JD LX4, LX5 or ???

[DepthCharge]

Hello,

I am looking to buy a rotary cutter for my JD 4115. I will be rough cutting about 2 acres a few times a year so I don't need a super tough unit. However I would like something that is built with good workmanship.

According the to JD specifications the only rotary cutter they make to fit the 4115 is the LX4. However, upon investigation the recommended minimum PTO horsepower for the LX5 is 18. My 4115 has 20 Net PTO Horsepower.
When I looked into the weight the LX4 was 414LB and the LX5 was 480 LB. Not a huge difference and seamingly well within the capacity of my 3point lift.

So, does anyone have any experiece on with a 5' rotary cutter on a 4115 or similar tractor?

Also, I haven't seen either a LX4 or an LX5 but from what I hear they are well built. Any comments on the quality?

I have recently looked at a TSC 5' King Kutter unit they want $595 for a cutter without chain guards and slip clutch. Fairly poor workmanship. Horrible paint.

I was quoted around $950 for the LX4 and $1,100 for the LX5. Both prices include a chain guard and slip clutch. All in all there isn't a huge price differential by the time you equip the TSC unit with a chain guard and slip clutch.

Thanks.

 

[yellowsocks93]

They are pretty good. It will work just great for light duty grass cutting but for tall brush and rocks you will want the MX series but I don't think your tractor is rated for that. I just cleaned up an LX-6 today because we swapped a MX-6 on the guy's 4410 E hydro. He hit as rock and tore part of the metal off the back end and dented the top of the deck up real bad. He only used it 2 times since he bought it. His new MX-6 will be a lot tougher with the double deck. You will be fine for light cutting and the LX. Like tall prarie grass and such but I would not recommend driving over huge trees unless you have an MX. Just my 2 cents.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I am with yellowsocks 100% (stars must be aligned, buddy!!)

I had an LX, and it is very beautiful. But it awfully light build. If you hit a rock, or swing wide and bang a post you'll end up with a crumpled mess.

But there are many happy LX owners. You just need to assess where you are... I KNOW I will go for rocks and stuff like a magnet!

But I am with you on the KK stuff, too.

Another option is to look at a Midwest, good quality, and comes in green!

As to size. Deere runs pretty conservative. If you go over their recommendation, the big thing to watch out for is side slopes, where the the weight will pull you sideways. i have an MX6 on a 4310, and have to watch that!

 

[timb]

Four things effect what cutter you can use - one - your PTO hp. Two - the hp required for what you're cutting and the size of the deck. Three the absolute weight of the deck. Forth - the 'balance' of the deck.

By your numbers, the LX4 is only 66 lbs lighter but it's center of gravity is also at least 1/2 foot closer to the tractor. You don't want to be looking at sky if you hit a bump. As far as balance - all Deere implements should have an 'implement code'. Deere tractor owners manuals should have an implement code chart somewhere that lays out the recommended amount of FRONT ballast to offset a given rear implement. Some might consider the recommendations overly conservative - but at least they show you the company thoughts on the matter.

Rule of thumb for hp is 5 PTO hp per foot of cutter for "average use". You've got 20 hp which sounds marginal for a five foot cutter but needs can change drastically depending on what you cut. We use a five foot cutter on a heavish old 30 PTO hp tractor (not a CUT) and it can bog down in heavy 'field' i.e. grass/light brush three foot high.

The Deere owners manual for the LX cutters lists min. PTO hp for the LX4 at 14.5 and 18 for the LX5. However the implement code is 29 for the LX4, and 39 for the LX5 (31/41 with a QuickTach).

The 4115 owners manual is not viewable on-line at the moment so you'll have to check your chart.

 

[DepthCharge]

So here is my dilemma:

Am I better off with a fairly light weight LX4 or LX5, or am I better off with a heavier built but lower quality TSC King Kutter?

I know of no other place locally that I could see other brands.
There may be some places but I will have to research it.

I wish I could go with an MX5 but I am sure that it would be too heavy for my little JD 4115. I'm not even sure the LX5 would be the right choice. Its to bad they don't make an MX4.
The MX5 is out of my price range anyway.

 

[DepthCharge]

I am not sure what the implement code is.
I know I have enough horsepower and I agree that the weight, or rather the cantelever of the weight might be a problem. I just didn't want to get into the complication of it before.

I will say however that in comparison to the 4110, the 4115 is about 200LB heavier with a 6" longer wheelbase. This would help some. I could also add weight to the front.

The 3 point with is good for 2350 LB at the eyes and 1150 LB 24" back from the eyes. If I knew the center of gravity of the cutter I could figure out if I could lift it.

What I was really hoping was that someone who actually has tried it would respond. I think that's the only way I will know for sure. I guess I could make arrangments with the dealer that if it looked like I couldn't lift the LX5 I would bring it back and get the LX4. But now I am afraid the LX# series is to light duty from all the posts.

 

[timb]

Before you talk yourself into over-buying - light, medium, and heavy-duty in rotary-cutter-speak can take on a little different meaning than you might expect. Truely 'heavy duty' rotary cutters are used against some amazingly heavy brush. Some would call them 'woods'! When you swing by your JD dealer - grab the pamphlet on the LX series - and the one on the MX/CX heavy units. You may be surprised about can get cut. And if you 4115 manual doesn't say anything about the ballast needed for a code 39 (the LX5) implement - your dealer should be able to tell you. Those code charts take into account both implement weight and leverage.

Another possibility if the weight but not necessarily the hp turns out to be the limiter - see if anyone makes a 'semi-mount' or 'pull-behind' rotary in a 5 foot unit. That's common with really big rotaries since it keeps the weight or most of it off the tractor - the rotary deck is more like a trailer. There are pluses and minuses to manuvering with such a rig but it might be an option.

 

[Joe1]

I've run an LX4 behind a JD 770 (20 PTO hp & manual transmission). Overall, the fit and finish an dpaint seemed excellent. I had a leaking gearbox seal after almost a year, and the dealer fixed it without a complaint.

When I was looking for the cutter, some material I looked at said I could handle the LX5. The dealer said the LX4 would work better with my tractor, and I believe he was right.

I've found it to be an excelent unit for my needs. I've cut weeds and thistle mixed in with hay with the weeds over the top of the stack (7') and dense. I had to knock them down with the fEl to see where I was going. I use this set up on 6 acres. The larger cutter would be nice because it would be faster.

AS it is, the 770 will drop a few hundred RPM on some pretty heavy stuff. I think the dealer was right, that the 5' might be too much. However, the previous owner of the tractor ran a 5' King Kutter and he said no problems, but then he did want to sell the tractor. I also hit some rocks that put some dents in the top of the deck, but it seems to not affect it much, just cosmetic. I would definitely go with the slip clutch. I'd have changed 20 shear pins without it.

The 4' LX4 is a foot shorter overall and makes for easier storage in the garage and I can make tighter turns.
The size differential on 2 acres shouldn't make for that much of a longer run when cutting. It's also easier to transport and replacement blades if needed will be a little cheaper.

I am happy with the product and the dealer service.

Good Luck

Joe

When the going is easy, I wish I had the larger unit, but with heavy cutting, I'm glad I went with the 4'.

 

[DepthCharge]

Joe1,

Thanks for the great information. I am leaning towards a 4' unit. My only dilemma now is the brand. I am afraid the JD L series to too light duty.

I had been thinking that a King Kutter would be a little tougher unit while being lower quality but when I then I saw that they are very close in weight. So not I am thinking that they probably using generally the same steel thicknesses.

 

[DepthCharge]

O.K.

So I stopped by a dealer the way home to take a look at either an LX4 or LX5. It turned out that he didn't have either in stock. But they did have a piece of literature that I hadn't seen before (might be new) on Implements for 2210, 90 and the 4000 Ten series. It has #DKA69(03-10) on the back.

There are big charts in it with implement compatabilities. In this document it does list the LX5 as being compatable with the 4115. I had thought that this might be the case. So much of JD's documentation is either out of date or just flat wrong. It seems that you can never rely on it.

Anyway, one of my deciding factors in going with the 4115 (I had originally looked at the 2110, then jumped up to the 4010, then to the 4110) was that there were many implements that were compatable with it but not with anything smaller (2110, 4010, 4110). It seemed like the right combination since I didn't want the larger size and heavier medium frame units but I wanted to use it for a lot of different tasks.

According to this document, the following implements are compatable with the 4115, but not anything smaller:

7.5 and 8.5 foot cultivators (actually this is strange because they list the 7.5 as being compatable with the 2210 but not the 4010 or 4110)

620 disk (same strange 2210 compatability as above)
84" Frontier Landscape rake
94" Frontier Landscape rake
72" mid mount mower
72" model #GM1072R Rear finish mower
60" Frontier #OS1060M Overseeder
72" Frontier #OS1072M Overseeder
Rotomec #PHD200 Auger
Potomec #PHD300 Auger
60" Frontier #SP1060 Pulverizer
60" #LX5 Rotary Cutter

Now a lot of people want a small tractor but can't think of a use for some of the implements which it will not be compatable with. I, on the other hand, want flexibility. That way no matter what comes up I can handle it. It may not be very fast, but at least I can have the basic capability.

In combination with the direct injected engine and higher horsepower it's a strong argument for going with the 4115 (if you don't want the larger medium frame for whatever reason).