Brush Mowers for places too small for bushhog

[Ken45101]

Yes the 42" twin blade quick detach mowing deck mounts in front of the tires and you walk behind it and the quick connect "brush/bush hog is 30" single blade i think.

Oh, okay! The 42" is the "lawn mowing" attachment.

That wasn't an option ten years ago.

Ken

 

[Gale Hawkins]

DR Field + Brush mower 17 hp with finish mower 50 hours - eBay (item 370462553428 end time Dec-09-10 16:00:48 PST)

I think these mowers sell on the high side. One guy had the brush deck only with a newer 17 HP model and his was stuck on a FIRM $2700. I found one just 3 hours away with the 13 HP engine and both decks and it was $1600.

If one catches a sale the new 18 HP version with both decks runs about $4500 to the door. Not sure what year it was but the newer ones have differential locking.

This winter I hope to open up the view from our deck through the woods. We may use it to keep some banks that at one time we weed eated but health issues removed at option for a while.

The HP ratio per inch of cut is about the same as the 7' bush hog on the 265 MF. Still not sure about a "walk behind" bush hog.

If you can open this link you can see from the last photo how the deck attaches. There is just one keeper pin to pull and a belt quick release to remove/swap out an attachment.

 

[JakeBrake]

My 2002 DR Field & Brush Mower with 700 running hours is equipped with a 26" brushcutter, a 42" mowing deck and a 120/240V 6KW generator. When the 6KW generator is attached to the engine unit, the wheels are powered so you can easily roll the 6KW generator up a ramp onto your truck or trailer or out to the back 40.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

DR Power Equipment - DR® Walk-Behind Field and Brush Mower ? Attachments for the DR Walk Behind Brush Cutter, Commercial Grade Walk Behind Mower.

Of the 6 attachments I think the generator one would be nice. Do you remember a ball park cost for it?

It being powered would be nice. A light Honda is nice but at a high price and low output. The typical 6000w generator is not one man friendly.

I think we will get some nice ramps for the pick up and we have a tilt trailer but the pick up option is more simple for us.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/general-lawn-garden/66529-dr-brush-mowers-finish-mowers.html

An old thread on DR, other 2 wheel tractors it may be of interest for the few who are interested in such equipment.

 

[9973720wb19]

my 17hp DR Brush Mower works great and is a workout. Since it's wheel drive with 4 different speed gears, I like using it on steep hills and around the pond and stream where my tractor and me dare not go. Btw, I have a DR Trimmer for sale on this site under Classifieds Personal Ads. You'll have to pick it up from Maryland

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Man everyone that talked about the DR bring a work out kind of made under statements.

Well it got up to 34 today so we unload our "new" 17 HP DR mower and the 30" bush hog and 42" mower decks. We installed the 30" deck and changed the oil to Rotella T6 5W-40 synthetic with a new filter the seller gave us.

I am sure it would do fine on larger pine but our stunted maples want to stand up straight so the DR will just try to climb them if they are over 2" around.

Now it will walk though 1" stuff quite well. In the woods deep with leaves I found going down works better as far dozing the brush over but coming up hill I do not have to use reverse often to make three passes getting the stub as smooth as possible.

A few times I had it kill the engine when it cut the tree off then started grinding on the stump but I soon learned how to manage that from happening. I am glad I missed the 13 HP model and got the 17 HP for less money.

Now the power may be better but it had old gas in it and I added so much Sea Foam it smells like a diesel engine. I have fresh pure gas treated with Sea Foam to put in it tomorrow.

It is low hours and I do not think anything has been adjusted on it since it was unboxed. The choke would not completely close until I adjusted the cable. In this cold weather the choke is required to start it the first time.

After a couple hours of use I think we have a winner in the DR brush mower. Since we may not have much use for the 42" mower deck we are looking at unbolting the deck that swings from the frame and then mounting a box on the frame to have something on the order of the DR Wagon.

The 6KW generator attachment is $800 but we have a 3500 watt China generator that we can load into the box we add on the mower frame to make a four wheel truck so we can have 120/240 volts any where on the place.

Since we plan to use it a lot the next 3 months I may get chains for it in the woods. If we get the pushing blade attachment the chains will help with traction.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I hate the marketing folks.

After the first run with the DR Brush Mower it was not doing well with the larger bushes that the specs state it should.

Read the fine print last night and for it to meet the specs the marketing department put in print I have to order the $50 optional Brush blade so I will do that because they only ship it with the lighter multi-purpose blade good for grass, weeds and light brush.

I think I will order the tack and headlight too so I can see where I am going and how fast I am getting there.

 

[Ken45101]

I hate the marketing folks.

After the first run with the DR Brush Mower it was not doing well with the larger bushes that the specs state it should.

Read the fine print last night and for it to meet the specs the marketing department put in print I have to order the $50 optional Brush blade so I will do that because they only ship it with the lighter multi-purpose blade good for grass, weeds and light brush.

I think I will order the tack and headlight too so I can see where I am going and how fast I am getting there.

Well most of the time I figure that marketing hype is way overblown. However, the DR Mower was one of two items where I didn't feel they oversold the machine. (The Mantis tiller is a second).

I don't understand your issue unless they have changed blades since I bought mine ten years ago. I ordered the heavy duty blade when I bought it, but I've never put it on, the original blade has cut anything I've been able to push the DR onto.

I feel the DR (walk behind) meets all of it's claims. OTOH, I have been very disappointed with the DR tow behind.

Ken

 

[WAB85]

I have a DR 17 HP Brush cutter -- bought it new.
I ordered the heavy blade and put it on before using it the first time. My original equipment blade is new in cardboard. I use the DR in the summer around the farm for mowing trails in the woods and along fence rows where a tractor does not fit.
In the winter (now) I remove the brush cutter deck and put on the snow blower attachment. It is very easy to change. We have a 3PH snow blower for the big stuff but that DR is perfect for clearing a path from the house to the barn, to the bird feeders, etc.
I am happy with both the brush cutter and the snow blower.
DR builds good equipment.
KW
NE Indiana