Mower Types

[Ortis]

What is the difference between a "finishing mower", a "rotary cutter", and a "bush hog"? Is bush hog a brand of rotary cutter, or is there more to it?

Is there "tractor implements for dummies" site to help us newbies get up to speed (at least 540 rpm)

 

[Gatorboy]

Rotary Cutter = Bush Hog


A rotary cutter typically has a slower blade speed and it made to cut brush, trees, etc. A finish mower is comparable to your typical lawn mower -- High blade speed with the task of cutting grass. A finish mower will give a much cleaner cut than a rotary cutter.

A rotary cutter can handle tall, thick grass, whereas a finishing mower cannot.

Other's will give some better insight as well.

 

[BB_TX]

Bush Hog is a brand name but is often used as a name for a rotary cutter. Rotary cutter is the technically correct name. But Bush Hog = brush hog = rotary cutter = shredder = slasher = ?.
Uses are as Gatorboy described. The rotary cutter can also be used for cutting brush, tall weeds, small trees and saplings, etc. Some of us even try small rocks and stumps on occasion. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[MarkLeininger]

One other point is that a rotary cutter can be raised to a higher cutting height than a finishing mower. If you plan to maintain pasture with it, a good height is about 8-12" which is higher than finishing mowers can be adjusted.

 

[Ortis]

Thanks! I had not heard rotary cutter before and was afraid I was missing something. btw, I have a 6' King Kutter finishing mower that came with my NAA. It works surprizingly well, and does a fairly neat job.

I know that 4' is a common size for a rotary cutter for small tractors, but 4' is a bit small. Could an NAA (~35 horsepower) handle something wider?

 

[Soundguy]

8n handles a 5' rotary cutter / 6' finish mower.. NAA handles 6' rotary cutter, and a 6' finish mower ( a bit better than a 8n).

Soundguy

 

[BB_TX]

I run a 6' with 27 PTO HP (about 32 engine HP). As long as I keep the pasture mowed regularly, I can run about as fast as I dare taking a full cut (with about 1' overlap). If I let it grow up too much, I just slow down a little or take smaller bites. And I have backed it over some pretty good size cedar trees. It clanks and bangs and throws stuff everywhere but doesn't lug the tractor down. But then cedars and such are pretty soft.

 

[beenthere]

In addition to the above info, the rotary cutter has a single rotating arm with loose heavy blades attached to the ends, whereas the finishing mower typically has three shorter rotating, one-piece blades similar to belly mower and lawn mower decks.

 

[AndyTractor]

<font color="red"> Please who can explain "FLAIL MOWER"!!!??? </font> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[anojones]

As far as an "Implements for Dummies"- I ended up just reading this forum as far back as I could stand. There is a lot of repeated information but I learned a lot and figured out what I needed to get my projects done. Now I just do a search of the forum when I have specific questions. Lots of good info.