Rotary Cutter Howse Mowers - Cutting Quality

[madermu]

hello everyone, I've been reading the forums on the site for a while, but this is my first time to post.

I'm about to buy some type of mower and have been looking specifically at the Howse mower. I need a mower to cut the areas on the outside of my fences and a area that covers about an acre. All in all, its too large an area for a riding mower.

Can anyone give me an idea on the quality of cut from a Howse Rotary Cutter? I'd like to use a rotary cutter, because it would be more versitle than a finish mower, but the areas I'm cutting need to look nice.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[Bigfoot62]

Howse makes a decent cutter. Built in Mississippi. Started out as HICO. (Howse Implement Co) My cousin wore one out, after about 35 years, and replaced it with another Howse.

Unless it's as flat as a parking lot, no brush-hog is going to cut it very level. You will have problems with scalping as well as high spots.

If you want it to look like you cut it with a finish mower, you need to cut it with a finish mower.

 

[Army grunt]

I have a 5 ft. HOWSE, Its fine for what you are doing with it. I have about 4 acres I cut a few times a year an it works good, I have even thought about adding a few caster wheels to the front to keep the front from scraping.I like to cut low.
Army Grunt

 

[Mark Page]

I used to mow our fields with a 6ft rotary mower. If you set it up properly it did a pretty good job. I've since gone to a 7ft finish mower.
With rotary mowers you want to have the front set up lower in the front than in the rear, you don't want to mow it twice.

 

[MarkV]

hello everyone, I've been reading the forums on the site for a while, but this is my first time to post.

I'm about to buy some type of mower and have been looking specifically at the Howse mower. I need a mower to cut the areas on the outside of my fences and a area that covers about an acre. All in all, its too large an area for a riding mower.

Can anyone give me an idea on the quality of cut from a Howse Rotary Cutter? I'd like to use a rotary cutter, because it would be more versitle than a finish mower, but the areas I'm cutting need to look nice.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Welcome to the forum. The mower you are looking at is a fine light duty rotary mower. You need to understand though no rotary mower is going to give as nice of finish cut as a finish mower. If you need that suburban yard look a finish mower may be better for you.

MarkV

 

[Treesanddust]

One thing that can make a difference depending on the type of grass you are cutting is the blade type. A lot of the mowers have different blade types for different situations.
If you are looking for more of a groomed look, be sure to get a mower with up-lift blades.

 

[gwdixon]

hello everyone, I've been reading the forums on the site for a while, but this is my first time to post.

I'm about to buy some type of mower and have been looking specifically at the Howse mower. I need a mower to cut the areas on the outside of my fences and a area that covers about an acre. All in all, its too large an area for a riding mower.

Can anyone give me an idea on the quality of cut from a Howse Rotary Cutter? I'd like to use a rotary cutter, because it would be more versitle than a finish mower, but the areas I'm cutting need to look nice.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

All rotary cutters cut pretty much the same. Buy a good one (read expensive) if you are going to use it a lot. The rotary cutters are separated by their longevity. Thicker sheet metal and a hefty gear box make a difference after several years.

If you REALLY need a golf course type of look on a field then a flail mower with finish blades is the way to go. Very expensive compared to a rotary but the results are outstanding.

 

[madermu]

Thanks guys for all the info and advice

 

[Bdavis]

hello everyone, I've been reading the forums on the site for a while, but this is my first time to post.

I'm about to buy some type of mower and have been looking specifically at the Howse mower. I need a mower to cut the areas on the outside of my fences and a area that covers about an acre. All in all, its too large an area for a riding mower.

Can anyone give me an idea on the quality of cut from a Howse Rotary Cutter? I'd like to use a rotary cutter, because it would be more versitle than a finish mower, but the areas I'm cutting need to look nice.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

I had about 5 acres of cleared yard then about another 8 acres of heavy stuff I wanted to clear. I finally decided that the only way to go is with 2 attachements. (a finishing mower and a rotary)
If you check craiglist (it takes a while) you can generally pick up one or both
in good condition for a good price.
I am really glad I went this route. Rotary cutters almost by definition or heavier and longer than a finishing mower. Making them much more difficult to manuever. (at least when I am at the controls !) Also getting the right height adjustment and making a good smooth cut is really difficult.
The finishing mower with the 4 wheels makes a good cut and you can really
cut regular grass with it quickly.
I have found that the finishing mower stays on my tractor about 8 months out of the year . I only use the rotary cutter about twice a year.

Every situation is different but there is no way I would use a rotary cutter to cut a regular lawn or cut close to obstables. I would just tear up to much stuff !! This combination has worked well for me. I did add a used riding lawn mower to my grass cutting collection to cut the ditches and I love it.
Hope this helps !

 

[DKCDKC]

I have had a small 5 foot Howse for about 10 years. I Mow an acre plot, some grass beside my driveway, and some areas near the house... Mixed grass and brush. The Howse works fine. It looks beat up, but keeps cutting. I sharpen the blades every spring and it cuts deep grass very well, almost looks like a finish mower if you are careful as you mow and keep the PTO RPMs to spec.

 

[thatguy]

When I was pricing rough cutter you need to make sure you compare apples to apples..

By the time I took a mid priced mower and added a) safety chains, b) slip clutch, and c) laminated rear wheel - the cost was pretty close to what my JD 4' rough cut mower cost.. AND you will probably get a better paint job and thicker metal..

Brian

 

[rmitch1971]

I've had my Howse rotary mower for 2-3 years. It is a HUGE piece of JUNK. DO NOT BUY. The wheel has fallen off twice and the blade assembly has fallen totally out of the gear box TWICE!!!!! I've had to replace the seal on the gear box and it STILL leaks. PLEASE, buy a Bush Hog or some other brand----Howse is NOT a reliable brand. Nothing but headaches!!!

hello everyone, I've been reading the forums on the site for a while, but this is my first time to post.

I'm about to buy some type of mower and have been looking specifically at the Howse mower. I need a mower to cut the areas on the outside of my fences and a area that covers about an acre. All in all, its too large an area for a riding mower.

Can anyone give me an idea on the quality of cut from a Howse Rotary Cutter? I'd like to use a rotary cutter, because it would be more versitle than a finish mower, but the areas I'm cutting need to look nice.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[rmitch1971]

I've had my Howse rotary mower for 2-3 years. It is a HUGE piece of JUNK. DO NOT BUY. The wheel has fallen off twice and the blade assembly has fallen totally out of the gear box TWICE!!!!! I've had to replace the seal on the gear box and it STILL leaks. PLEASE, buy a Bush Hog or some other brand----Howse is NOT a reliable brand. Nothing but headaches!!!

 

[Cataclysm]

Bringing this back up. I am looking at a 8' Howse rotary cutter locally. How is the quality now days? I will be reclaiming pasture land. Nothing over 3" diameter.

Thanks!

 

[prestonjrf]

Howse closed up and had a big auction earlier this year!

 

[Turbys_1700]

Nothing wrong at all with Howse. They make a lighter duty mower that I really consider a light-medium duty unit. My only concern now would be parts support in the future.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

The first rotary mower I bought was a 6' Howse, it had 6" channel sides and was very well built, came with lifting blades on it and left an absolutely good looking job wherever I cut with it, I wound up giving it to my mom and bought a big name brand 6' cutter and it doesn't leave as good a finish as the Howse did, so I can only speak for mine but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

 

[Cataclysm]

I had a chance to run an 8' twin spindle Howse, it ran smooth and cut well. My tractor had no problems with the weight or power running it.

Soooo, I bought one. And so far, very happy with it. It appears to be the new "dome deck" model. Compared to the 8' twin Howse that did the test run on this one appears have identical boxes but a heavier built deck. 3 pt has both Cat 1 and Cat 2 mounting points and came with pins.

This one has a beefier tail wheel design that adjusts both tail wheels at the same time. I had an extra cylinder laying about so I mounted it up so I can adjust cut height on the fly.



This machine runs perfectly smooth. You really can't tell its running until you start moving forward and are cutting. This machine was quite a bit cheaper than other brands and I think I know why.

This machine was still packaged just as it came from Howse. Assembly required. I spent about 4 hours doing the assembly. The sellers were clear that I needed to go over every bolt and make sure they were all tight before I ran it. I noticed in the manual it clearly stated that the operator needed to check all bolts for proper torque. I would guess that 80% of the bolts were good to go. The other 20% would have vibrated loose/out and fell off. After the initial run in I spent another 2 hours rechecking everything. Only the blade bolt nuts needed tightening. I will definitely be keeping an eye on them.

I think this is why the Howse was significantly cheaper than other brands. For me saving the money was well worth the time I spent putting it together and then rechecking everything especially since it was clear at the time of purchase.

I also noticed the Howse web site is still up and has been updated recently so apparently Howse is still in business.