Question about bush hog size

[paulBurns]

I have a YM3110 36 HP. 2 wheel drive, hydrotransmission with 12 fwd ranges, I am going to buy a rotary cutter (bush hog) next week. I will be cutting hilly land with heavy grasses and weeds. It is only cut once a year.
Question-----standard or heavy duty cutter
---------------5 ft or 6 ft width
I understand that I will need to add about 300 lb. of weight to the front end of the tractor. What is the max weight of bush hog I can safely use.

 

[bebster]

I would think that you could drive the heavy duty 6' model with the HP you have. But if it were me, and just cutting grass/weeds once a year, I'd save the money and go with the light duty model. It's lighter, and will need less weight on the front to balance it -- that could be an advantage on hills.

I have a medium-duty 5' on my JD 4410 (35HP) and it works fine, but then I am clearly deep brush with it and it takes a beating.

 

[Slamfire]

It is a pretty good idea not to have a rotary cutter much wider than the rear wheel tread width of your tractor. I struggled along for years pulling a 6' mower, until it died. Then I went to a 5' mower and can get into areas I couldn't reach before.

 

[bebster]

On the other hand, I'd stay away from a 4' wide rotary cutter for most sized tractors, since you can't get them close to the edge of anything, since most tractors are wider than the cutter. And that's usually what you want to cut much of the time.

 

[JerryG]

Paul,
If the land is hilly and you are not going to mow it that often, get a 5'. The 6' one will be harder on the hills to drag around. It will also, bog the engine if the material your cutting is only done once or twice a year. Heavy grass is one of the most power robbing things that you can cut. Bermuda grass is the worst that I cut.

 

[bebster]

Another consideration for getting a smaller cutter on hilly terrain is that it follows the contours better. Plus you are using more of your available HP sometimes going up a hill leaving less available to power a big cutter. Don't get me wrong, I think the big cutters are great for larger level fields.

 

[RonR]

I\'d go 6 ft

We don't have hills, but for versatility, I'd suggest you could always gear down and let the 6 ft handle it when it's heavy, and gear up for lighter cutting.

With a smaller mower, you couldn't gear up enough to cut in light stuff to cut well.


My two cents.

Ron

 

[chim]

Nothing to add, just bugs me to see the title of a topic in the index change to another name when going to it.....................chim

 

[DavidJ]

And I thought I was the only one that it bothered /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chim]

Nope.................chim