84" Brush hog on a L3560, Ok or too big
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TSO
Elite Member
A flail mower
bdhsfz6
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When I replaced my brush hog blades, the new ones cut better than my Finishing mower (yea, need to replace those, too). Problem is, after hitting a couple of "items" hidden in the grass, it's not cutting as fine.
I usually run my 5' brush hog around first, then wait a day or so and go over it with the 6' finishing mower. Does a nice job of it.
Mikeeemo
Silver Member
Fot that size tractor, get a 6 footer
JWR
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I think you heard everyone pretty clearly -- get the 6ft hog. A medium duty hog (such as my BushHog brand 297) weighs about 1400lbs. and is just right for an 81HP 9,000lb tractor. I used a 6ft JDMX6 on a 48hp tractor for years and that was a near perfect combo. Now to your question quoted above: A real sharp set of blades on a 6ft hog will cut very smooth and you'll be hard put to do a better job with a finish mower unless you cut every week. If the grass/weeds are going to get high on you and might not get cut until 2 or 3 weeks growth or sometimes worse you will do a better job with the hog than the finish mower. I got rid of a GOOD 6ft finish mower for exactly that reason. If you have intentions of cutting grass for "looking kind of nice" pay attention to the tip speeds on the hog you buy. Find one with a higher tip speed and keep the blades sharp. It will do a super job for you.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Certainly can't go wrong with a good 6' cutter. But I disagree with alot of comments in this thread that say as long as you keep it a light to medium duty.
A light duty 6' doesn't really take any less hp to operate than a heavy one. A heavy gearbox might have just a slight bit more drag, but is negligible. The pto hp requirements the mfgs publish are just general guidelines and more based on shear tractor size and weight. And weather the tractor can physically handle/lift the cutter.
Your l3560 is physically about the same as a mx5800. Just alot less power. IE: you have one of the biggest and heaviest 35hp tractors made. You would have no issues carrying around a HEAVY 6' cutter or even a 7' cutter back there.
As to power.....I ran a heavy 1100# 6' cutter behind my l3400 for years. Same pto power as you, but about 1200 pounds less tractor and about half the lift capacity. I had to leave the loader on, but just barley. I was actually looking for a 7' or 8' twin spindle mower, as I wanted MORE than 6'. But I was cutting alot of light stuff, that got done 3-4 times a year. So power was never an issue, rather I was slowing down because of rough ground, and could make use of more cutter.
If all you plan is to cut thick dense fields (three foot grass is tough stuff to cut and will really slow you down), then your speed is gonna be deterred by hp, not cutter size. In a case like this, there would be very little to no difference when comparing a 5', 6', 7', or 8' cutter. Each time you go bigger, you need to go proportionally slower. End result is the same. But where a bigger cutter is nice is where you ain't cutting real thick dense stuff, and want to make good time.
Now as to getting a good quality cut....two important things. High lift blades and high blade speed. Compare blade speeds of cutters you are looking at. 6-7 foot cutters, this can range from about 11000 fpm to over 16000 fpm. And suction type/high lift blades do alot nicer to stand the grass up that the tractor runs over
A light duty 6' doesn't really take any less hp to operate than a heavy one. A heavy gearbox might have just a slight bit more drag, but is negligible. The pto hp requirements the mfgs publish are just general guidelines and more based on shear tractor size and weight. And weather the tractor can physically handle/lift the cutter.
Your l3560 is physically about the same as a mx5800. Just alot less power. IE: you have one of the biggest and heaviest 35hp tractors made. You would have no issues carrying around a HEAVY 6' cutter or even a 7' cutter back there.
As to power.....I ran a heavy 1100# 6' cutter behind my l3400 for years. Same pto power as you, but about 1200 pounds less tractor and about half the lift capacity. I had to leave the loader on, but just barley. I was actually looking for a 7' or 8' twin spindle mower, as I wanted MORE than 6'. But I was cutting alot of light stuff, that got done 3-4 times a year. So power was never an issue, rather I was slowing down because of rough ground, and could make use of more cutter.
If all you plan is to cut thick dense fields (three foot grass is tough stuff to cut and will really slow you down), then your speed is gonna be deterred by hp, not cutter size. In a case like this, there would be very little to no difference when comparing a 5', 6', 7', or 8' cutter. Each time you go bigger, you need to go proportionally slower. End result is the same. But where a bigger cutter is nice is where you ain't cutting real thick dense stuff, and want to make good time.
Now as to getting a good quality cut....two important things. High lift blades and high blade speed. Compare blade speeds of cutters you are looking at. 6-7 foot cutters, this can range from about 11000 fpm to over 16000 fpm. And suction type/high lift blades do alot nicer to stand the grass up that the tractor runs over
JWR
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A 1400 lb 7ft hog is 16% of the weight of a 9000lb tractor. Handles well. Right sized.
A 1400 lb 7ft hog is 39% of the weight of a 3600 lb L3560. Handles poorly, will not be comfortable. Recommend against it.
It is not a question of COULD you, it is a question of SHOULD you and how satisfied you will be overall.
A 1400 lb 7ft hog is 39% of the weight of a 3600 lb L3560. Handles poorly, will not be comfortable. Recommend against it.
It is not a question of COULD you, it is a question of SHOULD you and how satisfied you will be overall.
LD1
Epic Contributor
My 1100# bushhog 306 was 42% of the weight of my L3400......and I liked it very much.
My Woods DS96 @1620# is 43% the weight of my MX5100.......I also like it very much.
The L3560 isnt much smaller at all. Only ~200-250#. And actually (according to ratings), has a stronger 3PH. Sure, may need a little additional front weight since the 3560 is lighter....and my woods DS96 does make me light and I'm a tad heavier.....but I wouldnt have a moments hesitation hooking a DS96 to a 3560.....especially if HST. 8' cutter at 2 MPH cuts just as fast as a 4' cutter @ 4 mph. (actually a tad quicker cause less inefficiency and turns, but I wont go into that). But a 2MPH ride is much more pleasant, smoother, and easier on the tractor.
To tell someone to stick to a lighter 6' cutter for that HEAVY 35HP tractor.....as some have done in this thread.......is a silly proposition IMO. That think will run a heavy 6' all day long. As well as a reasonable 7' cutter.
HP dont need to dictate the size of the mower. That should be left to tractor weight and hydraulics. HP only dictates how fast you can mow....in terms of acres/hour. A larger cutter is NOT going to be slower. Ground speed slower....yes. Overall mowing time slower.....just the opposite.
I much prefer to mow slow and wide......as opposed to fast and narrow. If you choose the opposite using a 81HP tractor and 7' cutter, more power to you.
Sure, there are several valid reasons to choose a smaller cutter. Affordability, gates, trails, trailing, maneuverability, dont have alot to mow and dont care about inefficiency, only ever cutting nasty 10' tall overgrowth (briers, saplings, etc), availability, etc. But HP shouldn't be a large determining factor, especially on a HST tractor. If you are cutting pastures, grass, open areas......the most efficient (fastest) way to cut is to get the biggest the tractor can physically handle.
I have 42 PTO HP on my MX. I am currently keeping an eye out for a lighter 10' twin cutter. Something in the 1500# range. I cut alot of pastures and open areas that some get cut as often as once a month. Power is a plenty with 8' cutter. What slows me down is terrain (bumps), and simply overrunning the cutter. (Driving faster than the blades can actually make a revolution without skipping uncut grass). Many many times I am mowing at 7-8 MPH and wishing I had a wider cutter. Not once have I ever wished for smaller. I can always slow down.....or take smaller bites with a large cutter. But you can NEVER take a larger bite with a smaller cutter....or mow faster than the tip speed will allow without overrunning.
the OP can buy whatever he wants and make his own decision. I am by no means trying to say he should go buy an 8'+ cutter. A 6' cutter would work perfectly. All I am saying is dont pass up a good opportunity to buy a HEAVY 6' cutter.....or even a medium 7' cutter just because someone on the internet thinks it needs 80+ HP to run.
My Woods DS96 @1620# is 43% the weight of my MX5100.......I also like it very much.
The L3560 isnt much smaller at all. Only ~200-250#. And actually (according to ratings), has a stronger 3PH. Sure, may need a little additional front weight since the 3560 is lighter....and my woods DS96 does make me light and I'm a tad heavier.....but I wouldnt have a moments hesitation hooking a DS96 to a 3560.....especially if HST. 8' cutter at 2 MPH cuts just as fast as a 4' cutter @ 4 mph. (actually a tad quicker cause less inefficiency and turns, but I wont go into that). But a 2MPH ride is much more pleasant, smoother, and easier on the tractor.
To tell someone to stick to a lighter 6' cutter for that HEAVY 35HP tractor.....as some have done in this thread.......is a silly proposition IMO. That think will run a heavy 6' all day long. As well as a reasonable 7' cutter.
HP dont need to dictate the size of the mower. That should be left to tractor weight and hydraulics. HP only dictates how fast you can mow....in terms of acres/hour. A larger cutter is NOT going to be slower. Ground speed slower....yes. Overall mowing time slower.....just the opposite.
I much prefer to mow slow and wide......as opposed to fast and narrow. If you choose the opposite using a 81HP tractor and 7' cutter, more power to you.
Sure, there are several valid reasons to choose a smaller cutter. Affordability, gates, trails, trailing, maneuverability, dont have alot to mow and dont care about inefficiency, only ever cutting nasty 10' tall overgrowth (briers, saplings, etc), availability, etc. But HP shouldn't be a large determining factor, especially on a HST tractor. If you are cutting pastures, grass, open areas......the most efficient (fastest) way to cut is to get the biggest the tractor can physically handle.
I have 42 PTO HP on my MX. I am currently keeping an eye out for a lighter 10' twin cutter. Something in the 1500# range. I cut alot of pastures and open areas that some get cut as often as once a month. Power is a plenty with 8' cutter. What slows me down is terrain (bumps), and simply overrunning the cutter. (Driving faster than the blades can actually make a revolution without skipping uncut grass). Many many times I am mowing at 7-8 MPH and wishing I had a wider cutter. Not once have I ever wished for smaller. I can always slow down.....or take smaller bites with a large cutter. But you can NEVER take a larger bite with a smaller cutter....or mow faster than the tip speed will allow without overrunning.
the OP can buy whatever he wants and make his own decision. I am by no means trying to say he should go buy an 8'+ cutter. A 6' cutter would work perfectly. All I am saying is dont pass up a good opportunity to buy a HEAVY 6' cutter.....or even a medium 7' cutter just because someone on the internet thinks it needs 80+ HP to run.