Rotary Cutter Hello, New Member - Need Advise On 6ft Rotary Cutter

[Pennsyltucky Hillbilly]

Howdy all,

I'm a new member here in central PA. I have an older model JD 4720 with 400cx loader I bought used last fall. I believe it is 58hp engine/50hp PTO. At this point I have a Frontier 72" rear blade and a ballast box. I have the older, nonadjustable iMatch.

I'm looking for a 6ft rotary cutter. I have roughly 15 acres of fields to cut several times a season. There are some hills but nothing too steep and also rocks to hit, some saplings of 1-2 inch diameter or less and downed limbs hidden in the grass and brush (which I will try to identify and move first but doubt I'll get them all). I have some brush to cut in places and around field edges and some trails in my woods as well. Most of the brush is not too big, multiflora rose, blackberries and black rasberries and such but there is also downed limbs in various stages of decay mixed in a lot of it.

I'd like a light-medium or medium duty cutter, not a light duty cutter. I want a slip clutch and front and rear chains. I'd also like the cutter to be iMatch compatible, which leads to one of my questions... If the cutter is listed as quick hitch compatible will it work on my iMatch? If not, is there an easily available solution? I have seen some manufacturers such has Land Pride offer a floating top link kit which might work. I'd like the cutter to float with the land contours.

I am also concerned about the weight of the cutter. If I get a true medium duty cutter at 1000-1200 lbs, will I be able to mow without the loader on safely or will I need front weights?

So far, I have looked at the Frontier 2072 at the dealer, but this is light duty than I want I think. I have been comparing cutters online mostly but plan to visit some dealers in the next few weeks hopefully. I have dealers for JD/Frontier, Land Pride, Bushhog, Woods, Kodiak and maybe some others nearby.

Originally, I was thinking of getting the JD MX6 but I have read a lot of negative reviews online about them, but also others stating that they like theirs and that it cuts really nice, almost like a finish mower... I understand that that most of the premature gearbox failures were supposedly fixed with the new 75/90hp China gearbox and JD put a 5 year warranty out, but others have had failures and expensive repairs on newer China gearbox models. The MX6 is kind of a funny cutter, true medium duty frame and blades but a light-med duty drivetrain, slip clutch and gearbox.

I have been looking mainly at Land Pride, Bushhog and Woods online. At this point I am leaning toward the Land Pride, either RCF2072 or RCF2772. I really like the RCF2772 but, its expensive and I'm concerned about the weight. I am open to other suggestions as well, especially if they will work with my iMatch quickhitch.

Based on my needs, would you advise a true medium duty cutter or would I be fine with a light-medium duty cutter? I was leaning toward the true medium duty for durability, longevity and greater peace of mind, but if I really don't need that robust of a cutter I may be just wasting money...

Comments, thoughts and advise is much appreciated!

 

[TripleR]

I am not familiar with your tractor, but use a Land Pride RCR2672 which is a medium duty cutter at 1046 pounds with my Kubota L5740HSTC and used it with my previous tractor an L5030HSTC and both handle it well. I have no trouble mowing without the FEL removed on flat or rolling land, but in hills need the weight. The Kubota is a relatively light tractor at 4223 pounds. We also use a Woods pull type on our other tractor and like it, I have never owned a Bush Hog brand; sure they are a good machine.

I would recommend a true medium duty cutter for what you describe.

 

[Pennsyltucky Hillbilly]

Thanks TripleR, your Kubota L5740 looks to be a very equivalent tractor in terms of size and power. Do you use a quick hitch? If so, how does your RCR2672 float when mowing hills?

 

[TripleR]

Thanks TripleR, your Kubota L5740 looks to be a very equivalent tractor in terms of size and power. Do you use a quick hitch? If so, how does your RCR2672 float when mowing hills?

I don't use a quick hitch and the cutter does well as it has the floating top link. I have a Top and Tilt which helps with any drastic changes, I should have gotten a float valve for my top link, but didn't. It is really not worth adding at this point however.

I have cut some very rough brush with this cutter not to mention tires, T posts, stumps etc. and it has held up very well.

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[vtsnowedin]

This is my frontier 2072 cutter. I only have two summers on it (maybe forty hours) but so far so good.

 

[bilrus61]

A loader is good to mow with. You push down stuff with it and over you go. If your really wanting to mow without the loader or weights might ought to look at the 2072 Land Pride. Its still rated for 2 inch stuff and it will do bigger if you go slow. Light enough not to need front weights on your size tractor I would GUESS. I had a JD MX 6 with the Chinese gear box and it was like you say, a heavy mower with a smaller drive train. I traded it in on a mower for another tractor. The MX did mow very nice but I had read where JD hasn't been the most obliging in respect to the 5 year warrenty so I traded it in on a LP3696 to put on my M7040 Kubota. It mows very clean also. Bushog/Schulte/Rhino are all the same company now but they seem to produce a good mower. Even the lighter mowers, rated for 2 inch stuff are pretty stout and can take some abuse.

 

[TripleR]

Agreed, a FEL can be useful when mowing in some areas and as saved damage to our tractors and allowed us to get ourselves out of some unseen washouts, we however have a lot of property that is kept relatively short, mowed regularly and the tractors are much more maneuverable without loaders, so we take them off.

 

[vtsnowedin]

When your in stuff like this carrying the bucket low gives you a prewarning of rocks and stumps before you hear the rattling.

 

[Pennsyltucky Hillbilly]

What is a top and tilt?

I'll definitely keep the loader on and carry it low for initial mowings. We plan to fence in 5-6 acres for livestock/horses with 2-3 paddocks plus corral area. I figured mowing around these fences, inside and out, would be easier without the loader though.

Is anyone using a non-JD/Frontier mower on an iMatch? I'm really hoping I don't have to remove the iMatch every time I want to mow...