Rotary cutter for Ford/New Holland 3930 question

[dapper]

Have about 15a of old hay field that I would like to clean up and keep mowed to about 8" probably 2-3 times a year. All open area with no fences. I am currently looking for a new rotary cutter in the 8' to 10' range, to do the job.
I currently have a Bush Hog 3008, 8 foot duel spindle mounted cutter that I use on my TN65, but I don't want to use the 3pt mounted cutter. I have been looking at the Woods DS10.50 Pull Type Multi-Spindle Cutter which is a 10' cut duel cutter head machine which is rated for 50 pto hp. I think this will work fine with my TN65, but I would also like to be able to pull it with my Ford 3930 which is rated at 39 pto hp. What do you folks think? Any experience with a 3930 and what it can pull? Think 10' cutter is too much for this tractor? Do you have any recommendations for rotary cutter size for this tractor, or any experience with the Woods DS10.50.
Thanks.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have a 4610 SU that I currently run a 472 Brown behind. It is a good match. I was looking at upgrading to a 10 foot cutter also. A friend of mine sold a 3930 to a fellow. After running a 10 foot cutter for 30 minutes the tractor ran hot. I don't know the conditions he was shredding, the condition of the tractor, or the make and model of brush hog. Said he had to rev the tractor up to get the hog started. His opinion was that it was too much cutter for the tractor.

I would think that in lighter conditions with a pull type you would be OK. In heavier conditions no. Most of the time my SU runs the Brown effortlessly but if I hit a really thick patch I can get a little smoke out of the tractor.

I am looking at a lightly used Howse 8 foot cutter that I think would be perfect for my SU and your 3930.

 

[motownbrowne]

Just out of curiosity, why don't you want to use the mounted cutter?

 

[Turbys_1700]

Just out of curiosity, why don't you want to use the mounted cutter?

Ballast issue. My 4610 SU has a 77.5" wheel base and weighs in at around 5500# with loaded rears. Very stable with the rears switched around I am 7' wide. I currently use 4-60# Ford weights up front and I can get light on the front end with an 1100# Brown 472. A 10 foot cutter in a Howse is going to be in the 1800# neighborhood.

 

[dapper]

Turbys: Your 4610 is just slightly bigger than my 3930, and I have also used it with a 6' Woods cutter. Works well, but won't cut the wheel width. Originally started looking at 7' single spindle cutter, but don't want the "windrow" from single spindle cutter. Is the 8' your looking at mounted or pull? I am pretty sure that if I can't pull the 10', then I will go with an 8' pull type. Probably Bush Hog 3308, or the Woods DS8.50 pull type.
Would really like to try out the 10' but no one has one in stock that I can try with my tractor.

 

[dapper]

Just out of curiosity, why don't you want to use the mounted cutter?

Moto: The mounted 8' does a good job behind the TN65 with loader, but it is too heavy (1700#) to use with the 3930. I don't think it would lift it. I believe the 3930 could run the 8' without any trouble, but the lift version is just too heavy for this tractor.
I'm looking for a mower that I can run with EITHER tractor, and was hoping someone had experience with these models and could tell me how the 3930 would be with a 10' pull mower.

 

[LD1]

Why do you think the ford wont lift the 1700# 8' cutter?

I run a 1620# mounted 8' twin (woods ds96) behind a MX5100.

Your 3930 weighs 5500# vs my mx at 3800#. And you have more rear lift capacity.

So before you spend alot of money on a 10' cutter, try the 8' mounted. Dont know how large of an area you are mowing, but might not be much time saved going to a 10' pull type. Not as easy (fast) maneuvering and backing up, and will likely have to run it a gear slower.

Normally I am all for getting a big cutter and going slower vs a smaller cutter and going faster. But since you already have an 8' twin, hook it up and go mow.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Hay pasture will be a harder cut than 6' tall weeds. Unless you want to spend two days mowing at 1-2mph, I'd run it on the bigger tractor. It'll still be a workout

Brett

 

[motownbrowne]

Another option if you don't want to lift it is just to hook up the lower pins and remove the top link. I think they can that semi-mounted.

 

[Patf10]

Lift type is too heavy on a 3930. I run a land pride 8' mounted cutter on a 4630. If you dont let the grass get high its ok. If you wait till later in the season and there is thick heavy tall grass 3' high or so with heavy undergrowth it works the tractor pretty good. Ive run a 3930 with a 5' mower a good bit as well too. It wouldnt handle the 8' mower.