Need quick opinions on JD LX6

[N80]

I'm planning on getting a rotary cutter soon. See some of my local research in this thread:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Board/implement/Number/719244/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o//fpart/1

There is a like new but used JD LX6 with chains and slipper clutch for around $900 at a nearby dealership. I haven't seen it but the dealer says it looks new. It normally sells for a tad more than the others.

The specs look similar to the the Bush Hog, Woods and Land Pride. I need it soon and I doubt this unit will be around long. Any strong opinions either way?

I'd appreciate any timely help.

 

[beenthere]

That one has been a good RC for many friends of mine.
I have the older version, the 513 and beefed it up a bit around the rear skirts, just so I could back into brush and 'doze' it over. The origninal fit and finish didn't have that kind of strength in the steel. Mine works great, and the gear box is a good one, as well as the clutch (slipper?). Mine has cut a lot of heavy brush for about 7 years now.

 

[jhortonvt]

I have the LX5 (also bought it used from the dealer) and have found it to be a very good cutter.

I can see the weaknesses people say the LX series has, with its relatively thin skin, although the guy that owned mine must have driven over anything and everything with it, for it was not so new looking when I bought it. It had a ring of bent sheetmetal around the top of the mower that was about 5 feet in diameter right at the blade tips. I flattened it our with a hammer gave er a new paint job and it cuts great.

My only experience with it is cutting a cleared hay field I am building on, and so far it has been very capable. If I bounced around stumps, trees and rocks ALOT I might not be as confident in its performance/durability. But there's quite a difference in price between my used LX5 and what a new MX5 would have cost. And I couldn't be happier. I've cut about 11 acres now and haven't even sheared a pin-and I have had a few clanks, bangs, and scalped some pretty good earth.

 

[N80]

Thanks. I'm going to check it out tomorrow afternoon. As far as the build, it has the same deck and side thickness as the comparable BH Squealer, the Land Pride and the Woods. So I hope that won't be an issue. The blade size and speed are also about the same as the others. On paper I can't find any significant differences so if it looks newish and has no evidence of abuse I'll probably get it.

That green thing is going to clash with my orange tractor.

By the way, how do you unload one of these things. I've got chains and an FEL. Guess you just rig something.

 

[N80]

Me again. I'm going to check this thing out in a few hours, but I did notice one thing in the pictures that bothers me a little. All the other cutters, including the KK have lateral bracing coming off of the longitudinal braces on the deck top. The JD has typical looking longitudinal bracing but no lateral bracing. Seems odd. The JD brochure makes big deal about the smooth/clean deck saying it holds less debris and is easier to clean. I don't think this will keep me from buying it, but it does make me wonder.

 

[N80]

Update. I did buy the JD. The LX6 does have the lateral bracing, the LX5 does not. It had a little more rust on it than I was expecting, particularly around the chain gaurd attachment. It also had two curved dents pushed up from the underside of the deck where either the blades or some object carried by the blades had hit the deck. The blades looked okay and the PTO shaft looked fine so I bought it. They came down a good bit from the initial price.

I spent the weekend mowing. It works fine. I have found that hooking a heavy 3ph cutter to the 3 point takes a bit of time and finess. Getting the top-link and tail wheel adjusted also is a bit tricky (I have rough terrain). I did mow for a while without the toplink and it works very well with the exception of the tail wheel dropping into a hole or rut and then it scalps.

I'm happy with it. It certainly handles better in a tight location than the big pull-type but I have to be a little more careful on rough terrain. I can now see how one of those easy attach systems would be handy.