Need Advice: Rotary Cutting and Finish Mowing

[FLDave]

Hi All,

I'm ready to buy my first tractor but I am having difficulties picking out the right size. After initial project completion, the tractor will pretty much be used for finish mowing and "bush-hogging" so that is how I want to size it (the tractor).

Here's what I have to do on my property:

3 to 4 acres to finish mow preferably with a 72" (or bigger) rear discharge finish mower.

A 6, 4, and 2 acre pasture to mow with a rotary cutter (preferably 72"). The pastures are all flat and are grass with no brush just some weeds. I will have to mow these areas once or twice a month in the prime growing months.

Here are the pertinent specifications of the two tractor I'm decing between:

Tractor 1: 35 hp engine, 28 hp PTO, 2,900 lbs (I am having difficulty finding many 72" rotary cutters for this.)

Tractor 2: 48 hp engine, 40 hp PTO, 3,700 lbs

Ok, now I'm at the mercy of the experienced people here. Which size tractor and which model of cutters would be the best for me and my property?

I need advice badly, and the salesman are of no help, so thank you in advance. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd look at a Deere 4300 series (or one of the new models). That 4310 has plenty of power for a 72" rotary cutter. You could probably run an 84" finishing mower on it too.

I like Befco for finishing mowers. Don't know anything about their cutters though.
Land Pride manufactures a very robust rotary cutter.

Of course, if you go for the Deere...you might get a good package deal with the tractor.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[DK35vince]

I do everything you mentioned above with a 35 HP tractor.
I run a 6' finish mower, but would have no problem with a 7'.
I also run a 6' standard duty (King Kutter) brush mower with no problem. Price of my cutter with a slip clutch was around $800
For mostly just field grass you have no need for a exspensive heavy duty rotary cutter, a lower priced standard duty cutter would be fine.

 

[Dutch445]

FLDAVE,
Not trying to be picky here, but how many times can you ask the same questions?

June 11
June 14
June 16
June 27
Oct 24
Nov 7
Nov 18

Dave, by the time you buy something, we will have to start talking about feller/bunchers and logging equipment!
You have gotten a lot of advise from TLB members, and pricing for almost every piece of equipment made, are the dealers not interested in helping you fit the right tractor to your needs?

Did you get moved in yet?

 

[FLDave]

Dutch, I thought I was going to be able to use the 28 PTO hp machine but I did a search on Woods, Bush Hog, Rhino, King Kutter, and Land Pride web-sites. Can you tell me out of these manufacturers how many 72" rotary cutters are made that are rated for a 28 hp PTO? I didn't think so. ONLY ONE!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I am asking an attachment question here to see if there are other cutters I could use. I've narrowed the tractors down to two units and I need some good advice. I would like to by the smaller unit but it seems my rotary cutter selection may be pretty bad. I am sorry if you have been tracking my every move but you'll just have to get over it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I am in a general forum so that I can get a broader response from the experienced members on cutting issues.

By the way, do you have any constructive suggestions for my $20,000.00? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[FLDave]

Roy, thanks, Befco makes a 72" rotary cutter that a 28 hp PTO can handle. Are they good sturdy units?

Vince, thanks also, what does you DK35 weigh and what is the cutter rated at( minimum hp to operate)? I would have a lot more options with over 30 hp PTO it seems but I would have to buy the heavier tractor out of my two choices.

Thanks, /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"Roy, thanks, Befco makes a 72" rotary cutter that a 28 hp PTO can handle. Are they good sturdy units? "

I can't tell you how good Befco rotary cutters are..my finishing mower is a 60" Befco and, other then blade sharpening, grease and one belt replacement, has been a dependable unit. I'm sure their cutters are as well.
I'm running this 60" mower behind a 24 PTO HP tractor. I've no doubt that the 790 could handle a 72" unit easily...maybe even an 84" unit. I just can't swing the funds for a larger finishing mower right now. The next implement on the list is a chipper.

Now, as far as cutters...I've a Landpride 60" cutter. This cutter has done a great job pulverizing 1" to 1½ saplings, heavy brush (as tall as the tractor..or more) and the occasional rock or stump. When I first bought it, I had a Deere 670 (predessesor of the 790 series) which had 16 PTO HP. Although I wasn't really too sure the 670 could handle this sized cutter, the Kubota dealer who sold it to me said they put behind B7500's quite a bit. The B7500 is comparable in grosss and PTO HP to the 670.
I was impressed how well the unit did, especially considering I was 4 HP below the minimum reccomended by Land Pride.
There would be an occasional stall of the tractor...but not many. The combination of the 670 and the 60" Land Pride did a heck of a job!
My current tractor, the Deere 790, has 24 HP at the PTO. It doesn't bog down as much as the 670 did. I can take a larger bite when the brush gets thick. And, when the 790 does bog down, it recovers quicker then the 670 did.

My point is...we underestimate our tractors. They (at least the 70 and 90 series Deeres) are pretty tough. Depending on what you're planning on cutting, I'd go for any of the 72" cutters. If you find out some areas are too much for your horsepower, just take a smaller bite...say half or two thirds of the cutter's width.

For my 790, I don't think I'd go bigger then 60". But this is more due to the weight of the 72" cutter rather then the PTO HP.

I don't abuse my tractor. I expect this 790 to be around longer then I am. But, don't underestimate how tough they are.

 

[FLDave]

So what your saying Ray is that it is not that uncommon for people to buy a rotary cutter a little stouter than recommended?

For example, if I had 28 hp PTO and I bought a rotary cutter rated 30 hp minimum that it would not be that big of a deal and the 28 hp should handle it? I just don't want to overload a brand new tractor and screw it up. It's only 2 hp, but I am very conservative.

Thanks, /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

"So what your saying Roy is that it is not that uncommon for people to buy a rotary cutter a little stouter than recommended?"

I'm saying I'd buy the cutter to do the job. If it's slightly above the tractor's specs...I wouldn't have a problem. If the work seems to be taxing the tractor..I'll just take a smaller bite..as described in my earlier post.

I use a bit of common sense when I'm operating equipment...I hope most TBNer's do.

I think some of us read the specs and take them right to heart rather then a good estimate of a job and capacity of the equipment.

 

[keeney]

I would think that the HP to operate a given size cutter would be pretty much the same regardless of the brand. The variation is likely just the various manufacturers different ideas of what "normal" operating conditions would be - how thick the stuff being cut is and how fast the typical user would expect it to cut.

I would take all of the various HP ratings for the various brands of the same size and get a range. Depending on if you think your cutting is going to be heavy or light and you want to go fast or slow, you can pick the low end or the high end of the HP scale to figure out what tractor to buy. Then, go back and buy whatever brand of cutter you want, or like the price on, etc in that size.

As another poster mentioned, for frequent mowing of an already-cut field with mostly just grass, you can likely be happy with a lighter-duty, slightly under-powered combination in a larger size. If you were clearing totally overgrown land from scratch, you would want something in a heavier-duty model with a tractor with the high end of the HP scale for that size.

- Rick