DR Brush Mowers, Finish Mowers and generator.

[VA_Joe]

It all depends on the terrain that you have to deal with. The light weight and narrow profile come in handy in many tight fit situations and the "detail mowing" areas near the house. Where it really shines is near ponds and drainage ditches where a tractor would tend to get stuck (the mower assembly articulates the uneven ground).

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Ferris makes a field mower thats cheaper and much better build than DR. Think about it, you are paying for all that TV advertising you know.

 

[Alan L.]

It got up to 95 here today. Some fall huh. Supposed to be cooler by Wednesday though.

I have coveted the DR brush mower before, but manage to back my brush hog into most places I need to go. What really is a deterrent (in addition to the high cost) is the apparent amount of exertion needed to run the thing.

 

[VA_Joe]

Interesting comment. Operation was a little jerky at first. However, once the clutch was worn in a little it seems to engage much better. I am using it to mow two acres at my other property and will probably continue using the DR for mowing until I clear more land (at that point I will move up to a rider or an MMM on a tractor). As with everything - your mileage may vary.

Joe

 

[aesanders]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I can't imagine paying $4K for something you can't even ride. )</font>


Well if you add a 26" tiller $500 and 28 Snowblower $600 you will have spent around 5k for a tiller, brush cutter and snowblower. All these attachments will be powered by one top of the line power unit with multiple speeds, differential lock, brake sterring etc. he price starts looking much more reasonable then. As a tiller the BCS is second to none. Better than a $2500 Troy Bilt. The brushcutter is as good as the DR units. Snowblower works very well, as good as a stand alone $1200-1500 unit. Add a few more attachments like the chipper/shredder and dozer blade and you have a machine capable of doing a ton of work. Very handy if you are working in some tight area that are not accesible with a larger tractors.

You can even get haying equipment for a bcs to rake, and bale hay for small acreages. Or hydraulic log splitter. I don't see many of these available for the under 10k ride on tractors near this price...

 

[mechanic]

I have the DR field and brush mower and also the finish mower and they both work great. It is also easy to get parts for. I had to replace the clutch in mine at no charge, they sent me the part and I put it in. I bought the string attachment with mine to mow rocky areas. You get a good manuel with it also so you can do some of the work yourself. I was going to sell mine but waiting to see if I get my new house built in a wooded area of which I will really need it then. I originally bought it for our first house to cut grass on a sloped lot which I mowed for 3 years with the finish mower and cleaned up the brush with the other attachment. You will like the machine.

 

[BrianSouthernMD]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Ferris makes a field mower thats cheaper and much better build than DR. Think about it, you are paying for all that TV advertising you know. )</font>
The Ferris Field & Brush Mower (also sold as the Snapper Field & Brush Mower by Simplicity Manufacturing Inc.) has a couple good features such as variable speed hydrostatic transmission, adjustable cutting height and thicker deck, but I still found the 17hp DR I bought could handle more heavy-duty thick grass and brush cutting and I found the DR control locations to be more ergonomic/handier for me. I'm still very satisfied two years and several hundred hours later. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Both Ferris & Snapper only come with 25-inch cutting widths, while DR Power offers both 26" (11, 13 & 15hp models) and 30" (17hp & 18hp models). Ferris offers 13hp B&S or 13-hp Honda engines, Snapper offers 13hp B&S or 15hp Kawasaki twin, while DR offers choice of 11 & 13hp B&S, 15 & 17hp Kawasaki twins, and also an 18hp Honda by special order.

The other unit I rented/tested before DR purchase was the Billy Goat Outback Brush Cutter. This 24" cutter is available with 13hp B&S or 13hp Honda engines, but I found its rear discharge deck allowed thick debris to get caught up in its axle and the 24" blade not able to cut as large a saplings as the competition. Billy Goat Outback & small DRs claim 1.5-inch saplings, Ferris, Snapper & mid-hp DRs 2", and the 17hp & 18hp DR units claim 2.5-inch sapling cuts. I found those claims to be accurate and a bit conservative.

Sure, CHP/DR Power has direct marketing and direct customer support costs, but Ferris Industries, Simplicity/Snapper and Billy Goat have dealer network marketing & support costs. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[otus_branch]

I agree with all the good stuff that's been said about the BCS, but I have to caution that (like all other machines) they are not 100% bulletproof.

I have a BCS 850 and a number of attachments. One of these days, I'll get around to reviewing them individually on this site. For now, I'll just share an embarrassing tale about my use of the 26" brushcutter.

Last year, when in a hurry to get a bunch of brush cut, the machine started vibrating quite a bit. I thought to myself, "Must be a blade a bit off balance," and fought the vibrations for the next two hours or so in order to finish the job.

It turns out that I had hit a rock or something that caused all the gear oil in the brushcutter gearbox to leak out!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Needless to say, by operating it without gear oil for 2+ hours, I have undoubtedly tore up the bearings, and maybe the gearbox itself.

Since I also have a sicklebar and finish mower attachments (plus tiller, rotary plow, etc.), I have just parked the brushcutter since that gruesome mistake. But one of these days, I'll open it up, and see what parts i need, and order them from Earthtools, and git-r-done.

If you have the $$$, the BCS is hard to beat in a small power unit. Just be sure to check those seals and oil levels!!!

-otus

 

[rogdan]

I am reviewing old threads and find these two wheel tractors very interesting. As far as brush and finish mowing goes can anyone comment on how they do on hills, especially in tracking around a hill? I have an old troybilt sickle bar mower that is very hard to track on uneven terrain and results in a workout when used. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[TimberXX]

otus, i hope to see you get that review up! and how about any pictures? i know that the 2 wheel users are few and far between but the toolcat got a forum maybe a two wheel forum too?