with a 8 ft double spindle cutters has been streaking in the middle, while cutting high (clipping) Since you are not doing that, it is a no problem for you.:thumbsup: Ken Sweet

SPYDERLK · Sep 1, 2010

sweettractors said:
The issue with a 8 ft double spindle cutters has been streaking in the middle, while cutting high (clipping) Since you are not doing that, it is a no problem for you.:thumbsup: Ken Sweet

Interesting! Thanks for that insight.
larry

Interlaux · Sep 1, 2010

Ken - do you sell a 8' twin spindle? I was hoping to hear from some other brand owners - I know there was a post from a woods 8' twin unhappy owner last year - wonder how things worked out

Dead Horse - lets see if I have the right picture in my mind - your pulling a HD 10' with a gear hesston through brush so high it reaches the operators station and you know there are bolders lurking. Your right! a flat rockless pasture is a joy -I'll keep it in mind next time it seems tedious

sweettractors · Sep 2, 2010

Interlaux said:
Ken - do you sell a 8' twin spindle? I was hoping to hear from some other brand owners - I know there was a post from a woods 8' twin unhappy owner last year - wonder how things worked out

We won't stock a 8 double spindle of any brand. Most of our local customers are "Clipping" pastures high and the 8's won't satisfy them. We do stock the 10 double spindle. Ken Sweet