brush hog size

[John_Mc]

<font color=blue>Woods ... light duty rotary mowers are just that, for light duty use only. ... If you will only be mowing weeds then you should have no problems but don't even thing of trying to take down saplings with a light duty bush hog and be real careful of rocks. I have an old Woods M4 that I bought for parts and it looks like it was run over by a truck,dent city.</font color=blue>

I have a Woods BB60, which is their 5 foot "standard duty" (i.e. the lightest one they presently make). I'm driving it with a 27 PTO HP tractor. I regularly run it through dense stands of 1" saplings, and have occasionally mowed larger stuff (though the larger stuff was mostly cedar and pine so far). It has hit very hard on some hidden rocks on numerous occasions.

I've had no complaints with the quality of construction, and for my needs I'm glad I did not go with their next step up in this size, the BB600. In comparing the BB60, it seems closer to some other brands medium duty than to their lighter duty units.

Having said all that, If I were doing it over, I'd probably buy a King Kutter and save a bunch of money. I did not know that they had a decent reputation when I was shopping.

John Mc

 

[Freds]

Thanks for all the great replies, lots of practical info.
I've decided to go with a 4 ft., it almost covers my 50" footprint. The operator's manual recomends seeing my Kubota dealer, no info at all on size of attachments. I'm going to try a couple more stores in my area to see what they have, so far none I have tried handle KK and there's not a TSC listed in the phone book. A friend of mine told me how to check the bearings on a used one so I should be OK if I decide to go that way.

Thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes,
Fred

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...Woods' blades aren't suppose to break (just bend)...</font color=blue>

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.... they all can break... they all can bend... they all can/will become unpredictable dangerous projectiles at anytime... /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

What is the model # of the Woods and Bush Hog's cutters?

 

[Freds]

I'm not sure of the models of the used Woods and the busted up Bush Hog.
I found a TSC about an hour away and I'm going to check out the 4' KK there tomorrow ($530). Then I'll go back and look at the used Woods again and see if it's a shear pin or slip clutch (I was told that slip clutch models are about $140 more) and see if he'll move on the price any if it's a shear pin model. $130 more for a new one with a warranty... tough to pass up if it's the same ga. and blade thickness as the Woods.
On the other hand, I would have to borrow a p/u truck to get the KK (I have a Durango) and the other guy only lives a couple miles away and will bring the Woods down and set it up. I thought choosing a tractor was the hard part.
BTW, in my yellow pages tractors is right after toy dealers, seems kind of fitting /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Fred

 

[crown]

I have a B-7500 HST and I use a 4 ft Howse cutter. There is a lot of negative opinions about Howse but thus far I have no complaints. I mow very tall grass and low brush and have hit my fair share of rocks no dents no damage, thus far I am very pleased if your looking for a low cost rotary both KK and Howse will do the job.
Good Luck!!

 

[Clemson]

Freds, if it will help on negotiating room for your cutter, the sale brochure for TSC's in South Carolina has 5' KingKutters for sale for $499 this week.

 

[BB_TX]

I run a 6' Howse light duty and, like you, am pleased with it. It does all I need including mowing pasture, ditch, and cedars and saplings along the creek. I looked it over well before I bought it and the welds and finish looked good.

 

[Freds]

I haven't ran across a Howse, yet. Did you guys buy them from a tractor dealer or a particular chain of store?
I went to the TSC store this morning. Like a kid in a candy store! Got to check out a lot of attachments (not many dealers in my area even stock them) and saw a lot of stuff inside the store I need too /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. The guy working there said if the used Woods was a slip-clutch it would be worth $400 if it was in good working shape. I'm about ready to head up the road and find out now.

Fred

 

[BB_TX]

The Howse I have seen were at independent used tractor and parts dealers. One local one has been advertising new Howse 5' cutters for $399.

 

[RJS]

Freds

I have a B7500DT and a 4' Woods Brush Bull. When I purchased the pair last year, the dealer did not have the Woods in stock and loaned me a new King Kutter until the Woods came in. The woods in my opinion is a much nicer Brush Hog, but is also a lot heavier, it makes the front end light even with the FEL.

I don't think the KK is a bad cutter, just not as heavy duty.

If I had it to do over, I would buy the KK and save the $$$.