DR Brush

TWINKLE_TOES · Dec 13, 2001

Jim,
I have a DR that I bought about 6 years ago. It has a 24"Dia. 1/4 inch thick blade and large spoked wheels. It is power forward only. I paid about $1500 for it new. It's reasonably well built but in my opinon poorly designed. The large narrow wheels will spin out easily on small branches and wet ground. It's a man killer on shoulder or gulley work. About the only way to mow is uphill and let it free wheel back and make another pass up.(Not my idea of a safe practice)If I had rented this model before hand, I would not have purchased it. The newer version have smaller wider wheels and power forward and reverse. These changes probably address most of my dislikes with the old style DR. I would spend $2 on a tractor attachment before I would spend $1 on the DR and the dollar trade is the other way around.
Al

Anonymous Poster · Dec 16, 2001

Hi Jim,

Well the 17th is almost here...

Ya know... I bet most of the DR owners would give a "left whatever" to be in your position... to have that great New Holland workhorse that you already own, to do a thousand more jobs, and all that extra horsepower to run a "real brush hog"...

I back up to my pond banks, the ravine crest, etc. and just lower my 3-pt hitch 7' rotary cutter and "clean-up"... and depending on the grade actually back down and cut... and with the shuttle, it can be done rather quicker than you think...

In my case, I opt'd for the slip clutches, for major convenience and I am constantly pushing the rotary cutters to/and beyond their limits where a shear bolt just wouldn't cut it {physically & literally /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif}

So, if it were me in your shoes... I figure time is on my side, I'd pick up a KK rotary cutter, cut what I could on all the property {& neighbors}, then stand back and reevaluate... seeing actually what's left and go from there...{then if I had enough property left, and the conditions warranted it, check my available funds and buy a DR or Troy-Bilt rough cut mower used/auction/new sale...}

webbmeister · Dec 17, 2001

Hi John:

I'm not so excited any more about missing this opportunity, thanks to the advice from you and from everyone else who responded. King Kutter it is, and I'll reevaluate in the summer sometime. The property is not designed to be manicured, and I'll take my chances with the rotary cutter (slip clutch model, thank you) before parting with yet more money.

You know, come to think of it, I started this process last summer fully expecting to do the right thing by getting a Sabre Garden Tractor instead of a Sears or Home Depot Special. At that point, I figured I'd be out $3500, tops. Well, it's a long haul from there to $18,130 (For the TC25D with a few extras!) My bride has been extraordinarily patient and supportive, essentially giving me Carte Blanche on this who expensive affair. We do OK, but are by no means made of money, so the advice here is well taken. Put the wallet away, try a less expensive and probably just as effective solution.

Thanks for your input.

Jim

Anonymous Poster · Jan 1, 2002

Check out Acre-Ease's brush mower. I own 2 of their finish mowers( 60in each) -they are built TOUGH.I pull them behind a compact for a 15ft cut. Last year they came out with a brush model that looks just as tough. You can pull it behind a 4 wheeler ,garden tractor or compact.