QUICK ROTARY CUTTER ADVICE NEEDED

[rbargeron]

I got the SQ172 Squealer. ....glad that I didn't get the 296. My tractor definitely would not like it.

Congrats on your new cutter - the squealer is a good machiine if you don't abuse it. A neighbor had one on a L4310 - kept bending the stump jumper. The elliptical shape is claimed to ride up over stumps & rocks better - his didn't seem to. It depends on the care of the operator I'm sure.

 

[Travis_R]

This is my 2nd Bush Hog Squealer. 2 1/2 years ago, I bought a new 5' SQ600 squealer. I KNOW the abuse it was put through (thick brush making deer food plots, etc..). This is really the main reason that I decided to purchase this new, re-designed 6' SQ172 Squealer. I hope it gives me good service like my old one. Matter of fact, my uncle has my old one, pulling it behind his Mahindra 3525. The condition of it is as good as new- even though I put it through the ringer.

I looked at the Woods BrushBull BB72X. I decided not to buy it because it was $200 more, with thinner side bands and deck, and because of hear-say about the gear boxes having problems.
I called a few people who had the Woods BrushBull BB72....2 were friends and one was my uncle.
One friend (and neighbor) said he would buy another Woods, but said that he didn't know much about rotary cutters.
The other friend said that he would buy another Woods, but for $200 cheaper he believed the Bush Hog would be the better choice (alittle better made for less money).
Now my uncle's point of view is totally different. He said he would NOT buy another Woods. The sides are completely bent in on his cutter. It doesn't even cut level at all.
I told him I was thinking about Bush Hog or Woods, and his thoughts were Bush Hog. No question about it.

Now I will say that he does NOT take care of anything. He is very hard on equipment. Unlike me, money is no object to him and he still said to go with the cheaper, "thicker-better made" Bush Hog Squealer.

Like I said, I sure hope I made the right choice. I will be using it commercially on my time off from my regular job.

Later on (probably sometime next year), I will be looking at 6' finishing mowers. It will either be Land Pride, Bush Hog, or Woods. So that means i'll be going through all these decisions again! (And I honestly don't enjoy it).

Thanks,
Travis R

 

[Glowplug]

I really think you made the right choice. I had heard about the Woods cutters gearbox problems and about the way they cut and lay out the clippings in general. I think it is a problem with the baffling. I don't know for sure. I have been researching 7' cutters for quite a while. I had looked at all the big names. After some research now I really want to get a Bush Hog 297. Whenever I am able to do so that's what I'm gonna get.

But I have never heard anything but good things about Woods finish mowers on the other hand. When you are ready to get a finish mower you probably can't go wrong with Woods. But still ask around and do some research. I'm just giving advice on what I've heard.

Good luck with your new Hog!

 

[Travis_R]

Yeah I second that. I have heard nothing but good about the Woods finishing mowers. Land Pride finish mowers are popular around here. I like the looks of the Bush Hog finish mowers, but have never seen one cut.
We'll see when the time comes.

Thanks,
Travis R

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I think you'll be happy with your choice. You would have probably been just as happy with the Woods, albiet $200 poorer.

CERTAIN MODELS with-in brands have better results than others. Some have worse. I have had mixed results with Woods. One model in particular seemed proned to gearbox failures. (confirmed to me by the SAME RESULTS by a few other owners of the same model) I personally don't like several things about a Woods BB840 I own. I've had terrible experiences with Woods over warranty issues. Woods batwings don't have the greatest rep when used in heavy commercial applications. (gearbox troubles again) That said, Woods probably wouldn't have made it to their current lofty status without some success stories of their own. I prefer Bush Hog in general. I just took delivery on a 297, I have a 1-year old 2615 Legend batwing, and a 2-year old 286. Add to my good luck with their products, a Bush Hog dealer that'll go to bat for me when I need warranty help, AND, a friend with-in the Bush Hog company itself, and I'm sold on their products...literally.

All things being equal, I'm convinced that much of the success and/or failures of any mower are linked to the care and operation by the user as opposed to the brand name that's painted on the side. Take care of them and use them in a manner appropriate to the duty rating of the model, and they're all likely to give good service.