CUT vs PT

Trojan6 · Apr 27, 2004

IrTxRx,

You've got to get out here and see the little 180. I've been getting home around 1700 lately, and with the light and nice weather there's plenty of time to give you a demo. I think that seeing mine (and all the various attachments) work on terrain that is probably very similar to yours will answer most of your questions. I know you said you couldn't come on another weekend, so PM if you'd like to try it out during the week. Dust is present, but not bad. Also, I haven't had to lift up the bush hog yet to mow saplings/tall grass, so projectiles haven't been a problem. Let me know if you can get off early one day, and I'll try to do the same.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Stefan

PTRich · Apr 27, 2004

I have an explanation. It may not be true but it seems right to me. The distance between the back of the mower and the tractor (wich is square in front and wider than you) would be measured in inches, and not many. I often call my rotary cutter a "Rock Hog" because I hit and split so many rocks. I also have used it as a farmers wood chipper, pile the brush up and lower the cutter onto the pile. I have not been hit by anything yet but dust is sometimes a pile. Because of your sitting position I do not think you can be hit by anything but remember, you can easily throw things 40 feet or more so no spectators are ever allowed at our house.

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 27, 2004

Charlie, I guess one question I have is regarding the rear discharge mower. How can a rear discharge rough cut mower not be more dangerous if you are behind it (compared to a CUT 3 point shredder that you are in front of and above of) ??? 
The discharge is through a fairly heavy skirt which keeps stuff down, and the front of the PT blocks the line from the center of the deck to the operator. The risk from a rear mower is primarily something thrown and bounced back at the operator. As I've noted above, I've not seen things thrown by the PT mower, but I suppose there's some similar risk with a front mower.

 - I wouldn't describe the portion of my property going down to the creek as "steep." I would call it sloping with lots of terrestial irregularities 
I have a fair amount of steep work and some irregular and rough. The PT is a better mower for every type of condition than the 3-point 6 foot bush hog on the JD 950 or the belly decks on the 755 JD and the recently sold Kubota 7100. You can see what you're doing better and work tighter areas. There are some places where 72" is a bit too wide and scalps a little in rough areas of lawn, so my Exmark 48" walk behind is better. The PT is a big rough cut, not a lawnmower. Mostly, I want wide pasture cuts for regular maintenance of about 15 acres of pasture and occasional of another 30 or 40 if we can't get anyone to do them with the other tractors. (The PT 1845 is mine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
The point about the cost is valid. My 72" rough cut was $2900. Last year I bought a 48" rear mount brush hog for the 755 JD for about $500. The PT will cut heavier stuff, and I think will last longer, but it isn't cheap. (Neither was the Exmark, but this isn't a walk-behind lawnmower forum. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

MossRoad · Apr 28, 2004

The PT425 brush hog and finish mower that I have use the same castering wheels up front, but the rear wheels on the brush hog are heavier and use thicker axle bolts.

SnowRidge · Apr 28, 2004

( ... the rear wheels on the brush hog are heavier and use thicker axle bolts. )

Out of curiosity, how does their diameter compare with the finish mower's rears?

SnowRidge

IrTxRx · Apr 28, 2004

Looks like this thread is winding down,
Just wanted to say 'Thanks again.' /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

MossRoad · Apr 28, 2004

Just for clarification, the 48" brush hog on our PT425 is FRONT discharge.

With that said, I have been tempted to raise it and plow into things, but that seems like a death wish. The most I ever raised it is a few inches at most. If something is too big to get pushed over while the mower is at normal cutting height, I'll stop the mower, wait for the blades to stop, then lift the hog and push the stuff down with the power down of the lift arms. Once it is leaning away from me, I'll back up, lower the hog, start it up and attempt to run it over again. If it won't go under the deck that way, I just skip it and move on. No point in injuring myself. I can hit it with the chain saw a lot easier and safer.

I've had great success with stuff up to an inch and a half just bending down and sliding under the brush hog. You have to be careful that the hog doesn't ride up a tree if it is in float. Just go slow and take it easy. It will do lots of work in short time.

RegL · Apr 30, 2004

mr, when clearing very thick brush I have, without osha approval, lifted the brush hog quite high, eased in and gently lowered it. I'm not talking about material that to big to push over, but brush and vines so thick they just hang there and won't go under the deck even after being cut. The draft control makes it a lot easier because you can lift the deck by pulling back on the stick and when you release it the deck floats down very slowly. The thing I don't like about the pt deck is that it's heaver in front so when you lift it the back pivots up and stuff is more likely to be thrown back toward the operator. I'm trying to figure a way to add weight to the rear of the deck so when you raise it, the back will pivot down and shield stuff away from the operator, me.

I'm also still thinking about that expanded metal windshield we talked about some time ago.

PTRich · Apr 30, 2004

I just curl the "bucket" up with the joy stick when I lower it onto a pile. This keeps the deck facing away.

MossRoad · May 1, 2004

Too scary for me! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I hit an old metal ratcheting tie down strap contraption in the tall grass by the highway two years ago with the brush hog. It blew the left rear wheel OFF the brush hog and threw the metal ratchet across the highway! Had any car been there, someone could have been injured and I could have been in deep legal doo doo.

Many times with the brush hog flat on the ground large pieces of wood have flown out about 30-50 feet, turned around boomerang style and come right back at me. I've also seen pieces bounce off other trees and shoot around.

The worst thing that happened was I hit a large hidden rock and sheared the bolt off that holds one of the swinging blades to the center spindle. The blade took off and burried itself in the sand knife like and the whole mower started shaking violently.

Anyway, any time that mower is up off the ground, we take the chance of something flying out. The higher we lift it, the more room for escape the debris has. The more room for escape, the better chance that it will destroy property, or worse, life. Yes, I've done it. But no, I will not do it again. It is your choice. Please be careful. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Have you all seen the brush hog videos at my web site? They really show the great capabilities this thing has in deep weeds and brush. And the multiflora rose didn't stand a chance! The out front design is superior, in my opinion, of course. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif