John Deere 4600

[dieselscout80]

What size rotary cutters or flail mowers are you running with your John Deere 4600?

I am looking at a JD 4600 with a Power Reverser 12 speed transmission.

 

[hosspuller]

Depending on your mowing acreage. Get the largest cutter your wallet and machine can lift. Horsepower only limits your ground speed and density of grass to cut. Either can be managed by gearing back or overlapping your cut. When the grass is sparse and the area is large, you'll be able to get it done quicker.

 

[dodge man]

Looking at tractor data on the specs, I would think it would handle a 6’ or 7’.

 

[dieselscout80]

I am interested in getting a 88” flail mower and am wondering if a 4600 will handle it, but I would like to hear from a JD 4600 owner.

 

[Peter 315]

36 hp on the pto.... wood maxx 88'' 50 to 90 hp to run it.......

 

[dieselscout80]

Peter 315,

JD's 390 says it will run off of 30 PTO horsepower and the 390 has 90" cutting width.
Cutters & Shredders | 39 Offset Flail Mower | John Deere US

Sometimes the higher horsepower ratings are there to ensure there is enough weight to handle picking up the mower.

 

[Peter 315]

Peter 315,

JD's 390 says it will run off of 30 PTO horsepower and the 390 has 90" cutting width.
Cutters & Shredders | 39 Offset Flail Mower | John Deere US

Sometimes the higher horsepower ratings are there to ensure there is enough weight to handle picking up the mower.

It shows 40hp (30kw)..........

 

[Hay Dude]

Peter 315,

JD's 390 says it will run off of 30 PTO horsepower and the 390 has 90" cutting width.
Cutters & Shredders | 39 Offset Flail Mower | John Deere US

Sometimes the higher horsepower ratings are there to ensure there is enough weight to handle picking up the mower.

I run a JD 390 flail mower. A 4600 would possibly run it for lawn or light meadow use, but anything taller than a overgrown lawn will bog it down. 390s are big heavy flail mowers. Theyre not a little Chinese flail mower. You’ll definitely need a rack of front weights or a loader.

 

[Storm56]

I have JD 4700 and have run a 7 foot Ford flail for years with nary an issue, and not on grass either, above the knee fields. There have been occasion where I needed to slow down or take a smaller bite, but not often. You will know when to back off a bit.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have JD 4700 and have run a 7 foot Ford flail for years with nary an issue, and not on grass either, above the knee fields. There have been occasion where I needed to slow down or take a smaller bite, but not often. You will know when to back off a bit.

Your 4700 with 5-6 more HP is like 15% more HP than a 4600 the OP is suggesting. The other thing is a JD390 is a very heavy built flail. It was a perfect compliment for my Kubota M7040, and that was about 60HP. It would easily cut thick grass, but I couldn’t imagine same mower with only 36HP.

 

[dieselscout80]

It shows 40hp (30kw)..........

I see both 30 and 40 HP listed as minimum in two different places on the 390 info,

That said I was using it as an example only I'd prefer to get a Ford 917 with the 88" width or a Bush hog FH188. I think these are lighter than the JD 390.

I agree on the front weights as my 917 that is 74" wide can make my tractor light on the front end at times.

A JD 4700 would without a doubt be better.

Also, I am cutting pastures that have been grazed and some yards and on rare occasions if a pasture gets overgrown.