Mowing PT 425 Brush Cutter opinions

[CreativeGuy]

Greetings
I am just loving my new PT-425 and can't wait for the weekend. (and hopefully clear weather). As Impulse pointed out, this tractor is quite the neighbor magnet. I have already been approached by one of my neighbors asking me if I have a "brush hog" attachment. I told him the PT has a Brush Cutter attachment but it wasn't in my financial cards to get it. Plus I'm not sure how much use I would get with it on my property. However, he said he might be willing to pop for the attachment if he could (let me) use it on his property. He has several acres of much overgrown blackberries, salmonberries and small saplings. My question is how good is the cutter at attacking severe overgrowth? How large of a sapling can it tackle? Does it do a sufficient job of "grinding up" the plant material? I have been considering getting a Sabre Samurai hedge trimmer (for overgrowth along my driveway), and could maybe get my neighbor to pay for that instead if it could handle his needs. Though I'm concerned however is that the Sabre would just cut and lay down the brush that would need further "processing"

Back to the Brush Cutter Attachment, Do I understand correctly that the K177 - Disk with 6 blades for grass, converts the Rough Cutter into more of a finish mower? Anyone have experience with this?

All thoughts, opinions and threats appreciated.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[BobRip]

The brush cutter does pretty well and can cut down trees up to about 1 inch. If you can push it over you can cut it, but sometimes you have to nibble at the tree (go very very slow). On the down side the bolts that hold the blades on tend to work loose and can come out and sometimes break. I tighten mine prior to every use. I cleared over a mile of trails on my property of woods. It did well. Do some searches here for discussions . I would recommend it, just watch the bolts.

 

[CreativeGuy]

Thanks for your thoughts and heads up on the bolts.
Cheers
Steve

 

[MossRoad]

The PT 48” brush cutter is the most dangerous pieces of equipment I’ve ever operated. With that said, its also one of the most productive.

Here’s why its dangerous.... heavy steel blades of swinging death! I’ve sent 4” rocks flying 50 yards. I’ve hit hidden rocks, sheared off a blade bolt, and sent a blade flying 25 yards. I hit a metal ratcheting tie down device hidden in the grass by the highway, sent that into the rear, left solid wheel and sent pieces of that solid wheel flying 25 yards.

There’s a design issue with this brush cutter. The blades can swing around so hard when they bounce off an object like a tree stump or rock that they can break off the STOP BOLTS that are supposed to stop the blades from hitting the BLADE BOLT on the sister blade. That BLADE BOLT getting hit over and over can weaken and break, sending the blade flying. And sometimes the stop bolts don’t break, but the blade bolt hits a rock and shears off sending the blade flying.

Then its a semi-complicated task to remove the broken bolt stubs and replace them. There’s several posts in the Power Trac forums here related to that.

With all that said.... this thing eats everything it can knock over. I’m comfortable with it up to 1.5” diameter oak and locust saplings. Multi-flora rose, honeysuckle, blackberries, stickers, whatever... they all get ground up to small chips and sticks that are comfortable to walk on.

You CAN lift it up to full FEL height and bring it down onto shrubs and bushes, and I’ve done it many times, but I don’t like doing it just because it seems so unsafe, and don’t recommend it to anyone. Many time’s I’ll just shut it down, wait for the blades to stop spinning, then lift it up to full FEL height and use it like a hammer to press down the bush with just the weight of it. Once its lower to the ground, I’ll back away, start up the blades, and mow it down with little lift height.

Just be aware that its a very dangerous device, needs to be understood, and needs to be respected. Don’t drive it towards person or property when its running and keep people at least 75-100 yards away. Just take your time, make a second pass or three if needed. Mow away from houses, buildings and vehicles, not towards them, etc....

Click on my little PT425 icon in my signature, and that’ll take you to a page with a bunch of info. On there, there’s a videos link and some very old videos of my brush hog in action. Hope that helps. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Kent]

IMHO this proposed arrangement is a set up for a severe rift/legal peril between you and your neighbor and a sure way to beat up/destroy your new tractor, which you will end up paying for as the brush cutter is really hard on the loader arms and the hydraulics.

Because you are only talking about several acres, tell your neighbor to buy his own tractor or if a hilly property, a walk-behind brush cutter like a DR Field and Brush Mower (Outdoor Power Equipment for Property Owners | DR Power Equipment), which I also own in addition to a PT425/brush cutter combo. When I have tall grass/weeds I can actually cut faster with the DR than with the PT. Even though the blade swath is half the size, I can cut a full width per pass, whereas with the PT I can only cut half because it can't handle any more. Plus the DR does this without any hesitation or overheating as this is what the DR is designed to do. Of course you have to actually walk behind it but it is a good full-body workout! Mine has a single blade, so no swinging blade bolts to break as with the PT. (Ignore their videos showing grandma using a DR because you really have to be strong to muscle the machine around as it doesn't have hydro static steering). I can take the DR into steep places where I can't fit the tractor or keep it upright. I have owned two DRs over the years, starting with the big wheel model back in the early 90's and now the one I bought in 2001 (with finish mower, brush cutter, and snowblower).

I now see that DR has a new 34" model (PRO MAX-34) with independent disk brakes to make steering easy and an oil pump. Envy!

Keep in mind that with the DR you will want to wear your protective gear as it too shoots out detritus in all directions at a high velocity.

BTW I am not a spokesperson for the DR, just a satisfied customer. And yes I know there are many people who poo poo the DR for various reasons.

 

[MossRoad]

I’ll 2nd Kents comments about tall grass. While it eats brush very quickly, it will bog down in tall grass.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Jointly buying gear is a big no no in my book. One of you will walk away disappointed eventually. Can’t answer on your mower. My 96. Inch is killer in many ways. It cuts well. Thick tall grass slows it down. My design gun is probably similar to the others and blade throwing is a real issue. I don’t suffer the distance issue but blades break all the time. But as for you implement arsenal I would for sure have one on my list

 

[CreativeGuy]

Wow, Thanks for all your great input, though I'm feeling a bit scared of the brush cutter attachement. There is a structure on my neighbor's property with windows that's basically buried in the brush. (And he want to salvage), With the potential of all the "stuff" flying out of the cutter it would seem likely that the windows would all get shattered. And I would like to keep him as a friend so I hear what you say about "sharing" gear. The way my property is, I wouldn't really have a use for it anyway unless it was easy to convert to the grass blades.

Would a Flail mower be considered safer? PT offers a couple of models but I'm guessing not small enough for the 425. Though it seems like I've seen smaller front mounted compact flail mowers available. Like the Befco H40. The blades in these things are designed to bounce off movable objects. And apparently they are quieter too. I could see me using a Flail Mower on parts of my property.

 

[MossRoad]

A flail mower would be much safer. I’m not aware of PT offering one for the 400 series machines.

 

[MossRoad]

Here’s an old video of my on my PT425 VS a large multi flora rose bush.... (spoiler alert: I won).