Best older 7' rotary cutter

LD1 · Aug 20, 2019

Zebrafive said:
TractorHouse lists a 709 for $2450 in Archbold Ohio. I have no idea distance for you to check it out. You might want to message the seller for a serial number. From it you can find out which gear box is has (JD used several makes)

I have seen that one. But $2450 is ALOT more than I want to spend on a used cutter. And no doubt it's a fine cutter, I really don't need a super heavy duty one. 1" cut capacity is fine. If a customer has 2" or 3" trees they want removed....even if I had a cutter rated for it I wouldn't run them over. I tell customers either cut them down, hire someone with a skid loader cutter, or hire me to come back and rip out with grapple.

So I question the sanity of a $2500 used cutter when a guy can buy a new Titan or Kodiak for that. And specs seem to be on par with other medium duty cutters

Ford850 · Aug 20, 2019

If you only need 1" capacity, any of them will work for you. I cut 2" trees and brush regularly with my old my old King Kutter 6'. Now I have a Woods BB720 and it's a beast, cutting small groves of Black Locust with many trees over 3" diameter. That's not something I would want to do very often, but I have some areas I let get out of control. Both work great on tall grass and weeds and as long as you aren't chopping rocks or wood, the deck thickness doesn't matter too much. If I were you I'd buy a lower priced one like you originally listed and give it a try regardless of light vs medium weight. You'll be able to get your money back out of it if it doesn't work as planned, or it you want to upgrade to a heavier model.

Zebrafive · Aug 20, 2019

LD1 said:
I have seen that one. But $2450 is ALOT more than I want to spend on a used cutter. And no doubt it's a fine cutter, I really don't need a super heavy duty one. 1" cut capacity is fine. If a customer has 2" or 3" trees they want removed....even if I had a cutter rated for it I wouldn't run them over. I tell customers either cut them down, hire someone with a skid loader cutter, or hire me to come back and rip out with grapple.

So I question the sanity of a $2500 used cutter when a guy can buy a new Titan or Kodiak for that. And specs seem to be on par with other medium duty cutters

You said you mow commercial. Do you write off/depreciate equipment? How long would it take to pay for it self? I do not know if you are busy enough to make money with it, or if downtime from a broken lighter cutter, would adversely affect you (meaning loss of jobs).

I only mow my own property, and that's usually only twice a year. That's why I do not have a $3000 or more mower.

LD1 · Aug 21, 2019

Zebrafive said:
You said you mow commercial. Do you write off/depreciate equipment? How long would it take to pay for it self? I do not know if you are busy enough to make money with it, or if downtime from a broken lighter cutter, would adversely affect you (meaning loss of jobs).

I only mow my own property, and that's usually only twice a year. That's why I do not have a $3000 or more mower.

A breakdown would not cause loss of jobs. This would be a SECOND cutter to complement my twin spindle DS96. Wanting to try an in-expensive 7' cutter....to test out. My thinking is that there are certain conditions of taller stemmy vegetation that the 8' twin cuts like crap. Hoping to find a better solution to get a much cleaner first pass over this taller stuff. And a 7' swath isnt too much of a productivity loss if the results are as desired.

I'd still keep my 8' twin....for my regulars, heavier grasses, less dense type stuff where it really shines. And use the 7' cutter when I know the vegetation is going to be taller and cause me cut-quality issues.

Zebrafive · Aug 22, 2019

OK, I did not see the Woods DS96 in you list of equipment at the bottom of your posts.

You do have a hard decision to make. A 7' cutter will not be an "easy sell" if it does not work out (most small land owners do not want something that big, they want 5' or maybe 6')you might stuck with it. Then if it does work out, I would want something heavy built, that will last a long time, which means higher initial cost. I was also thinking (and might be wrong, wont be the first time ,or last) the Bush Hog Squealer 7' is a two spindle cutter?

LD1 · Aug 22, 2019

Zebrafive said:
OK, I did not see the Woods DS96 in you list of equipment at the bottom of your posts.

You do have a hard decision to make. A 7' cutter will not be an "easy sell" if it does not work out (most small land owners do not want something that big, they want 5' or maybe 6')you might stuck with it. Then if it does work out, I would want something heavy built, that will last a long time, which means higher initial cost. I was also thinking (and might be wrong, wont be the first time ,or last) the Bush Hog Squealer 7' is a two spindle cutter?

Yea, I havent updated my sig line in awhile. So the DS96 isnt on there. If I listed ALL of the equipment I have I'd have to triple the length of my sig.

But in my opening post, I explained the issue I have with taller stuff and the DS96, and my reasoning for wanting a 7' cutter.

The Squealer could be had in both a single spindle and twin. The Twin was a SQ84T I have seen single spindle "squealers" listed as SQ84, SQ840, and SQ184 IIRC. But lacking the "T" They are singles

95 percent of what I cut is sapling free. Maybe a stray rose bush or something the size of a sharpie. But not like I'm clearing a mini-woods with a ton of 2"-3" saplings. And even if I had a cutter rated for it, I would turn the job down and advise the customer to hire someone with a SS and brush-cutter or mulcher. Regardless of cutter rating, its still hard on equipment driving over that stuff. Risk is too great for what a customer would be willing to pay me.

So I kinda stick to the gravy jobs. Building lots that need cleared to be marked and staked for a house, that was just a bean or corn field the year prior. Or someone's mower broke and their lawn got away from them. Or horse pastures once or twice a year. Or my commercial accounts, where its what looks like a hay field beside a factory or place of business, and they dont want to pay to have it mowed weekly. So opt to hire me to do it 2-3 times a year. Those are the kind of jobs I mostly stick to. And even if I get on some virgin ground that hasnt been mowed in years, any thing over 1" diameter and I'm going around.

The building lots that were fields the year prior are the worst for what I am trying to solve with the 7' single. Very little grass. Just the tall stiff stuff that aparenty resists roundup pretty well. Golden rod, Mares tail, 5' tall thistle, etc. My cutter deck is TOO short to cut them cleanly in one pass. And end up with alot of 2" tall stems pop back up even If I go less than ONE MPH over them

oldnslo · Aug 22, 2019

an old sickle mower will cut the tall stuff but would not like any saplings. This is what they used to use for road ditches years ago and also for haying. Work very well on level ground without rocks, gopher mounds etc.

I know not a bush hog