tawilson
Platinum Member
My first tractor was a 1300 with a 5' Bushhog finish mower and it did just fine.
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,904
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
Yeah.
RobertN
Super Member
I had a 4' rotary mower on my previous 19hp tractor. It struggled with it, even in moderate grass. In thick stuff it was a real chore.
Unless you keep your grass well trimmed, I would be cautious about going with that big a mower on that little HP. A finish mower is different than a rotary mower, but I would still want more power. Especially since you want a clean cut; you need those blades spinning...
Unless you keep your grass well trimmed, I would be cautious about going with that big a mower on that little HP. A finish mower is different than a rotary mower, but I would still want more power. Especially since you want a clean cut; you need those blades spinning...
bp fick
Super Member
Apparently, more than a few 54" models are sold, which might be just right size? Do you already own the 60" finish mower?
dqdave1
Veteran Member
it will run it with no problem; had one in 1998. You may have to drop down to lower ground speed in really heavy stuff, but it will handle it.
RobertN
Super Member
Any idea what the recommended HP is per foot on a finish mower? I know the rule of thumb for a rotary is 5hp/ft on the PTO. My 19hp tractor with 16hp PTO sure struggled with the 4' rotary. It bogged easily, even with sharp blades, and low speed(low range on the 3-range HST). The tractor certainly did the work, for a number of years, but it was agonizingly slow if the grass got thick(field grass).
JC-jetro
Elite Member
I have heard between 3.5 to 5 pto Hp per foot of rotary cutter. Saying that, and everyone has different experience. Condition of tractor, right rpm has certainly directly relates to the engine HP achieved. I can brush hog 2 foot high stuff at about 1800-2100 rpm with no issue. My tractor is rated to have 23.5 hp at rated rpm of 2500, so I really don't know what hp I have at 2000 unless I have the power curve for my engine. What I'm sure is that I'm getting less than 23 hp and tractor seems to be doing okay. If I did taller and thicker stuff then my tractor squeals like a pig at the rated rpm with the same 5 foot cutter.
JC,
ps. same rpm and two exact tractors and no telling if hp output is exactly the same. Amount of compression and valve blow by might be different.
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vettemanwight
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2007
- Messages
- 259
I have a 1210 Ford and I run a 5 ft finish mower and it handles it well although I did have to put weight on the front end.
bp fick
Super Member
I think a 4 foot, ie, 48" is too small, too narrow behind your tracks.
A 54" or 4' 6" would be excellent for all conditions.
A 60" or 5' is likely to do just fine, except maybe in the worst of conditions, ie, wet, tall, thick grass.
A 54" or 4' 6" would be excellent for all conditions.
A 60" or 5' is likely to do just fine, except maybe in the worst of conditions, ie, wet, tall, thick grass.
jjcc246
Gold Member
i had a 1320 and a 5' brush hog. if i cut really thick stuff i just moved a little slower. never had a problem and covers your tracks nicley. excellant machine.
I bought my 1320 in '94 to do custom brush hogging and cleaning out chicken houses. For brush hogging I used a 5 ft and did several hundred acres a year. It never lacked for power even when cutting a new job where the weeds were as high as seven ft and there was even several jobs where I would cut sapling trees up to 2+ inches. Clients were surprised how well I could do some of the unheard of jobs with my brush cutter and I ended up traveling quite some miles to do jobs that were "impossible."
jbrumberg
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2006
- Messages
- 4,903
- Location
- Cummington, MA
- Tractor
- New Holland TC29DA, John Deere D130
I ran a 5' medium duty on my old Ford 1100. I had more of a problem with rig balance than PTO power,
