BX 25 Bush Hog Recommendation

[TripleR]

For someone who does this kind of work for a living, a flail mower certainly makes sense on several levels. First, the extra cost can be depreciated over several years. Second, his risk of liability is certainly going to be lower, especially if he must often work near buildings or in areas that it is difficult to control pedestrians and other traffic. Also, if he's in that business, it is probably easier to find the time for maintenance of those blades (sharpening, replacing, etc.). For me, as a "casual" user, I have to make time for maintenance in between the rest of life's duties. Of course, I always make the time, so I suppose I would if I had a flail.

And truthfully, the math just doesn't impress me about the risk of hurling some projectile into an unfortunate target. It certainly can happen, but what are the odds? People die every day in automobile accidents, but we still drive every day. And even all those who can afford it don't always purchase the biggest/heaviest/safest vehicles.

Here in KY, road crews mow the medians and ROWs next to every interstate, parkway, highway, and county road several times each year. And I have never seen one use a flail mower. Always pulling rotary cutters. With each road being mowed at least twice each year, that would suggest tens of thousands of miles mowed year after year with dozens and dozens of rotary cutters without incident. Or with few enough incidents that there's no public outcry.

Now, I never use the rotary cutter when pedestrians are around. And its very rare that I even use it close enough to buildings that there'd be any real risk of hitting one. Again, I am not trying to talk anyone into or out of any purchase, but do take the time to think through each option. Hopefully, you'll make the right choice for you.

Same situation here, State and County road crews all use rotary cutters and I have never heard of an incident. All but one of the farmers around me use rotary cutters for stalks and cutting roadway shoulders in between government cutting. I have chain guards front and back on the one I use closer to buildings.

I agree that both types should be given thorough consideration. Thanks to some very good information from leonz, I have determined I cannot get by with a flail without also using a rotary cutter also, so I will not buy one anyway soon. For some they would be just the right ticket.

 

[Delphicoder]

Here is a picture of the heaviest area (behind the small tree in the forefront). This part I may have to do by hand with a brushcutter/weed wacker attachment. All the other areas are mainly just those tall brier weeds, but no where near as dense as this picture. In the other areas you can almost walk around them if you are careful.

I see the bush hog for the heavy stuff, and the flail for a more groomed / refined area. My father has a really big yard, and it sounds like the flail would be nice there. I think what I have in the beginning may be too rough for the flail, but I DO LIKE the flail (I have a four year old and the areas are close to the house). So I will send the family into town when I try to bush hog.

I can see me getting the LandPride 48 rotary now, and then in the spring getting the flail that is at agri-supply. I don't mind buying both, because it seems like the bush hog has one purpose (rough, not refined, but gets the big stuff out of the way, just go slow), and the flail is for more refined areas.


Either route I go, I will post some pics.

Thanks everyone.

 

[TripleR]

Here is a picture of the heaviest area (behind the small tree in the forefront). This part I may have to do by hand with a brushcutter/weed wacker attachment. All the other areas are mainly just those tall brier weeds, but no where near as dense as this picture. In the other areas you can almost walk around them if you are careful.

I see the bush hog for the heavy stuff, and the flail for a more groomed / refined area. My father has a really big yard, and it sounds like the flail would be nice there. I think what I have in the beginning may be too rough for the flail, but I DO LIKE the flail (I have a four year old and the areas are close to the house). So I will send the family into town when I try to bush hog.

I can see me getting the LandPride 48 rotary now, and then in the spring getting the flail that is at agri-supply. I don't mind buying both, because it seems like the bush hog has one purpose (rough, not refined, but gets the big stuff out of the way, just go slow), and the flail is for more refined areas.


Either route I go, I will post some pics.

Thanks everyone.

Sounds like a good plan to me for your uses.

It is really hard to generalize about all types of cutters. We use to use a combination of rotary cutters and seven foot finish mowers for the larger areas. We now use a 10'6" Woods DS1260 rotary cutter and the cut is so good, our finish mower hasn't come out of the shed this week. Some flail mowers will also do a pretty good job on fairly rough stuff as well as finish mowing.

 

[Farmerford]

Delphicoder:

I have used a Bush Hog Squealer 48" rotary cutter on a Kubota B2400 HSD for 10 years to cut brush significantly heavier than your picture and never found it underpowered. Sure, if I let the bottomland go a year without cutting and have brush over 6' high in thick Johson Grass I have to slow down on the first cut, but I would have to slow down almost as much with a 42". I think the B2400 has 18 PTO HP. I don't hesitate to recommend the 48" over a 42".

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Delphicoder:

I have used a Bush Hog Squealer 48" rotary cutter on a Kubota B2400 HSD for 10 years to cut brush significantly heavier than your picture and never found it underpowered.

I have gone through far worse than what you have in this picture with the rotary cutter. If this is the worst spot, and you plan on getting a flail anyway...

<shrug> I would be tempted to say just buy the flail and forget about the rotary cutter. No personal experience with flails, but from what I gather from others, I'd wager it won't have much trouble with your requirements.

 

[TripleR]

Not to hijack the thread, but I would recommend getting some type of tie rod protection for mowing brush, I usually back into heavy stuff due to this low ground clearance on the BX, but it's not always possible and I have had to replace the boots on mine.

 

[Delphicoder]

Yes, good idea on the boot protection. I will pick up some hose or bike tube and put it over it. got the idea from another thread on here.

 

[TripleR]

Yes, good idea on the boot protection. I will pick up some hose or bike tube and put it over it. got the idea from another thread on here.

I bought a protector from Bro Tek, but will probably put some type of hose over them also.

One of the few things I really prefer on our JD2305 over the BX is the location of the tie rods behind the axle.