Any love for the DR 3 point hitch string trimmer attachment?

nworbekim · Apr 24, 2014

DR Power 3-Point Hitch Trimmer Mower: Brush Cutter & Fence Line Mower

i am intrigued and tempted to buy one, the reviews bother me. anyone here using one? your thoughts?

alancamby · Apr 24, 2014

Wow...I have been looking for something like that. Interested in following the thread.

I have a 1.2 acre pond, fence rows, and hundreds of pine trees. That DR might be the hot setup.

I do have the DR field and brush mower. It is the one that looks like a commercial walk behind with the bushhog style deck up front. It is a very high quality unit.

AchingBack · Apr 24, 2014

DR customer service is top notch. I've been dealing with them for over 20 years. I have two of their mowers and am very satisfied with the way they do business. I believe their products are thoroughly tested before they put them on the market.

bcp · Apr 24, 2014

Some mention of it in these threads:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/283445-using-dr-pto-trimmer-cat.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/77798-weed-trimmer-3-point-hitch.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-pto-weed-wacker-post3719280.html#post3719280

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/equipment-news/18803-3-pt-string-trimmer.html

Bruce

k0ua · Apr 24, 2014

I looked one over pretty well, it seemed well built to me.. One downside I could see is that it is designed for a smaller tractor.. something like a Kubota B series is about max size, and it doesn't stick out past the wheels very far on a large tractor. But on a smaller tractor it would stick out pretty good.

jenkinsph · Apr 25, 2014

k0ua said:
I looked one over pretty well, it seemed well built to me.. One downside I could see is that it is designed for a smaller tractor.. something like a Kubota B series is about max size, and it doesn't stick out past the wheels very far on a large tractor. But on a smaller tractor it would stick out pretty good.

I agree that for small tractors it is a much better fit, I would be more inclined to buy one if it would offset more.

alancamby · Apr 25, 2014

Is it belt drive from the gearbox to the cutter head? If so, I wonder how hard it would be to modify by adding a longer arm and belt.
I read through some of the other threads posted here.
Can anyone confirm that the gearbox is made out of a composite material. I would feel better if it were cast iron.

alancamby · Apr 25, 2014

k0ua said:
I looked one over pretty well, it seemed well built to me.. One downside I could see is that it is designed for a smaller tractor.. something like a Kubota B series is about max size, and it doesn't stick out past the wheels very far on a large tractor. But on a smaller tractor it would stick out pretty good.

I have never tried to offset a implement with the 3 point arms but wonder how much one of the DR's could be offset?
I guess the tractor tires would be the limiting factor.

k0ua · Apr 25, 2014

alancamby said:
I have never tried to offset a implement with the 3 point arms but wonder how much one of the DR's could be offset?
I guess the tractor tires would be the limiting factor.

Not much. I honestly don't think the unit would work well on your DK40, which is wider than my DK35se. I didn't think it would work well on mine.. I am not sure what the gearbox is made of. I think on a B size Kubota or similiar size tractor it would work well. but I really think our tractors are too big.

Cherokee140 · Apr 25, 2014

That thing looks fantastic. I really can't do string trimmers anymore because of some medical issues, I have to get my kid to do it or someone else. And I have a push type with two wheels.

I might look at getting this thing and selling off the other string trimmer.

Something new to research, anyone have any experience with anyone else that makes something like this?

k0ua · Apr 25, 2014

Cherokee140 said:
That thing looks fantastic. I really can't do string trimmers anymore because of some medical issues, I have to get my kid to do it or someone else. And I have a push type with two wheels.

I might look at getting this thing and selling off the other string trimmer.

Something new to research, anyone have any experience with anyone else that makes something like this?

As far as I Know they are the only ones. It would fit your tractor pretty well.

bcp · Apr 25, 2014

Another one:

Weed Chopper

Or put your walk-behind trimmer on a side boom.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=1183

Bruce

aczlan · Apr 25, 2014

We have one. It is sized well for our B7500, it doesn't work as well on our L3830 as the L isnt as maneuverable especially in corners.
I generally put the B7500 in the 1000 RPM pto range, run the throttle to ~1000 engine RPM (which gives ~540PTO RPM) and roll along the fenceline.
It really needs the full 540 PTO RPM to cut well, but I dont like having the engine screaming along with little to no load.
This summer I may re-install the 3 point hitch on our BX2660 (it came off in the first week and hasn't been back on since) and see how that handles the DR and the mower deck at the same time.

Aaron Z

Cherokee140 · Apr 28, 2014

aczlan said:
We have one. It is sized well for our B7500, it doesn't work as well on our L3830 as the L isnt as maneuverable especially in corners.
I generally put the B7500 in the 1000 RPM pto range, run the throttle to ~1000 engine RPM (which gives ~540PTO RPM) and roll along the fenceline.
It really needs the full 540 PTO RPM to cut well, but I dont like having the engine screaming along with little to no load.
This summer I may re-install the 3 point hitch on our BX2660 (it came off in the first week and hasn't been back on since) and see how that handles the DR and the mower deck at the same time.

Aaron Z

That sounds like a good idea, when you are along the fence, trees, whatever you could turn on the back pto and get those edges. Then when in the middle of the yard you just run the one for the belly mower.

I think what I am going to do is try to adapt my walk behind trimmer to be pulled by the tractor. I can't push it anymore so it really gets little use. I think I can make something with some brackets and a long spring loaded arm, use an old trampoline springs and I think I can get the same results....we will see.

k0ua · Apr 28, 2014

Cherokee140 said:
That sounds like a good idea, when you are along the fence, trees, whatever you could turn on the back pto and get those edges. Then when in the middle of the yard you just run the one for the belly mower.

I think what I am going to do is try to adapt my walk behind trimmer to be pulled by the tractor. I can't push it anymore so it really gets little use. I think I can make something with some brackets and a long spring loaded arm, use an old trampoline springs and I think I can get the same results....we will see.

What about a way to mount it on your bucket offset to the side where you could see it?

Cherokee140 · Apr 29, 2014

k0ua said:
What about a way to mount it on your bucket offset to the side where you could see it?

Even better idea.....turning around to look behind gets me too.....soviet metal took a toll on me not long ago.....I am not real keen on drilling holes in the bucket, but that rachet rake setup seems to work darn well....perhaps some kind of attachment like that.

I think you have given me a new project to get started on......just as soon as I get the bearings back in the 650's mower deck I am going to start on that.

Seems this tractor stuff has taken me away from playing with my 63 VW bug.

ecbaatz · May 3, 2014

For just a little more you could get the one designed to pull behind an atv and it is off settable. I am looking into that one even though I am also looking to purchase a new tractor. Just a thought.

freemanauctions · May 26, 2018

nworbekim said:
DR Power 3-Point Hitch Trimmer Mower: Brush Cutter & Fence Line Mower

i am intrigued and tempted to buy one, the reviews bother me. anyone here using one? your thoughts?

I have recently bought one, it takes a little getting used too, you need to read carefully the manual and once your acclimated to using it you become more proficient. I found the spline on tractor to PTO connection was a little more work than needed, but once the spline was clear on the PTO shaft supplied, it was all fine. I made a video for it, explaining somethings that I wish I could have seen prior to purchase, maybe it will be helpful to others.

Again I would have liked to see the connection points, etc. ahead of my purchase. Not knocking it all, it does exactly what I want, I just would like to have seen more intuitive information on installation.
Here is the link: DR 3pt Trimmer Review - YouTube

Good luck, Todd

Industrial Toys · May 26, 2018

A friend works for a DR dealer. He already got a couple of busted ones. I guess they just replace them for the customer. Not sure what busted. Maybe the spindle if memory serves me. I don't think he has used them to report what he thinks of them.