mower/cutter naivete

[gergstuff]

Greetings!

A couple weeks ago I purchased a jinma 354 tractor with fel.

We are about to move into our new house on 5 acres (the reason I got the tractor) and I am now looking for a mower and am unsure which way to turn.

About 2.5 acres are lawn, an acre of neighbors land is tall grass and weeds which I would like to keep mowed (they dont mind of course). There are also blackberry bushes and other smaller plantsthat I would like to clear away. The terrain is gently rolling. I gather a brush mower would be the best all around choice? The lawn wont look so pretty but it will do the other jobs? A finish mower is only good for laws? Is that about the size of it?

And recommendations of brands or brands to stay away from?

Is tgere some other piece of equipment that would be a better choice?

Thanks for the input.

Craig

 

[unbidden]

You won't bush hog on a weekly basis; buy a good finish mower and get a cheap rough cut mower like a Nortrac or on Craigslist.

 

[gergstuff]

I should add that I dont have the funds available for both a finish mower and brush hog...need to build a shop too.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I know that some people mow their lawns with a rotary cutter, but I didn't like it. Much more likely to scalp at the front corners, for one thing. Maybe if I wasn't trying to get such a close cut. For light duty, I'd rather brush cut with a finish mower than the reverse. Or rent a rotary cutter to knock stuff down, then maintain with the finish mower.

 

[jeff9366]

There is a pretty good learning curve after you buy your first tractor. Then a new learning curve for each implement.

A Bush Hog or Rotary Cutter is likely the implement you need, but also research Flail Mowers which work between Rotary Cutter and Finish Mower capabilities. Tractor Phreaques that cut with Flail Mowers seem to love them.

Rather than beating a Finish Mower to cut 3-1/2 acres of rough stuff you will be better off with a Rotary Cutter for the entire area.

When you ask about BRANDS, boy, will you get opinions here. Three TOP names in Rotary Cutters + Finish Mowers are Woods, Land Pride and Bush Hog (brand). I do not own any of the Top Three.

I pull a 48" "standard" King Kutter Rotary Cutter behind my Kubota B3300SU with 59" tire width. I found it derelict and restored it. I can cut up to 1-1/4" brush without straining either the implement or tractor. The 48" width is highly maneuverable in the woods. It has given me no trouble. King Kutter calls my L-48-40 "standard" duty. KK "standard" model would serve you well for the conditions you specified; I do not know tire width of your tractor; you may need a mower wider than 48" to cover tire tracks.

The blade tips on a 48" Rotary Cutter move a lot slower than blade tips on 60"-72"-84" units. While less powerful and slower to mow a given area, 48" rotor expels debris with less velocity, which is safer.

King Kutter makes heavier implements in their PROFESSIONAL line.


DEFINITIVE T-B-N FLAIL MOWER THREAD: ( 132 pages of opinions! )

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/118882-lets-talk-flail-mowers.html

KING KUTTER SITE:

http://www.kingkutter.com/store-product.aspx?id=3319

 

[gergstuff]

Yes it does have position control. Not sure how to use it as the manual for the tractor is written in Chinglish, kinda funny to read.

Anyway, I will look at flail mowers too. I imagine those are more expensive the finish and rotary/brush cutters?

Not sure of the width of tires but I was hoping to go with a 5'.

I was just trolling on Craigslist and foudn a used finish mower and brush cutter for a reasonable sum bu the finish mower is 7' and I suspect that is much more than my tractor can handle.

Okay, I am off to the local implement dealers to see what they have. I thought it best to be equipped with a little knowledge before some salesman sells me something I cant use.

 

[gergstuff]

The tractor is 35hp and weighs 3,954 pounds according to TractorData.

 

[unbidden]

I should add that I dont have the funds available for both a finish mower and brush hog...need to build a shop too.

This is why I mention Craigslist. You can probably pick up both mowers at a very reasonable cost.

 

[jeff9366]

Yes it does have position control. Not sure how to use it as the manual for the tractor is written in Chinglish, kinda funny to read.

With tractor Position Control you will not scalp the surface when using a Rotary Cutter, AFTER YOU LEARN HOW TO ADJUST MOWER CORRECTLY.

 

[Soundguy]

my advice? designate a SMALL area around the house as lawn.. and use a lawnmower on that. hog the rest.

ps. mowing blackberry often is a GOOD control method. especially if you time it right and mow it after flowering and starting to produce.. but before any is mature.. ie.. still green.

saps lots of the plants energy to mae up losses like this. a mow just prior to bloom also sets it back.

 

[jeff9366]

The tractor is 35hp and weighs 3,954 pounds according to TractorData.

Your tractor has enough power and weight to pull a 7' finish mower......if you can maneuver the intimidating tractor + mower combination.

my advice? designate a SMALL area around the house as lawn.. and use a lawnmower on that. 'Hog the rest.

I concur.

 

[case245]

rotary cut fine enough they use it at the small air port near my house it looked to be 5 foot that around 8-9 acres

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. if it's clean pasture.. sharpen the kutter blades mor ethan normal.. will cut like a cheap rider set a click high..

 

[jonnyc1999]

I think you would be fine with a finish mower for what you describe. My bush hog brand finish mower can power through 1" poplar saplings with ease, and makes as good of a cut as any mower you are likely to find. if the areas you are planning on mowing are very overgrown or rocky, then I would reccomend a rouh cut mower.

 

[gergstuff]

Thanks for all the input.

Along related lines, what is a sickle bar mower best suited for?

 

[joshuabardwell]

Thanks for all the input.

Along related lines, what is a sickle bar mower best suited for?

Cutting hay.

 

[newbury]

Although a finish mower will most likely do week to week you might need to buy or rent a full up rotary cutter/brush hog to get the fields mowed down the first time.