Best light/medium 5' rough cutter?

[GeauxLSU]

I guess tying into this thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/92120-king-kutter-5-rough-cut.html
What is the best 5' rough cut mower for under $900?
(This will be pulled behind an L3130)
This is my first tractor so simplicity, dependability and if the worse happens, ease and availability of replacement parts is key. I definitely want something with an installed guard or one that's VERY easy to attach.
Slip clutch/shear pin no matter as this will primarily be pretty light use.
Thanks in advance.
Phil

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I have the 3130DT and a 5' Bush Hog brand squealer. I think I paid around $600.00 for it 3 years ago. Most likely around $800 now.

I have also used a 5' KK, King Kutter, from TSC that is at my dads place. Really could not tell any difference and the cost is a lot less.

 

[scott_vt]

I have the 3130DT and a 5' Bush Hog brand squealer. I think I paid around $600.00 for it 3 years ago. Most likely around $800 now.

Mornin Hunterridge,
I will cast another vote for Bush Hog Squealer, I have a 5ft and its an excellent light to medium cutter, I have used it the last few years and had good luck with it !

 

[Ben3130]

I am shopping for a brush cutter as well (for the same tractor too ), and if you're requiring easy to attach guards then the KingKutter is out. There are no factory guards that I can find (at least no one selling them), so you would have to fabricate your own, or attempt to retrofit a set from another brand of rotary cutter (like Howse).

I priced out a Howse in my area, but by the time I buy the cutter and the front/rear guards, it pushed it up into the cost bracket of Bush Hog and Woods.

I am leaning towards purchasing a KingKutter 5' rotary cutter. I have a friend who is pretty good at welding and has offered to help me fabricate front and rear guards using some angle bracket and strips of old conveyor belt. Should be as good as anything that comes standard on any light duty cutter.

If you find out where to buy guards for a KingKutter and how to install them, please let me know. I have looked for months to no avail. Good luck in your hunting.

 

[GeauxLSU]

I am shopping for a brush cutter as well (for the same tractor too ), and if you're requiring easy to attach guards then the KingKutter is out. There are no factory guards that I can find (at least no one selling them), so you would have to fabricate your own, or attempt to retrofit a set from another brand of rotary cutter (like Howse).

I priced out a Howse in my area, but by the time I buy the cutter and the front/rear guards, it pushed it up into the cost bracket of Bush Hog and Woods.

I am leaning towards purchasing a KingKutter 5' rotary cutter. I have a friend who is pretty good at welding and has offered to help me fabricate front and rear guards using some angle bracket and strips of old conveyor belt. Should be as good as anything that comes standard on any light duty cutter.

If you find out where to buy guards for a KingKutter and how to install them, please let me know. I have looked for months to no avail. Good luck in your hunting.

Well that's not good. I don't have a friend like that.
Do the BH/Woods come in under $900 WITH guards?

 

[Ben3130]

Definitely not a Woods or Bush Hog. In my area, they are $1175 and $1095, respectively. I there is only one place that sells Howse locally (Northern Tool), and right now they are on sale for $699. Then add $150 for the front chain guard, that's $850 right there. I don't see any item for a rear chain guard, but I'd imagine that's probably another ~$100.

What you could do is buy a Howse, which comes factory pre-drilled with holes for mounting guards, then fabricate your own. This way you wouldn't need to have a friend that welds. It would be a little bit of work to make your own guards, but then removing/replacing them would be no more work than factory guards. Either way you'd be bolting/unbolting them from the cutter.

One thing to consider, I've been told by a lot of people that use rotary cutters that if you're just cutting grass (nothing that would be dense enough to really throw and cause damage), you don't need to worry about the guards. The worst thing that will happen is you'll get grass blown on you from the cutter. It depends on what 'light duty' means to you.

 

[john_bud]

My woods BrushBull 600 is a medium duty cutter. It weighs in at 1100 pounds with the front and rear chains. It has been great cutting small trees in the 1-3" range and does a slow but decent job on the occasional 4-5" range (soft woods - no oak!). The weight pushes over the trees and mulches them down pretty good. That might be more than you are wanting in terms of $$ and capability.

The Woods 60 is supposed to be good, but will still top over your budget.


It might be best long term if you save for a couple more months and get a higher quality unit, if you really want medium duty.

Things to look for are thickness of the deck and sides, diameter of the stump jumper (bigger is better), rotating weight (more is better for chomping up stuff), total weight (higher is usually more reliable), HP of the gear box and shielding. Look over all the ones you are interested in and decide which fits your needs the best.

jb

 

[GeauxLSU]

Most I could ever imagine cutting would be 2" and then VERY rarely. Even though it'll primarily be grass I still want the guards on both sides. Could pick up the stray rock or something and I have a 4 year old that will likely be running around. He's not worth ANY risk.

 

[FamilyFarm]

I also have a Woods BrushBull in a 6 ft model. While that is more cutter than you are looking for, I have been very pleased with it and I suspect the lighter duty Woods cutters would be very well made also. I use front and rear guards (the front more to protect the glass in the tractor cab) to protect anything from thrown rocks. The 4 year old doesn't need to be near the cutter, guard or not! I'm sure you already plan to keep him away, and like me, you also worry that he could somehow get out of sight and wander too close. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the little guys! The thing is, I have had rocks manage to escape the guards and go quite a distance. Some of my cutting is done pretty close to my front yard, so I make extra effort to make sure the children are never out in the yard when I am even remotely close.
Best wishes on finding the right cutter for your needs. Don't let the manufacturers rating of light or medium duty matter so much as the weight of the unit and the reputaion of the company.

Terry

 

[Bird]

I don't guess you can see them really well, but I made the chain guards for the front and rear of my Howse 500.