Rotary Cutter Brush Hog Question..?
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Old Red
Platinum Member
I have a 4 foot frontier that is a 8 out of 10 for $1,100 if you need one. Excellent condition, just don't use it. Have a 6 and a 15 already.
DieselBound
Elite Member
I'll agree with oosik that WA is really barren for used implements for CUTs. BUT, if one is patient something always seems to pop up. I got my BH26 (Bush Hog 6' rotary cutter) after I'd all but resigned to buying new. I paid $800 for what is essentially a beat-to-heck piece of equipment. Had to have $150 of welding done on the tail wheel bracket (it's now better than stock- thanks for xfaxman's suggestion on reinforcement gusseting) and about $300 for a new PTO shaft. Input shaft looks like it might be starting to leak: no big deal, just keep the gearbox topped off. Previous owner used it commercially, and wasn't shy about cutting up rocks (fortunately there was a new set of blades on it when I got it). Deck got a 1/4" plate steel topping: refer to mowing rocks. Time will tell, but I'm pretty sure that this thing will do everything I need it to do for as long as I need to do it: at some point, when I'd done with the bulk of brush cutting, I'd hope to start shifting toward running a 7' fail mower. Any new, comparable model would have run upwards of $3k. Money saved allowed me to purchase a new (and truly) heavy duty box blade, something that, in the 7' range, has never popped up in my neck of the woods (unless sold with a tractor).
For mowing just grass most anything will work. I ran a very low-end Rankin 5' cutter on my B7800; I punished that cutter and yet it held up (had to replace a tail wheel though).
There's not much to a rotary cutter. Check gearbox to make sure it's not full of crap. If it spins up and feels steady then the gearbox and stump jumper (and blades) are likely OK. If the deck has life left, and the PTO shaft is good (one I got was bent; I went with a beefier one) then there's little reason for the cutter to not last many (more) years.
For mowing just grass most anything will work. I ran a very low-end Rankin 5' cutter on my B7800; I punished that cutter and yet it held up (had to replace a tail wheel though).
There's not much to a rotary cutter. Check gearbox to make sure it's not full of crap. If it spins up and feels steady then the gearbox and stump jumper (and blades) are likely OK. If the deck has life left, and the PTO shaft is good (one I got was bent; I went with a beefier one) then there's little reason for the cutter to not last many (more) years.
It's always interesting to see how some folks refuse to buy anything new, and some refuse to buy anything used. Personally, for something in the price range of a 5' brush hog, which is what I was after, I would absolutely prefer to buy new. I don't want to deal with all of the unknowns involved. I would rather know exactly what I have from the day I bought it new and any issues with it are on me. If I can afford new, I prefer new. Anything that requires a loan and going into debt is more complicated.
ovrszd
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In my opinion, the most misunderstood fact about a brush hog is it's simplicity. So,,,, when buying a use one,,,, there are a very few things I need to analyze to determine it's condition. These things can be analyzed in two minutes at most. After that analysis it's a money game of offer, counter offer.
So let's look at worst case scenario. The tail wheel is junk, the gear box is junk, the PTO shaft is junk, it needs blades. Every single time, without exception I can buy that "junk" brush hog for give or take $500. Replace all those parts. Still have less than a new hog.
So,,,, every one of those parts listed above that doesn't need replaced just increased the money savings. Maybe it's better to look at a used brush hog with reverse thoughts. Every major component that's good and doesn't need replaced simply makes the purchase that much more of a value.
I have bought new equipment and used equipment. Some tools aren't worth the risk to go used. A brush hog isn't one of them.
I'll put my $650 6ft brush hog up against anyone's new one. First thing they have to do is disclose what they paid.
Some folks need counseling to deal with the addiction of "new paint".
DieselBound
Elite Member
^^^ Exactly!
Further, how much use is one really expecting to get out of a piece of equipment? I don't buy things for resale value, I buy them to use them. My used cutter may not last as long as a brand new one, but then again I ain't going to last as long as a new one would either: I expect that my cutter will serve me until I can no longer run it.
I bought my 5' Rankin light duty (actually even less than "light duty") used. I paid $800 for it. After 5 1/2 years of hard use (I still marvel over how well a low end cutter like this held up) I sold it for $500. The cutter would have continued to serve me but i wanted a cutter that was quick hitch compatible (B7800 lower links suck) so I bought a used LandPride 1860 that had been heavily used, blades were at least 50% gone (I put on new ones): I paid $700? (can't recall exactly; I gave the guy a few bucks more because he delivered it). I did NOT see the cutter before buying: I've run it a fair amount now and it's working great (off my B7800).
Further, how much use is one really expecting to get out of a piece of equipment? I don't buy things for resale value, I buy them to use them. My used cutter may not last as long as a brand new one, but then again I ain't going to last as long as a new one would either: I expect that my cutter will serve me until I can no longer run it.
I bought my 5' Rankin light duty (actually even less than "light duty") used. I paid $800 for it. After 5 1/2 years of hard use (I still marvel over how well a low end cutter like this held up) I sold it for $500. The cutter would have continued to serve me but i wanted a cutter that was quick hitch compatible (B7800 lower links suck) so I bought a used LandPride 1860 that had been heavily used, blades were at least 50% gone (I put on new ones): I paid $700? (can't recall exactly; I gave the guy a few bucks more because he delivered it). I did NOT see the cutter before buying: I've run it a fair amount now and it's working great (off my B7800).
$800 for a used less than light duty cutter? Exactly why I went with a new one. My new 5' standard duty cutter was $925 ($977 out the door.) For $177 I would rather have a new machine. I've seen new light duty and lightly made cutters go for more than I paid, and also used cutters go for as much or more than I paid solely because of the name on it, but they still don't seem to be built as well as what I got for my money. Granted, I'm no rotary cutter expert, but I'm not mechanically stupid or blind to things either. Maybe it's location, but for the most part people around here want excessive money for beat up used stuff that would definitely cost more to make it new quality again vs just buying new equipment to begin with. I'm not one to buy and resell stuff either and I plan on having my stuff for a long time, so if the price isn't much different, why not go with new equipment.
DieselBound
Elite Member
It was barely used. And, that was MANY years ago and I needed one ASAP. At that time it was still cheaper than anything else. Oh, and it might have been $750: I cannot recall as it was many years ago. Also was the first implement that I'd purchased. I've learned a lot since then.
I don't overpay for stuff. But, you can continue to "feel good" about your purchase.:thumbsup: No desire to take that away from you: but others coming along need to understand that there ought not be any fears over buying a used cutter as long as one knows the simple things to check on (the knowledge provided by the likes of Richard, above, is very sound).
DieselBound
Elite Member
Yes, god bless them! (I've bought some VERY nice used cars; got a good farm truck, used, of course, for a great price as well) Past year I bought a used dump trailer for $4k; needed tires and a new battery; helped me complete my fencing project, one which would have likely run about $20k if I'd have had someone do it: my total cost was $7k- trailer paid for itself; my new tractor, NX5510, also helped pay itself down a bit (about 100 hours on the job for it).
Pricing here is a WHOLE lot different than elsewhere. LOCATION matters. Here's a new 5' cutter from the local Tractor Supply: CountyLine Rotary Cutter, 5 ft. at Tractor Supply Co. $1,199.99; with my taxes that would be over $1,300.
And for a four-footer (not sure who this is, a local manufacturer?): 4' Rotary cutter - farm & garden - by owner - sale $1,595 (w/o tax)!
(I've bought some VERY nice used cars; got a good farm truck, used, of course, for a great price as well) Past year I bought a used dump trailer for $4k; needed tires and a new battery; helped me complete my fencing project, one which would have likely run about $20k if I'd have had someone do it: my total cost was $7k- trailer paid for itself; my new tractor, NX5510, also helped pay itself down a bit (about 100 hours on the job for it).Pricing here is a WHOLE lot different than elsewhere. LOCATION matters. Here's a new 5' cutter from the local Tractor Supply: CountyLine Rotary Cutter, 5 ft. at Tractor Supply Co. $1,199.99; with my taxes that would be over $1,300.
And for a four-footer (not sure who this is, a local manufacturer?): 4' Rotary cutter - farm & garden - by owner - sale $1,595 (w/o tax)!