Rotary Cutter Rotary Cutter / Bus Hog Questions

[kdkerns]

Hi all.

I am considering a 4ft Rotary Cutter. There is a used one very close to me for $450.00. It is a Bush Hog Squealer 480. Tractor Supply has a Farm Force for $698.00. And the local Woods dealer wants $950.00 for a new Woods. All these are 4 footers. I know the Bush Hog and Farm Force are light duty, not sure if Woods makes light duty anything. But the BH Squealer 480 is about the same as the Woods new, so I am assuming that the Woods I was quoted is light duty as well. All of these are shear pin, not clutch.

Ok, on to the questions..... when I was researching augers, the local Bush Hog dealer said the gearboxes are Chinese, everything else on the equipment is made/assembled in USA.

1.)Is this generally true of all these companies these days, even on the rotary cutters?

I read in one post, that Omni makes gearboxes for Bush Hog and Woods. I am not sure if these are Chinese, but they do appear to be of Asian origin after some research. The Woods dealer said ALL woods are ALL USA made, but I've seen some clues otherwise, but nothing out of the ball park solid evidence.

2.) Are any of these Rotary cutters completely made in USA from gearbox on down?

I am leaning towards buying the used BH for $450.00 and calling it a day if all these things have parts from Asia and are welded up in the USA.

Thanks Everyone!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hi all.

I am considering a 4ft Rotary Cutter. There is a used one very close to me for $450.00. It is a Bush Hog Squealer 480. Tractor Supply has a Farm Force for $698.00. And the local Woods dealer wants $950.00 for a new Woods. All these are 4 footers. I know the Bush Hog and Farm Force are light duty, not sure if Woods makes light duty anything. But the BH Squealer 480 is about the same as the Woods new, so I am assuming that the Woods I was quoted is light duty as well. All of these are shear pin, not clutch.

Ok, on to the questions..... when I was researching augers, the local Bush Hog dealer said the gearboxes are Chinese, everything else on the equipment is made/assembled in USA.

1.)Is this generally true of all these companies these days, even on the rotary cutters?

I read in one post, that Omni makes gearboxes for Bush Hog and Woods. I am not sure if these are Chinese, but they do appear to be of Asian origin after some research. The Woods dealer said ALL woods are ALL USA made, but I've seen some clues otherwise, but nothing out of the ball park solid evidence.

2.) Are any of these Rotary cutters completely made in USA from gearbox on down?

I am leaning towards buying the used BH for $450.00 and calling it a day if all these things have parts from Asia and are welded up in the USA.

Thanks Everyone!

Woods makes light, medium and heavy duty cutters. In 48", a BB48 is the light duty version. BB840 is medium. (Not sure about a heavy duty 48", but following with other sizes, that would be a BB8400???)

Bush Hog is now making theings even more complicated with light duty, standard duty, medium duty, and heavy duty models in their product line.

Regardless of where the gear boxes are made, they are different from brand to brand, made to each companies specs.

My personal choice is Bush Hog. Much better luck with the product as well as better on the job performance. Your results may vary.

SQ series Bush Hog mowers have a good reputation. So long as it doesn't look abused, I'd go that route.

 

[Bird]

I don't have an answer for your questions, but I did have a 4' Bush Hog Squealer in 1995 to 1999 that I used with a B7100 Kubota. I was quite happy with it. And my cousin still has his 5' Bush Hog Squealer that I think he bought in 1999.

 

[Gsquared]

I am not sure about your situation, but I just bought a 6' shredder in July. I spent the extra $ to get one with a slip clutch. I am pretty new to the farmer business, but the clutch saved me a lot of times as I learned how to use the shredder. I found that I had to slow down (started out running about 4 mph) in the good areas of Costal. I found out that when I started with dew in the grass, the clutch slipped so much it smoked.

Anyway the slip disk saved my behind so I would recommend one to you if you can afford it. Also my only regret in all the equipment I bought is that I should have gotten a wider mower. I only have 40 acres but with the 6' shredder that is a lot of seat time.
I hope this helps.

 

[kdkerns]

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Was able to get the BH down to $385. I am happy with this price even though it is used and has a Chinese gearbox. It's a Bush Hog after all.

Interestingly enough, I called all the major implement makers today. The only one that admitted to having Chinese gearboxes was in fact, Bush Hog. I think that is worth something...not sure what but I feel more cofortable with that than someone telling me Woods is all USA when it is looking like it isn't.

Thanks....I still would like to get as much info as possible for future researchers.

 

[kdkerns]

ok last post for me on this one....

I went and paid for the item. Apparently it is 7 to 8 years old, before the great "let's make it in China and lay off US workers" movement went into full swing. The guy said it has a Combs or Comber (something like that) gear box...US made so he stated. I'll need to check on that.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

ok last post for me on this one....

I went and paid for the item. Apparently it is 7 to 8 years old, before the great "let's make it in China and lay off US workers" movement went into full swing. The guy said it has a Combs or Comber (something like that) gear box...US made so he stated. I'll need to check on that.

Comer. (Like Gomer, as in Pyle) They make gear boxes, slip clutches, and a few pto shafts. My 3-year old Bush Hog 286 has a Comer gear box and slip clutch. I'll look and see, but I THOUGHT Comer was Italian made.

 

[CDsdad]

Regardless of where it's from, you should get great service from the Bushhog. I've got a SQ600. I'd probably tear up my tractor before the Bushhog tore up.

 

[kdkerns]

Ok, sorry I felt compelled to post again.

If Comer is Italian, fine. My main problem is obviously with imported stuff that does not clearly show the COO, especially the Chinese stuff because it seems extra lengths are taken to conceal it. I noticed on Woods at the local dealer, no where on the machine does it say made in the USA...but it does have an American Flag sticker on it.

My car is from Sweden, so I have no business saying everything has to be USA. The point is that I know my car is from Sweden. I have a big problem with non disclosure of a product's COO.

Thanks again. I look forward to the Bush Hog...should have it hitched up by the weekend wacking some annoying brush down.

 

[CDsdad]

I couldn't find out if Comer was Italian or Chinese. And I hear you about country of origin. But I know this, if the gearbox on my Bushhog is made in China, then them Chinesees are making one good gearbox.