bushhog abuse?

deerefan · Nov 7, 2005

Hello everyone. Hope everyone had a good weekend. I own a JD 5103 with a 6' bushhog. It is a mid-duty hog, model #286. My wife and I just purchased an additional 14 acres this summer and lately I have been cutting some of the brush with my bushhog. The property is planted mostly in plantation pine but does have some spots where the youpan is pretty thick. Some trunks of these bushes are about 2-3" in diameter. The tractor and bushhog seem to handle it fine, I just want to be sure I do not tear up my bushhog b/c it is all I have right now to keep my place cut. This brush is very flexible and cuts in a couple good swings with an axe, so I figured it is harmless for the bushhog. There is some of it I won't cut b/c I am not sure how the bushhog will handle it. Rather be safe than sorry. Any advice on the limits of this cutter would be great. I've visited the bushhog sight and read the specs. I'm looking for user experiences here. Thanks in advance for any help.

Soundguy · Nov 7, 2005

Not sure what type of cutter it is.. but in general.. 1.5-2" 'woody' material is ok, and 2"-3" 'green' material is ok.. as long as the tractor is not bogging down.. or other problems aris.. like the hog jumping.. or shear pins popping / clutch slipping. For the flexible stuff like you describe.. many tractor owners use the genral rul of thumb that if they can get thier front axle over it, and it doesn't bog the tractor down while chewing it up.. it's an acceptable load.

If I mowed that stuff all day / every day.. I'd want a HD cutter. If it was a infrequent occourance.. I think you are good to go.

Soundguy

beenthere · Nov 7, 2005

Sounds like you are making the right calls regards the limits of your bush hog and its doing fine.
When you feel like you want to gamble, then venture into those bigger stems, but realize it is a gamble and you might find the 'weakest link' that will have to be fixed.
Is it worth it? Sounds like it is not, and cutting some bigger stems by hand is a better route for you. Also, depends on the species of tree or bush that make up these stems. Some are stronger and denser than others. It's your call. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

JustGary · Nov 7, 2005

I'm planning to embark on the same thing; rows of pine with yaupon in between. I have a Kubota L2800 with a 5' rear cutter, and had thought that slowly backing over the yaupon for the first pass might be the best. If any damage occurs, it would probably only be the shear pin, and going slow would allow the blades time to cut through the larger stuff without overloading anything.

The next question I had was what about tire punctures? Is this something I need to worry about, or are the AG tires generally beefy enough to handle rolling over small cut off stumps?

Regards,

Just Gary

deerefan · Nov 7, 2005

thanks for the input....rotary cutters seem to only be going up in price and i would like to keep this one a while! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

deerefan · Nov 7, 2005

I have ag tires and have not punctured one yet. The youpan seems to be soft enough that the tractor smashes it down before it punctures a tire.

have_blue · Nov 7, 2005

Deerefan,

3" is within the range of a medium duty cutter and 50hp tractor. Yaupon is as hard as oak, but cutting green 3" trees should be no problem if you go slow. Keeping your blades sharp helps a lot too.

meledward23 · Nov 7, 2005

Just guessing but for Clarifgication

Youpon being Yaupon Holly ?
Ilex vomitoria is the botanical name. Can get to be a fairly large specimen. The dwarf variety Ilex vomitoria 'nana' is a medium bush seen around home foundations maxing out at a typical size of 5' but most often seen in the 3-4' range.

Anyway at 2-3" thick as I am sure you have experienced this is a fairly soft wood. Probaby splinters more than it cuts.

It is similar to privet when it is the size you discusion. Be careful, it can and will resprout. The thicker/old stumps can get very tough.
Good news is that it is not as hardy as privet and easier to kill.

deerefan · Nov 7, 2005

I am not sure of the exact name. People here call it a few things (some of which I won't repeat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) It is commonly called youpan. Others call it privet. It does splinter, it is a very flexible type wood.

Glenn9643 · Nov 7, 2005

I'm familiar with the bushhog model 286. I own one. As you said, it's rated by Bushhog as a "medium duty", but that's a relative term. You can destroy any implement, but the 286 is a pretty tough hog. I prefer to raise the cutter and back it over the larger bushes, then lower to cut. This helps to protect the undercarriage/wiring/fuel lines, etc of the tractor from the brush.
I cleared an adjoining pasture a few years ago for an old uncle that was full of large native bushes, some with 6" stumps at the base, with no problems. Just took my time and cut slowly.