Tractor Sizing HP required for 6' bushog

[rlwilliamson]

Little help please. What hp do ya'll reckon is needed for a 6' three point hitch bushog cutting a mix of bermuda and johnson grass?

 

[MarkV]

Little help please. What hp do ya'll reckon is needed for a 6' three point hitch bushog cutting a mix of bermuda and johnson grass?

Welcome to the forum!!! The general rule of thumb is 5 PTO hp per foot of rotary cutter. So a 6 footer calls for 30 PTO hp or better.

MarkV

 

[RoyJackson]

More is better, but 25-28 PTO HP would do the job.
You'll also want to consider the size and weight of the cutter and tractor as part of the equation.
With just grass cutting, a light to medium duty cutter would suffice, but if you let it get high, you may have to slow your ground speed .

 

[Bigfoot62]

It depends on which model you're talking about. Also, remember that "minimum" means minimum. It won't perform to it's full potential on minimum hp. Remember to look at the weight as well. Don't get a heavier cutter than you can safely pick up!

This is only from the Rhino website: (other brands will vary)
25 hp for the lightest duty 72" specs: RHINO | Single Spindle | RB Series (Utility)
55 for the super duty 72" specs: RHINO | Single Spindle | 400 Series (Super Duty)

 

[canoetrpr]

I have a Kubota L3400 - ~30 PTO hp. I run a 5ft Woods BB60 cutter which my dealer recommended.

I asked about a 6 ft and they strongly advised against it. He was wrong (about this and other things). For the type of bush hogging I am doing - well maintained pastures - a med duty Woods BB72 (6ft) would have been a better choice and this tractor would have handled it perfectly. I find myself at a disadvantage mowing along fence lines as my bush hog is EXACTLY the width of my tractor tires. If you can, try to get one that is slightly wider.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Every 6' bush hog we've run has been behind a 40pto hp tractor. IMO, that is about the minimum if you have any heavy cutting to do. The 5hp per foot rule isn't exactly accurate when you get to the larger single spindle cutters. For example a 7' single spindle takes a lot of power, about 50hp minimum. Whereas a 8' cutter (twin spindle) only takes 40hp.

 

[JimRB]

The brush cutter I have behind my JD 870 has a closed back. That means it tends to mulch more than a mower with an open back of the deck. I think my tractor is rated at 25 hp PTO. It works fine on well grazed pastures but bogs out a bit when going through roughs. If I were cutting thick fields I would need to play with wheel height and run a higher leading edge of the mower. For my little tractor a 6' mower would not be a good investment.

 

[Mikey007]

JimRB (or any one else with a JD 870 or similar tractor!): What are you running for a bush hog behind your JD 870? I ask because I'm in the market for a bush hog and I have the same tractor. I'm looking at a Bush Hog 295 - I know it's a bit heavy duty for my 870 but I want something that will last. I'm currently running a Caroni TM1900 flail mower behind it (that's also a bit big for my tractor but it seems to handle it ok) but need/want a bush hog to take down some (lots, actually!) 2-3" sapplings. I know a Bush Hog Squealer would be a better fit for my JD 870 (28 hp/25 PTO) but really would like the heavier duty Bush Hog 295 model. I also like the medium duty Woods BB600 but I think thats about 150 lbs. heavier then the medium duty Bush Hog 295! Normally, heavier is better but not when you're limited by your tractor size!!!

 

[canoetrpr]

The BB600 is a BEAST! If you are looking to cut 2 to 3" stuff then keep the size down. You might even consider going to 48" if you are going to go for the heavy duty one. Ensure you have enough front weight!

 

[PoorPlowboy]

JimRB (or any one else with a JD 870 or similar tractor!): What are you running for a bush hog behind your JD 870? I ask because I'm in the market for a bush hog and I have the same tractor. I'm looking at a Bush Hog 295 - I know it's a bit heavy duty for my 870 but I want something that will last. I'm currently running a Caroni TM1900 flail mower behind it (that's also a bit big for my tractor but it seems to handle it ok) but need/want a bush hog to take down some (lots, actually!) 2-3" sapplings. I know a Bush Hog Squealer would be a better fit for my JD 870 (28 hp/25 PTO) but really would like the heavier duty Bush Hog 295 model. I also like the medium duty Woods BB600 but I think thats about 150 lbs. heavier then the medium duty Bush Hog 295! Normally, heavier is better but not when you're limited by your tractor size!!!

The squealer wont handle many 2-3" saplings. The gearbox, jumper, and drive line will, but the side skirts are quite flimsy.

I cleared out a thicket of 1.5-2" pine saplings earlier this year with my SQ160, and I'm now having to weld some angle iron bracing onto the side skirts, and hammer out the bends in the rear skirt.

I've got 45pto hp and it was a struggle. I won't be using the bushhog for that type of job anymore.

 

[Uncle Wayne]

I have the CUT 4320, 48 HP if I remember correctly, and it handles the MX6 easily, lifting and mowing, in very thick stuff.

 

[msmud]

For the mix of grass you mention in the OP, the Frontier RC2072 would be fine choice. Mine gives excellent cut quality, even on a lawn, at rated speed. At even 20% lower than rated speed it still does well with pasture rough-cutting on my 3038e. This tractor produces 30 PTO hp at rated speed, and seems to have more than enough power for this bushhog. Frontier says it needs 25 PTO HP minimum, and that seems right.

 

[rlwilliamson]

Ya'll have been most generous with your replies to my post. I usually wait untill my grass gets about a foot tall (Johnson grass about 2'). I want to cut at least 5mph. The reason I wanted a 6' was to get outside my rear wheels. I have a lead on a New Holland TC 29 with 800hrs mfwd but am scared it is a little small.
Also, do ya'll know how much hp is lost, if any, when you have a hydrostat transmission over a geared one?

At present I have an 806 IH which is too big

 

[RoyJackson]

Ya'll have been most generous with your replies to my post. I usually wait untill my grass gets about a foot tall (Johnson grass about 2'). I want to cut at least 5mph. The reason I wanted a 6' was to get outside my rear wheels. I have a lead on a New Holland TC 29 with 800hrs mfwd but am scared it is a little small.
Also, do ya'll know how much hp is lost, if any, when you have a hydrostat transmission over a geared one?

You can figure on one to two less PTO HP on an HST model. IIRC, the TC29 has around 25 PTO HP, so you'd be pushing it with a 6' cutter.

 

[DennisFolsom]

Ya'll have been most generous with your replies to my post. I usually wait untill my grass gets about a foot tall (Johnson grass about 2'). I want to cut at least 5mph. The reason I wanted a 6' was to get outside my rear wheels. I have a lead on a New Holland TC 29 with 800hrs mfwd but am scared it is a little small.
Also, do ya'll know how much hp is lost, if any, when you have a hydrostat transmission over a geared one?

At present I have an 806 IH which is too big

Can't you rig your 3 point hitch such that a 5 ft mower is angled to one side? That way, you can mow along fences, and will have a clean cut on one side. You would first go around the outside in the direction that lets you mow close to the fence, then change directions for going around the rest of the field.

I don't yet own a bushog type mower. I may pick up a used one. I don't have a lot of land that I could use one on at present. However, when I get some trails cleaned up, I might want to use a bushog on them. While my JD4600 should handle a 6' mower, I'm thinking that a 5' unit might be fine for my use, if I can rig it to be offset to one side.

 

[deerefan]

I have a JD 5103 and a model 286 (6ft) bushhog brand rotary cutter. The cutter is rather heavy and the tractor handles it great. It has been a great bushhog. The tractor is 50hp and about 42 at the pto, non-turbo.

 

[brewdog]

I have a NH 3040 - with 33 HP at the PTO and I run a 6 foot Woods brush bull.

 

[jenkinsph]

At present I have an 806 IH which is too big

That was one of my favorite IH tractors, why not get a larger cutter for it?

 

[RoyJackson]

Can't you rig your 3 point hitch such that a 5 ft mower is angled to one side? That way, you can mow along fences, and will have a clean cut on one side.

I don't believe I've ever seen a cutter that could be offset to one side or a 3PH that could do that...although it would be a good idea.

 

[Bartcephus]

I too have never seen a offset for a rotary cutter/shredder. I have seen the ones the highway department uses that are mounted on arms. But that is way outta my budget. I have a NH T1510 with a 5' Bush Hog "Squeeler 160" I've been over several 3" pine saplings and yes it is ROUGH. It will handle them slowly.... very slowly. (Tractor has about 25 hp pto/ 30 HP engine) trying to get close to fence lines is a chore. Usually just spray them early in the season with roundup. Or use a torch weeder which I can't use now because of the verrrrry verrrry dry conditions.

Best Regards

Bart