How much Hp to power a 5ft. brush hog?

[gettincold]

Hello All:

Happy New Year.

I have been looking at either a Jinma or Foton 254 for purchase ( for awhile now!) and was wondering if they are large enough to run a 5 ft. brush hog off of the pto? It would be used mainly to trim out some hunting trails.

Thanks in advance.

Joe

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

You should have no problem pulling a 5 foot behind a Jinma 254, Y385 engine.

I have sold several behind the 254 Jinma.


Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[timwil]

I have a 4ft behind my 2425 farm pro and that about all it can handle.

 

[Gerifalte]

I have a 4ft behind my 2425 farm pro and that about all it can handle.

mmm, I am not sure that's correct. My JM 284 (same tractor and engine, just a tiny bit more power) pulls a 5Ft medium-duty Woods cutter without any difficulties.

G

 

[RonMar]

I am running a heavy 5' hog behind my 284 with no problems. Keep the radiator screen clean and watch the temps.

 

[thingy]

I have been using a 5 ft kingkutter for 4 years now with a 254,,,no power problems and it covers the tracks,[sticks out on each side of rear tires] about 2-3 inches or so,,, thingy

 

[SPIKER]

I run a 6' brush hog, (VERY HEAVY) one behind my 284. It runs it but lacks good power enough in anything over a foot of grass or in weeds over a few feet. (grass cutting is good as long as the blades are sharp and ground speed kept lower than normal on my finish mower which is a 5'. the 254 will run the 5' no problem, watch radiator plugging as mentioned.

mark M

 

[3RRL]

You should have no problem, especially with the user testimonials you got already. General rule of thumb is 5hp per foot or there about.

 

[greg_g]

If I had nothing but flatland, I might still have a 25hp Chinese tractor. But two JM254s were just not up to maintaining my hillside pastures with a five footer. A four footer would have just taken way to long. Mowing flatland and downhill, no problem. Uphill requires dropping down into low range. The power's there - if you go slow enough.

So you have to size your machine for the productivity you expect; like how many acres per hour do I want to mow? I decided I was wasting too much productivity time constantly working the clutch/throttle/range select lever/transmission shift lever back and forth between H1 on flat ground/downhill and L3 to mow back uphill.

Now I've got 45hp that spins a six foot bush hog and a seven foot finish mower like they're not even there, and get my pastures mowed in about 1/3 less time than with 25hp struggling uphill with a five footer.

One other thing you should consider before selecting a tractor to mow in the woods; steering linkage. Not sure about the Foton, but the Jinma drag link is located in a highly vulnerable position. With 2wd tractors and beefier FWDs, you can push over the tall stuff with the front axle so it's more easily chewed up by the rotary cutter. Doing so with a Jinma 200 series (or clones) will pretzel the drag link inna heartbeat.

//greg//

 

[thingy]

I mow up very steep hills there greg,,I gear down,,not cause my mowers too big or jinma ain't got enough power,,but cause they are steep,,also put it in 4 wd even when dry,,thats how steep they are,,,maybe you just didn't know how to properly use that jinma?? Maybe you should consider a hydro tractor,,speed range exactly where you want it? Or,,maybe you just got a bumm jinma? How many hours you got on that new tractor now? I got 560 on my 254 jinma,,and it runs as good as new,,,I cut about 10 acres with it 5-6 times a year,,course,maybe I just got a good one? thingy