Rotary Cutter Buying New Rotary Cutter

[mossdown]

I think there is a chain option for the rear if you choose to go that route. The guards are for Safety issues. Have you thought about a flail mower? I wouldn't mind picking one up as a second option as to cutting locations on my schedule. They are slim pickins around here but that is another thread. Oh- isn't mulch good?

 

[Travis_R]

This is the 1st bush hog I've owned that has no discharge for the clippings. A flail mower wouldn't do me any good but I have used one before years ago on a Ford 6610.

 

[mossdown]

I don't know if you have the option to slot the guards themselves and make them adjust up to allow for more clearance. Have you tried removing them to see what happens? Just a thought. Might get the safety cops called on you.

 

[big bubba]

either model will do you well. not sure why you posted when you've already purchased , but as Triple R said,can't do wrong with either. both are good...was that your original question? best regards

 

[Travis_R]

I don't know if you have the option to slot the guards themselves and make them adjust up to allow for more clearance. Have you tried removing them to see what happens? Just a thought. Might get the safety cops called on you.

Fixing to remove the rear safety band/guard. My Bush Hog 285 never even came with a rear safety band/guard. It was bought new 7 years ago. Matter of fact the 3 Bush Hog Squealers I owned never had rear guards. All Bush Hog brand cutters I've had have had the front rubber belting but that's it. They were all purchased new also so they had to of came from the manufacturer that way.

 

[Travis_R]

Problem Solved! Yeah that metal band was the whole problem with the discharge. Made a 360 degree difference in the performance of the bush hog. The band is going back on there because it adds a lot of structural support to the back. But the part of the band that blocks the discharge is gonna get cut out with a torch or band saw before it gets bolted back on. Not much has to be taken out but it makes all the difference.

 

[Jkott]

Fixing to remove the rear safety band/guard. My Bush Hog 285 never even came with a rear safety band/guard. It was bought new 7 years ago. Matter of fact the 3 Bush Hog Squealers I owned never had rear guards. All Bush Hog brand cutters I've had have had the front rubber belting but that's it. They were all purchased new also so they had to of came from the manufacturer that way.

You have your choice of front and rear guard type (band or chain) and they are considered an option, but My dealer wouldn't order it for me without something.

I do realize that brands like King Kutter at your local TSC or Fleet Farm don't come with any of the guards, the guards aren't carried in the store, and are nearly impossible to find an online retailer to buy from.

 

[Travis_R]

You have your choice of front and rear guard type (band or chain) and they are considered an option, but My dealer wouldn't order it for me without something.

I do realize that brands like King Kutter at your local TSC or Fleet Farm don't come with any of the guards, the guards aren't carried in the store, and are nearly impossible to find an online retailer to buy from.

I didn't realize that a rear band or rear chain are both options. I thought a manufacturer was required to install one or the other. But like you stated, the ones at TSC are not shielded either and all 4 of the other Bush Hog rotary cutters I've had in past years never had that rear shielding either. Maybe the 'rules' have changed over the years I'm not sure.

 

[JRobyn]

Thanks for doing the "experiment". I have an old BH 286 with front chain guard and no rear; F-I-L has a new BH15 with rubber guards front and back. His does not seem to cut quite as "clean" as mine. Now I know why and what to do about it. Except that he tends to forget where he has the back pointed and it may at times be pointed toward our house! So guards will hopefully stay ON. I can't get him to keep the discharge chute on his riding mower down either.

- Jay

 

[Jtschnel]

I've read through this thread and am hoping that you will provide me some advice. I've ordered a John Deere 3046R compact tractor and one of the attachments I plan on ordering is a rotary cutter. The two the dealer can offer directly are the John Deere MX5 or possibly the Frontier RC2060.

I've seen many other models talked about so I'd like some suggestions. Initial use will be moderate but want at least a medium duty as there will be more than just grass and weeds, I'm figuring a potential for saplings up to 1 1/2 to 2".

What about sheer pin versus slip clutch (something I first read here). Any information and suggestions would be appreciated.

All things being equal I'd buy from this dealer as they've been very good to me over the years. That said, it certainly appears that all things are not equal.

Thanks in advance.


Jim

 

[LD1]

I've read through this thread and am hoping that you will provide me some advice. I've ordered a John Deere 3046R compact tractor and one of the attachments I plan on ordering is a rotary cutter. The two the dealer can offer directly are the John Deere MX5 or possibly the Frontier RC2060.

I've seen many other models talked about so I'd like some suggestions. Initial use will be moderate but want at least a medium duty as there will be more than just grass and weeds, I'm figuring a potential for saplings up to 1 1/2 to 2".

What about sheer pin versus slip clutch (something I first read here). Any information and suggestions would be appreciated.

All things being equal I'd buy from this dealer as they've been very good to me over the years. That said, it certainly appears that all things are not equal.

Thanks in advance.


Jim

The RC2060 is a light duty cutter only rated for 1" saplings. SO you need not look at that based on your description.

Not sure what kind of mowing you want to do, or where, but you have enough power to pull a 6' cutter. But the heavier 6' cutters like the MX6 will likely require you to leave the loader on or add front weights. So if you are doing open fields, I'd want a 6. If you are blazing trails through a woods, or a lot of small tight areas, then and only then would I consider a 5' cutter.

The MX5 is a good medium duty cutter. Not sure what the prices are at your dealer.

Some others to consider are

Woods BB60x and BB600x The 60 is a tad lighter duty than the MX5 rated for 1.5" and the 600 is a bit heavier at 3" The 6' versions would be BB72x and BB720x

Landpride rcr2060/rcr2072 rated the same as the mx5, or the rcr2660/2672 rated for 3"

Bushhog BH15 or BH16 rated for 2" or BH25 and BH26 rated for 3"

 

[Travis_R]

I've read through this thread and am hoping that you will provide me some advice. I've ordered a John Deere 3046R compact tractor and one of the attachments I plan on ordering is a rotary cutter. The two the dealer can offer directly are the John Deere MX5 or possibly the Frontier RC2060.

I've seen many other models talked about so I'd like some suggestions. Initial use will be moderate but want at least a medium duty as there will be more than just grass and weeds, I'm figuring a potential for saplings up to 1 1/2 to 2".

What about sheer pin versus slip clutch (something I first read here). Any information and suggestions would be appreciated.

All things being equal I'd buy from this dealer as they've been very good to me over the years. That said, it certainly appears that all things are not equal.

Thanks in advance.


Jim

Bush Hog, Woods, and Land Pride are all good choices. Cutting only grass a shear pin would be fine on a 5'. If cutting a lot of brush/saplings definitely go with slip clutch. I will NEVER buy another 6' cutter with shear pin driveline. Constantly broke the bolts! I'd only consider shear pin models on 5' cutters and below. And that's without cutting a lot of brush. Always read the MX series are good cutters. Assuming your tractor is between 45-50 hp I'd go with a 6' and slip clutch. Slip clutch will have more maintenance but it's worth it. Even though u like your dealer you still may wanna shop around to find a better deal. The heavier the tougher the work the heavier the hog u will need. Have to ask yourself if you'll always be cutting 2" brush or is it short term. Good luck!

 

[RPW]

I've got the 6ft Mowhawk (JD purchase) with shear pin. For a few years I had a lot of issues with breaking shear pins and was about to pull the plug and get a slip clutch (still might) but this year I finally figured out how to deal with saplings and rocks. Run the mower at rated speed regardless of type of cutting. Before I was only running the mower at about 1800 rpm. Liked the less noise it made cutting and the tractor was quieter but I was going though a lot of pins. This year I've been running at rated PTO speed and only broke one pin and that was when I hit a LARGE tree stump I didn't see as it was hidden in tall grass. What I found was as most people know is you build up kinetic energy the faster the blade moves so when it hits a sapling or rock or whatever there's more energy that can be released to cut the obsticle. Fortunately mine is a rear discharge so any rocks that are shattered fly out the rear.

 

[ovrszd]

I've got a Rhino SE6 (6ft) cutter with shear bolt. I bought it 5 or 6 years ago used. I've sheared one bolt. I use it to cut trails in timber. Maybe I've just been lucky?? If so, I probably just jinxed myself. :confused3: