I was wondering if anyone can help me out pick the proper width of a brush hog for my 855 compact. It is 19 HP at the PTO 24 HP engine. I am debating between a 4 or 5 foot model. Some people tell me 4 and some 5.... I will be mowing mostly open field grasses. Some thicker spots of crown Vetch as well. No trees or anything. about 3 acres is on a hill that I will mow cross ways. The rest is in open relatively flatter slopes. Grass is about 2 to 3 feet high at cutting time. Thanks!
JD 855 Brush hog
- Thread starter rox5488
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I was wondering if anyone can help me out pick the proper width of a brush hog for my 855 compact. It is 19 HP at the PTO 24 HP engine. I am debating between a 4 or 5 foot model. Some people tell me 4 and some 5.... I will be mowing mostly open field grasses. Some thicker spots of crown Vetch as well. No trees or anything. about 3 acres is on a hill that I will mow cross ways. The rest is in open relatively flatter slopes. Grass is about 2 to 3 feet high at cutting time. Thanks!
beenthere
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2001
- Messages
- 18,539
- Location
- Southern Wisconsin, USA
- Tractor
- JD_4x2_Gator, JD_4300, JD_425, JD_455 AWS, added JD_455, JD_110, JD_X485(sold)
I had a JD 855 for a demo years ago, and it came with a 5' rotary cutter. It handled it just fine. I kept the RC but decided the smaller diameter tires on the 855 were not comfortable enough on my fields (I had an older Deere 420 with larger tires and really noticed the comfort difference). At the time I decided to move to the JD 1070 but it was also the time that the end was near for the 1070 and the new 4000's were coming. That is when I bought the 4300. Still have the 5' Deere 513 cutter and it handles brush and grass and weeds just fine.
Bottom line, I'd go with the 5' deck and just move slower if the few times come along where the mowing is real heavy and might use up all your horses. Having that extra width and the RC beyond the width of your tires is nice when wanting to trim close to something, and not have to drive over it to get it (such as a sapling tree or bush).
Bottom line, I'd go with the 5' deck and just move slower if the few times come along where the mowing is real heavy and might use up all your horses. Having that extra width and the RC beyond the width of your tires is nice when wanting to trim close to something, and not have to drive over it to get it (such as a sapling tree or bush).
beenthere
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2001
- Messages
- 18,539
- Location
- Southern Wisconsin, USA
- Tractor
- JD_4x2_Gator, JD_4300, JD_425, JD_455 AWS, added JD_455, JD_110, JD_X485(sold)
I had a JD 855 for a demo years ago, and it came with a 5' rotary cutter. It handled it just fine. I kept the RC but decided the smaller diameter tires on the 855 were not comfortable enough on my fields (I had an older Deere 420 with larger tires and really noticed the comfort difference). At the time I decided to move to the JD 1070 but it was also the time that the end was near for the 1070 and the new 4000's were coming. That is when I bought the 4300. Still have the 5' Deere 513 cutter and it handles brush and grass and weeds just fine.
Bottom line, I'd go with the 5' deck and just move slower if the few times come along where the mowing is real heavy and might use up all your horses. Having that extra width and the RC beyond the width of your tires is nice when wanting to trim close to something, and not have to drive over it to get it (such as a sapling tree or bush).
Bottom line, I'd go with the 5' deck and just move slower if the few times come along where the mowing is real heavy and might use up all your horses. Having that extra width and the RC beyond the width of your tires is nice when wanting to trim close to something, and not have to drive over it to get it (such as a sapling tree or bush).
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
hmmm, just posted the same thing to a 755 thread /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I ran a 506 (5 ft) cutter on my 855
only problem was getting it level and still having enough 3pt lift to get it out of the way of rough terrain while transporting. Might just be an issue with the 506 though.
The engine handled it without a wimper.
I ran a 506 (5 ft) cutter on my 855
only problem was getting it level and still having enough 3pt lift to get it out of the way of rough terrain while transporting. Might just be an issue with the 506 though.
The engine handled it without a wimper.
slaveToHorses
Gold Member
hmmm, just posted the same thing to a 755 thread /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I ran a 506 (5 ft) cutter on my 855
only problem was getting it level and still having enough 3pt lift to get it out of the way of rough terrain while transporting. Might just be an issue with the 506 though.
The engine handled it without a wimper.
I ran a 506 (5 ft) cutter on my 855
only problem was getting it level and still having enough 3pt lift to get it out of the way of rough terrain while transporting. Might just be an issue with the 506 though.
The engine handled it without a wimper.
