Rotary Cutter MX5 To Small

[john8746]

I have a Ford 3600 I can buy a MX5 John Deere brush hog .you think a 5' is to small for this tractor the mower in new condition and can be had for $1400.
.

 

[crankshaft21]

The mower is not to small, but a 3600 ford can handle a 6 ft. cutter easily. The 3600 is about 42 hp.

 

[john8746]

I know it can handle 6' but a good new 6' cost about 2100.00 and i can get the al lmost new MX5 for 1400.00 just wondering witch way to go

 

[kebo]

I guess you have considered how much acreage/area you have to cut?? If it's a lot of acreage, then I would have to look hard at a 6ft. If you don't have a whole lot of area to cut, then the 5ft should serve you well.

 

[foggy1111]

Probably a pretty fair deal if the MX5 is in very good condition. I believe I would buy it and just drive a little faster with the 5' cutter. :thumbsup:

Also, those JD MX cutters are pretty heavy......and your tractor is not the heaviest in its class - I think the 5 footer would be a good match for you. You may need front weights or a loader to anchor the front end.

 

[JWR]

I have a Ford 3600 I can buy a MX5 John Deere brush hog .you think a 5' is to small for this tractor the mower in new condition and can be had for $1400.
.

I bush hogged pasture for many years with a JD 48 horse (engine, not PTO) model 4700 using an MX6. Those are excellent mowers, heavy, well made and hard to hurt. If you have much cutting to do at all you really ought to go with a 6ft hog. I'm assuming you are cutting weeds, briars, pasture, once in a while a few small bushes and NOT clearing land of small trees with 3" thick trunks or worse. If my assumptions are right, go to the 6ft. Your 3600 should not have trouble pulling it.

I just sold an MX6 for $1600 last month. You can find a good 6ft hog for not that much more than the $1400 MX5 and in the long run I think you'll be happier with it. Of course you know your work and your area to be cut and I don't. If you have a relatively small cutting load per year and have a lot of tight quarters with not enough space to maneuver, the 5ft would potentially be better.

 

[bilrus61]

Foggy is correct that you can usually drive a 5 foot mower faster and somewhat make up for the smaller width of the cut. Make sure you know your field as in sink holes and gullies!
Do a search on here about the MX series of mowers. I think some of the ones with the gearbox made in Spain were shipped with too hard/brittle of output shaft. They sometimes break and the repair cost is about what the mower is worth. JD engineers have done it again! Invented the first disposable rotary mower, just use till it breaks and discard! No messy repair bills!