Mowing Bushog size for horsepower

[crowbar032]

Does anyone know a rule of thumb for sizing a bushog/rotary cutter to tractor horsepower? I know the rule for plowing is 15 horsepower per bottom. I just bought a JD 5065E, which is 53 horse at the PTO. I think that it would pull a 7 ft with ease, but I'm leery of a 10 footer. Thoughts?

 

[murphy1244]

Does anyone know a rule of thumb for sizing a bushog/rotary cutter to tractor horsepower? I know the rule for plowing is 15 horsepower per bottom. I just bought a JD 5065E, which is 53 horse at the PTO. I think that it would pull a 7 ft with ease, but I'm leery of a 10 footer. Thoughts?

5 pto hp per foot of blade.

 

[msmud]

According to Woods Equipment info on their multispindle bushhogs, you should be able to run their 10' and 10.5' models with the horsepower your tractor has. See the following link:
Rotary Cutters

 

[Zebrafive]

I've heard both 5HP/FT and 6HP/FT You should be fine.
I've also heard an 8' twin spindle will take the same or less HP to run than a 7' single spindle.

 

[MattLynch]

You should be able to run a light or medium duty 10' but you would have a hard time with a heavy duty model.

 

[crowbar032]

Thanks for the imput. Now to start browsing the classifieds and craigslist.

 

[brewdog]

I have 30 HP at the PTO and run a 6 foot Brush Hog. Works great.

 

[LD1]

Yep, as others mentioned, the general rule is 5-6 HP per ft.

But there are other things to consider as well. If it is going to be a 3PH model, can you lift if???

Other things to consider are....do you have any tight areas to get into?

And if you get a 10 footer, and only have 9' garage doors????


There are exceptions to the rule. You can run a bigger cutter, but will have to go slower. Or you can run a smaller cutter, and be able to go at a much faster ground speed. HP determins how fast you can cut, not cutter size. I imagine a 10' cutter in thick stuff and you'll bog down a good bit. Where a 7' cutter may just breeze through.

 

[crowbar032]

Yep, as others mentioned, the general rule is 5-6 HP per ft.

But there are other things to consider as well. If it is going to be a 3PH model, can you lift if???

Other things to consider are....do you have any tight areas to get into?

And if you get a 10 footer, and only have 9' garage doors????


There are exceptions to the rule. You can run a bigger cutter, but will have to go slower. Or you can run a smaller cutter, and be able to go at a much faster ground speed. HP determins how fast you can cut, not cutter size. I imagine a 10' cutter in thick stuff and you'll bog down a good bit. Where a 7' cutter may just breeze through.

Excellent points. I'm used to runing a MF 150 with a Model 206 Bushog. I can do 2nd gear in low range, but it's about all the old girl wants to pull and it does bog down in thick stuff. The 6 footer is wide enough to cut out the tire tracks of the tractor. The width of the JD is 6 ft 1 inch, which is why I want at least a 7 ft cut. It's so much easier to mow when the mower is wider than the tractor. Cutting the tire tracks out is mostly my main concern, it's just a matter of how much outside of the tire tracks I can cut.

I don't have any tight areas that I currently want to cut. Of course this may turn into a case of if you have it, you will mow. I generally leave the bushog outside. Even though the barn has 14 ft doors on it.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I'd look at either a 6' cutter or 8' twin spindle cutter. The 7' single spindle cutters are very large and cumbersome (long) and take a fair bit of power to use, you are at the bottom end for a single spindle 7'. I have heard there are some 7' twin spindle cutters on the market now, which might be another option.

As for the 10', for light work it would be fine. Heavy work and you'd need at least another 10hp on the PTO to really make it work well. Of course, when you get to this size cutter you will be looking at strictly pull type models (for your size tractor), so that is another thing to consider.