Rotary Cutter I Need Your Input on Rotary Cutters Please!

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. same warranty.. but one is suposedly 'better'. Makes ya wonder how much of that is 'scare tactics ont he marketing divisions part.. and how much of that is engineering info..

Soundguy

 

[Surgeon]

From Woods via e-mail answeing my question regarding the cost difference between the two:

"The difference in list price between the Heritage 60" with shear pin drive protection and the Brushbull 60" with shear pin drive protection is $230.00."

(I am very impressed with how quickly Woods responds and with the fact that they give plain answers.)

I suspect I will get the Woods 5 ft but am still thinking

 

[jazzdaddy]

I've got the Woods Brushbull 60 that I have been using on my very rocky pastures for the last 4 years. It's taken a real beating. Sometimes the blades get bent up from hitting rocks and the blade impacts the upper deck. It has cut a number of slices all the way through the deck. It's holding together but probably not much longer.

It's too much to ask for any mower to mow rocks but I'll probably replace this one with a heavy duty model when the 60 dies. I like the 5 foot length for mowing rocky fields because I can mow between large rocks. It's the small rocks that get you.

I've got a Landpride heavy duty 7 foot mower for my large tractor. It's great for my fields that are flat and not rocky. It's too wide for the rocky fields and I don't want to mess it up. I might consider a heavy duty Landpride to replace the Woods. I've been impressed with the durability of their heavier attachments.

 

[Neophyte]

We bought a Howse 500 (light duty) many moons ago and have beat the heck out of it ever since. The only major problem we have had with it is when we loaned it out. The person broke the shear bolt and replaced it with a Grade 8 bolt, thereby killing the gearbox the next time around. They replaced the gear box and it continues to run. We also noticed that the people who borrowed it turned the blades upside down for some reason. Would there be a reason to ever do this? In the process of removing the blades to put them the right way, we stripped one of the blade bolts. I ordered two new blade bolt kits for $11 each. Howse and King Kutter both seem to maintain a good parts history and inventory. The round shoulder blade bolts on my older model are a pain to tighten but they have since changed this with square shoulder blade bolts on their newer models.

Also be aware of the chain guards. Many economy models are priced without the chain guard, assuming you will provide your own or buy their kits. I don't think it is recommended that you use the unit without the chain guards so make sure you take this into account. For instance you can get a Howse 500 (5' RC) from Northern Tool for $750 but this does not include the chain guard. The chain guard kit costs another $150, which brings the total to $900 + S&H. A Howse 400 (4' RC) with chain guard kit would be $830 + S&H. S&H to Vermont on these units would be prohibitive. However, there seem to be several King Kutter dealers in your area so you should take a look at them. Have you got a price on a King Kutter unit yet? It appears a 4' King Kutter will be around $630 but I don't think this includes a chain guard. I'm not sure King Kutter even has a chain guard as an option so you may have to make your own. Maybe someone else will have some input on this. A $500 difference is a good chunk of change.

 

[Soundguy]

While it won't be a chain guard.. it's pretty easy to add a home-made mudflap guard to a KK ( or other unit ) with a mimimum of tool and supplies. I built one for about 15$ a few years ago.. Inflation has probably pushed that to 20$ now.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Just for something to mull over. I own a Woods mower (3rd one) and a Bush Hog mower (4th one) I've had a warranty issue with Woods . They didn't want to deal with me. "Take it back to the dealer". Dealer wasn't able to get much resolved. They gave me Woods phone # and said "call the manufacturer". Now I know the dealer should have stepped up, but then, so should Woods. It was over the paint coming off in sheets, with-in a few weeks of purchasing a NEW mower.

I had one warranty claim with Bush Hog. It was over something that was actually MY fault. (I bent the PTO shaft ever-so-slightly first time I raised the mower) I called the dealer. They called Bush Hog. 3 days later, a new PTO shaft showed up at my door.

That isn't inconclusive evidence of who's best, but it sure sticks out in my mind.

 

[Neophyte]

While it won't be a chain guard.. it's pretty easy to add a home-made mudflap guard to a KK ( or other unit ) with a mimimum of tool and supplies. I built one for about 15$ a few years ago.. Inflation has probably pushed that to 20$ now.. etc.

Did you simply cut up some old mudflaps and bolt them to the unit or did you use something else?

 

[Soundguy]

Cut some truck mud flaps and attached them to a utility angle iron fram i mounted to the front of the hog using bolts ont he a-frame as supports.

Keeps the flaps outta the blades..

Soundguy

 

[Neophyte]

Soundguy,

You should have a TBN photo gallery to post pictures of these things and your tractor collection. I always enjoy looking through the photos of all the neat ideas that have been implemented out there.

 

[Soundguy]

Here are a couple lo-res pics...

Soundguy

Soundguy,

You should have a TBN photo gallery to post pictures of these things and your tractor collection. I always enjoy looking through the photos of all the neat ideas that have been implemented out there.