Howes rough cut mower?

[rims421]

Any thoughts on the reliability/ performance of the Howes rough cut mowers. The unit I am looking at is a 5' med. duty with slip clutch. To be used on a 27 hp cub 7275 for some initial rough cutting of brush, vines etc. and then for biannual mowing of the field after that.

 

[BB_TX]

I have a 6' light duty Howse rotary cutter with shear pin that I run on 27 PTO hp. I use it mostly for pasture and ditch mowing now. But the first 2 yrs I did a lot of clearing down by my creek. Lots of small trees, brush, deadfall, and cedars 6'+ tall. Lots of banging and clanging but never any problems. Still cuts fine. I do have a small crack now in one of the rear side panels from backing into heavy stuff and bending it numerous times. I need to do a little welding.

 

[KubotaSteve]

I have one not sure what duty (I think light), but we used and abused that thing with the old man's MF 135 and it just keeps on cutting. We have snapped off several shear pins, ran over rocks, stumps, and who knows what else. We had to do some touch up welding from backing into piles of stuff and touch up the edges on the blades with an angle grinder. I was very suprised that it has held up this well. I've owned it for about 10 or 12 years and it has set outside the entire time uncovered. It doesn't look the greatest but still cuts great!!!

 

[crown]

I own a 4 footer not sure what class guess light or medium, I have hit more than my fair share of rocks, seem to grow them in my back 3 acres, I have cut wild growth mostly grasses and vines at least 4 feet tall. The cutter has held up great still looks good, in short I did not pay much for it but it has impressed me! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[sweettractors]

Many years ago, we sold this line of machines---They perform well for the money spent--They are a little hard to get repair parts for because most of the parts are specific to Howse--We do stock most wear parts for them today, even though we have discontinued selling them--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 9 Ft Disc Mowers $4595*

 

[Soundguy]

I run a 5' KK rough cut mower... about the same duty/quality as howse.

I've run it behind my NH 1920 and mowed just about everything... old lumber.. ant mounds.. rocks.. even some grass..

My stepfather has a 6' howse behind his JD 2420... that monster tractor beats the heck out of the mower. It has had a bunch of welding on it to brace it up.. but the gearbox and hub have never leaked etc.. unit is ten years old.. looks 20.. but cuts ok...
At this point, even if it disintegrated just setting there one day.. it will have paid for itself many many times over.

Soundguy