Rotary Cutter Rotary Cutter cut quality......

[wowwee]

I like the simplicity of a single spindle rotary cutter vs. more parts on a dedicated finish type mower. So is it possible to get a decent quality cut on grass with a rough cut, type cutter, assuming the blades are in good condition?
I'm not looking for a manicured field, just an even cut.

Thanks

 

[nybirdman]

Probably not with a brushhog on semi-finish lawn,may want to look at a flail mower.I do about 100 hrs.a year with a brushog type.Flails are suppose to do both fairly well.My next purchase.

 

[beenthere]

The rotary cutter will keep the grass down, and frequent cuts will give a pretty decent trimmed look. And you admit to not needing the manicured look. Go for it. You can always change.

 

[KU Gator]

The frustration I have using the rotarty cut mower on our B2920 is the 1/4 valve system used with the 3pt hitch. The front of the mower is pretty heavy and only supported by the single rear wheel. So you can set the mower to the height you want, but as you cut, it will tend to sag down in the front. So you have to adjust it back up or the front of the mower will be sliding on the ground. I used the rough cut mower to get control of the high stuff on some property we bought or in the Spring if I have gotten behind due to a wet spring or if I am trying to clear some more overgrown area, but I prefer the MMM that I can set to the height I want and go. As far as the quality of the cut otherwise with the rotary cut mower, it is ok for a field .

 

[spo307]

I own a 7 foot flail, and use to cut with a 5 foot rotary, the rotary pushes over tall grass, were the flail mulches it down, the rotary is better at cutting 1 inch saplings and bushes were the flail, can do it but not as good as a rotary. rotay's rely on a center bearing if the blades get bent from rocks, berms etc it puts stress on the bearing which makes the blades start to wobble, then the bearing goes, flails require5 hp at pto per foot of flail. love my flail

 

[whistlepig]

A rotary cutter will give a nice cut if the grass is kept cut short and the blades sharp. The only disadvantage is the cut will only look good for a day or two. With a finish mower the quality of cut will look good for a few days.

 

[winston1]

I mow about 2 acres around my house. Sometimes I mow it all with a finish mower. Sometimes I only mow about 1/2 acre around the house and let the other go for another few days. Then I mow it with a rotary mower. Finish mowers are not meant to mow tall grass. You can slip the belts on them if you let the grass go to long. Also if you try to mow close with a rotary mower you're likely to scalp the ground some unless your ground is awfully smooth. Finish mowers are made for lawn grass, rotary mowers are made for pastures or brush, etc. Certain amount of leeway but both have their places.

 

[Diamondpilot]

There is no comparison in cut quality between a finish mower and a Bush Hog/Rotary Cutter. Now for finish mowers get a good one. My first was a King Kutter and it had tons of moving parts and was always broken. I spent nearly $800 in repairs on a mower I only had 4 seasons. I then bought a Caroni with 1/4 the moving parts and have used it for 3 season spending about 30 cents on repairs and that was for a lost nut and bolt. That was really may fault because it had been so trouble free I never went around it with a wrench for a entire season making sure things were tight.

I tried using my Ford Rotary Cutter once to finish up when the King Kutter took a crap and all it did was scalp and tear up my lawn.

Chris

 

[gerard]

The frustration I have using the rotarty cut mower on our B2920 is the 1/4 valve system used with the 3pt hitch. The front of the mower is pretty heavy and only supported by the single rear wheel. So you can set the mower to the height you want, but as you cut, it will tend to sag down in the front. So you have to adjust it back up or the front of the mower will be sliding on the ground. I used the rough cut mower to get control of the high stuff on some property we bought or in the Spring if I have gotten behind due to a wet spring or if I am trying to clear some more overgrown area, but I prefer the MMM that I can set to the height I want and go. As far as the quality of the cut otherwise with the rotary cut mower, it is ok for a field .

Get a set of check chains. Takes all the weight off the rock shaft too. Thats a lot of weight bouncing around back there!

 

[wolc123]

There is a difference in the quality of cut obtained from various brands of rotary mowers. In general, light-duty mowers will give you a cleaner cut on grass than a heavy duty mower. I had a 5 ft Bush-hog squealer that cut nearly as neat as a finish mower. The Rhino SE-6 that I have now is also a light duty mower but does not cut grass quite as neatly as the Bush-hog did. Sharp blades will let any mower do a little bit neater job, but a medium or heavy duty mower with sharp blades will not cut grass as neatly as a light duty with dull blades. Most folks would be best off renting a heavy duty mower to make the first cut, then purchasing a light duty for neat looking maintenence in following years.