Rotary Cutter HP for Rotary Cutter
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greg_g
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Will_C
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It all depends on what you are cutting. When you say pasture, I'm thinking cutting 12"-18" grasses down to 4"-5". That's what I do with my bush hog. My Kubota has 19 pto hp, and I handle a 54" cutter easily. I would have went with a 60" unit, but I was concerned about the weight of the cutter.
if you are planning on cutting waist high grass, brush, saplings, etc., then I think the 5 hp per foot rule is a good guide.
Will
if you are planning on cutting waist high grass, brush, saplings, etc., then I think the 5 hp per foot rule is a good guide.
Will
lawn_king
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5 hp is the industry standard. Folks here bend the rules up and down for rotary,flail & finish cutting. I stay with the 5 hp standard myself as i only rotary cut and i blow through some serious vegetation with my landpride 1860.
greg_g
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5 PTO horsepower per foot equates to ~5.7 engine horsepower per foot if you're talking typical geared tractor. Hydrostats take more, but I'd have to guess - perhaps around 6 engine horsepower per foot
//greg//
Tom_Veatch
Platinum Member
I'll pretty much echo what Will C said, depends on what you're cutting.
For me, in grass/weeds/non-woody growth running 2.5-3 foot high, a 22 PTO hp Yanmar recently handled a borrowed 60" JD cutter quite well. That's about 4.4 PTO HP/foot, but I won't argue against the 5 PTO HP/foot standard.
I had to watch the temp gauge pretty closely, but I attribute that to fluff buildup blocking the radiator screen every couple of circuits.
For me, in grass/weeds/non-woody growth running 2.5-3 foot high, a 22 PTO hp Yanmar recently handled a borrowed 60" JD cutter quite well. That's about 4.4 PTO HP/foot, but I won't argue against the 5 PTO HP/foot standard.
I had to watch the temp gauge pretty closely, but I attribute that to fluff buildup blocking the radiator screen every couple of circuits.
JIGBUILDER
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as will c says it all depemds. Depends on how much acreage your cutting/what your cutting/how fast do you need it cut/etc.
My 40 acres is Midland berbuda/fescue/old red clover/weeds/black berry vines/etc. My neighbour thought he wanted a 6' mower for his orange 32 pto hp 'bota till he barrowd my 172 Rhino. Even at max rpm he was down to 2nd gear in low side axle.
He now is the proud owner of a 62 hp green tractor (JD) with a 7' Rhino for his 70 acres.
It all depends
My 40 acres is Midland berbuda/fescue/old red clover/weeds/black berry vines/etc. My neighbour thought he wanted a 6' mower for his orange 32 pto hp 'bota till he barrowd my 172 Rhino. Even at max rpm he was down to 2nd gear in low side axle.
He now is the proud owner of a 62 hp green tractor (JD) with a 7' Rhino for his 70 acres.
It all depends
