Bush Hog What Year?

scottsey · Feb 23, 2015

I am in the market for a rotary cutter and I have ran across this on Craigslist. The guy that is selling is retired and he goes to farm auctions and buys equipment to refurbish and then resell. Can anyone tell me about what year this was made? He says it is a model 276. He is asking $1200.

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

Only way I know of to date them is to get a serial number and call or e-mail bush hog.

But IMO, knowing what year it was made means nothing to me.

The condition does though.

I have seen 5 year old cutters in worse shape (mechanically and physically) than 25 year old cutters

smstonypoint · Feb 23, 2015

I agree with LD1.

http://www.tractorhouse.com/list/list.aspx?ETID=1&Manu=BUSH+HOG&Mdltxt=276&mdlx=exact has two 276 models listed with asking prices of $1900 to $2250. Those seem high, but what do I know? One of the listings is for a 1996 model.

The 276 may be the predecessor of the 286.

There have been several threads dealing with things that you should check when buying a used rotary cutter. Reading those threads should be beneficial.

Good luck.

Steve

scottsey · Feb 23, 2015

Thanks for the info. I stopped today and looked at a County Line cutter at TSC and that thing doesn't look very heavy duty. I think the older Bush hog is probably a better deal.

RickB · Feb 23, 2015

There's only one turnoff, and I can't tell by the one photo for sure. If that cutter has a round shaped gearbox with a round sheetmetal cover on the rear held on by a wire style snap ring I'd pass. Those gearboxes were used by Bush Hog, Landpride and maybe others for a short time, they do not stand up well and are expensive to repair.

LD1 · Feb 23, 2015

depends on what you are expecting out of a cutter.

IF you are just doing light work and pasture grass, a lighter duty mower like those at TSC are just fine.

IF doing more heavy duty type work, and clearing thick briar patches and saplings, then a heavier duty cutter is worth the extra money