Rotary Cutter Discussion

[Darth_DMack]

Hello everyone... new tractor owner here (well, had it now about six months). I have a 2023 Mahindra 5155 (55 hp) tractor, and I am shopping for a good rotary cutter to maintain parts of my property that my Gravely ZT HD can't do.

Not a need for a "commercial" cutter, but I subscribe to the buy once, cry once rule. I don't intend to use the cutter as a forestry mulcher, but something that can handle small saplings, or downed limbs (2-3" max) and not scalp every time I turn.

What recommendations would you give me to start shopping for?

I'm thinking a 6' cutter would do it well for what I need it for. Definitely want to buy something that will last.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations. Much appreciated!

 

[EddieWalker]

At 55hp, you have plenty of power for a 6 foot cutter!!! You could probably go bigger if you wanted to.

I personally have a Land Pride 6 foot cutter that's worked good for me over the last 20 years. They offer Light, Medium and Heavy duty cutters. The price just keeps going up for each model.

How much do you want to spend will decide how big of material you can cut.

The thing that I like about Land Pride is how easy it is to get parts for it. I can go online to Messick's, or some other site, look up a diagram of my mower, and order the part that I need. I can also go to any Kubota Dealer and order the parts from them. If I'm lucky, they might have it in stock, but usually they have to order what I need.

 

[repete]

I have two rotary cutters. One is an old beater with no rear wheel that works well for backing into weeds when a drive through is not possible. The other is an older JD with a wheel that I use to mow primarily grass with some maybe 1/2' saplings.
If you buy used be sure the parts are in good shape. My JD, that I purchased used, was in good shape exterior wise but the blades where they attach to the bolts were worn badly unknown to me. I was in the field mowing maybe 12" dry grass (no load) and one came off. It was quite a ride when it went out of balance and the blade went out the side of the mower. Now I regularly put them in the air and check them both for integrity.

 

[fishheadbob]

If you want lasting, and parts availability buy a Woods or a BushHog in the light, medium, or heavy duty your needs determine. $$$. There are cheaper brands out there. A good thing about the 2 above brands is that parts are available; in my experience I've never had to look for parts with decades of owning those 2 brands.

 

[Darth_DMack]

Great replies so far... all words heard.

I'm looking at Bush Hog, Rhino, Land Pride, etc... I don't know what I don't know.

 

[oosik]

I'll be getting a rotary cutter soon. I'm on 80 acres and in an area called the Scab Rock. It's all open range land. Lots of sage brush and stands of Ponderosa pines.

I've been out here for 42+ years. I have had my share of experience with light and standard duty implements.

For a cutter - serious consideration for the Rhino TW35. I will not be cutting anything bigger than one inch. I've found that heavy duty works best and less chance of damage. Same philosophy for my other land engagement implements.

 

[EddieWalker]

There isn't going to be much difference with the name brands, and their rating. Compare a heavy duty cutter from each big name brand, and you are looking at the same engineering, the same quality of materials, and same design. There just isn't anything special over one brand compared to another with the same rating.

Being able to find parts for it ten years from now, or more, is what you need to decide on. If I didn't have Land Pride, I'm sure that I would be happy with any of the other top name brands out there.

Before buying, go online and look up some basic parts for it. Stump jumper. Bolts for the blades. A new gear box, or a new tail wheel. Simple things that wear out or get destroyed that you will need to buy eventually.

Blades are interchangeable, so that's not going to be an issue. Once you know your blade size, you can order them from dozens of places. Same with the driveshaft. It's not hard to destroy one when you get into some nasty stuff.

Be sure to get a cutter with a slip clutch. The other option, that's cheaper is a sheer pin, which are Grade 5 bolts that breaks when the mower hits something. You can break a lot of bolts mowing trees and saplings!!!! With a slip clutch, you just keep going!!!!

 

[Darth_DMack]

I'll be getting a rotary cutter soon. I'm on 80 acres and in an area call the Scab Rock. It's all open range land. Lots of sage brush and stands of Ponderosa pines.

I've been out here for 42+ years. I have had my share of experience with light and standard duty implements.

For a cutter - serious consideration for the Rhino TW35. I will not be cutting anything bigger than one inch. I've found that heavy duty works best and less chance of damage. Same philosophy for my other land engagement implements.

That is the same Rhino I'm looking at. I most likely will do the Rhino or Bush Hog...

When I bought my tractor, I didn't know what I didn't know. The tractor is and has been awesome so far, but the package I bought had the FEL with bucket, a Mahindra branded 72" rake grapple and box blade. The box blade is standard (light) duty and I'm already having to weld some 3/8" plate because the root tines (lack of knowledge of what to call them) have bent the steel they push against.

The Mahindra branded 72" rake grapple has two hydraulic cylinders, and it has been working great, but I wish I had bought a more heavy-duty grapple.

I won't make that mistake with my cutter. I will get a lot of use out of this thing, I want to make sure I buy the right one the first time.

 

[Darth_DMack]

There isn't going to be much difference with the name brands, and their rating. Compare a heavy duty cutter from each big name brand, and you are looking at the same engineering, the same quality of materials, and same design. There just isn't anything special over one brand compared to another with the same rating.

Being able to find parts for it ten years from now, or more, is what you need to decide on. If I didn't have Land Pride, I'm sure that I would be happy with any of the other top name brands out there.

Before buying, go online and look up some basic parts for it. Stump jumper. Bolts for the blades. A new gear box, or a new tail wheel. Simple things that wear out or get destroyed that you will need to buy eventually.

Blades are interchangeable, so that's not going to be an issue. Once you know your blade size, you can order them from dozens of places. Same with the driveshaft. It's not hard to destroy one when you get into some nasty stuff.

Be sure to get a cutter with a slip clutch. The other option, that's cheaper is a sheer pin, which are Grade 5 bolts that breaks when the mower hits something. You can break a lot of bolts mowing trees and saplings!!!! With a slip clutch, you just keep going!!!!

Very good advice... and all words heard!

I'm zeroing in on a 6' with slip clutch, heavy duty rating, front / rear chains, and parts availability. Very sound advice! I have a dealer near me that carries the Bush Hog brand. Gonna roll by there this weekend. One just may come home with me!

 

[leonz]

Hello everyone... new tractor owner here (well, had it now about six months). I have a 2023 Mahindra 5155 (55 hp) tractor, and I am shopping for a good rotary cutter to maintain parts of my property that my Gravely ZT HD can't do.

Not a need for a "commercial" cutter, but I subscribe to the buy once, cry once rule. I don't intend to use the cutter as a forestry mulcher, but something that can handle small saplings, or downed limbs (2-3" max) and not scalp every time I turn.

What recommendations would you give me to start shopping for?

I'm thinking a 6' cutter would do it well for what I need it for. Definitely want to buy something that will last.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations. Much appreciated!

A Maschio or Del Morino flail mower with cast hammer knives should also be something to consider.