Rotary cutter for Ford/New Holland 3930 question

[Turbys_1700]

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.

An 8' Howse mounted cutter weights in at 1300# give or take. You can buy this cutter here for a tick over 3K new. Found one on craigslist in excellent shape for $2600. Should be a perfect match for my SU. I would think you would be OK with the 3930 in lighter stuff with proper ballast.

8' Heavy Duty Double Spindle Mower Without Chain Guards

 

[LD1]

I am just astounded at the number of people that think a 50pto horsepower, and 5500 pound tractor cannot handle a 8' 1700# mounted cutter.

Half the horsepower and half the weight puts you at a 2750# machine with 25 PTO hp. And people run 5 and 6' cutters on machines that size all day long. But by the logic of some, if 8' is too big for the 3930, a 4' cutter would be too big for the likes of the n-series Ford's. And that those mowing with an N should look for a 36" cutter.

Run the 8' and be done. It ain't no race. An 8' cutter at 3 mph and a 6' cutter at 4 mph. Both will mow the same rate in acres per hour. Both will require the same hp input (minus some friction losses from the extra gearboxes), and both will lug the tractor just the same in similar conditions. My opinion, and has always been, go big and go slow. It's a lot smoother ride.

Mount the 8' mower on the 3930 and go enjoy.

 

[Turbys_1700]

LD1...
I ran a 10 foot Howse cutter on an 8050 Allis Chalmers...
150 HP at the PTO...
The tractor was marketed with the shortest wheel base in the market...
That was their calling card...
The front end would get light with the 1800# Howse attached...
No weights on the front...
It's not about HP...
It's about wheel base and weight distribution...
I know from experience...

 

[dapper]

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

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.

Thanks LD1, I really had not tried the 8' on the 3930, just from the way it handled on the TN, I thought it would be way too heavy. Thanks to your post, I hooked it up and made a pass round my hay field.
Couple of things: It is heavy for this tractor (2w open cab filed rears) to lift and carry. The hydraulics lift it fine, but it gets LIGHT in the front. Could correct this with some suitcase weights off the front, and would work well on level ground. Might be dicey for uneven/rough hillsides.
I did not seem to have any issues running the cutter at all. seemed pretty strong, but I really wasn't cutting much (Hay just taken off field's 1 month ago) so not a fair test.
I will say, that your post made me reconsider just keeping what I have! At least until I can give it a fair test. :thumbsup:

 

[dapper]

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.

Thanks Motown, I am not sure how the "Simi-Mounted" work as I had only heard of them. I think this idea is worth looking into. Thanks.

So it seems that running the 8' mounted with ballast is do-able, if done timely, and/or slowly.

Do most agree then that running a 10' pull type is probably out of the question for the 3930?

What do you think of the 10'er as an option for the TN65?

Fortunately I don't need to make the decision quickly, I have time to ask and investigate best options.

Appreciate the comments from those who run similar set ups. Your the voice of experience I was hoping to hear from.

Thanks.

 

[LD1]

Well, being 2wd that makes it lighter. I was assuming it was also 4wd. And a 4wd 3930 is 5500#. Heck, the 4wd tn65 is only 150# heavier.

But 2wd probably sheds 300-400# off, and all that weight is coming off the front.

Give it a fair test, and if you like, a few weights is alot cheaper than another cutter.

And when you say it "felt" light...that can be deceptive.

Again, my MX is only 3800# when I take the loader off. And I hang a 1620# woods ds96 off the back. Light in the front....yup. I can't load forward on my deck over is how light it is. But I have mowed many many acres like that of all kinds of terrain. Because when mowing....only about half the cutter weight is on the tractor. The rest is on the tailwheels.

 

[LD1]

Regarding the 10' mower.....

Just how much are you mowing, and how often?

A couple of 10 acre fields a few times a year....probably not worth the investment as time savings will be nil.

Mowing a few 30-40 acre field or maintaining alot of crp ground....maybe.

 

[dapper]

LD1, I'm with ya. FWA would add considerably to front end weight. Tractor was light enough that bouncing on mower would lift front end. As you stated, it only becomes a problem when trying to transport mower off ground. As long as rear mower wheels on ground... No problem. In fact that was how I was able to test cut a few rounds. Wouldn't be a problem for me, as I can reach all I need to mow without having to carry mower. Just have to be careful of sudden moves.

I recently removed about 15a of crop ground from production due to erosion. This fields were planted in grass/clover hay and I just recently made first cut from these fields. A portion of these fields will now be kept at about 10-12" by mowing 2-3 times a year. Time not really an issue, more concerned with right equipment for long term job. Need to make informed decision weather I purchase new mower, or continue to use existing. At this point I have to say, I like keeping my $7K in the bank.

 

[Jerry/MT]

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.

The general rule of thumb for power requirements for rotary cutter is 5 pto HP per foot. That says for a 10 ft mower you'll need 50 pto HP. That's just to drive the mower. There is the 3 pt lift capability to consider and the stability of the tractor when the mower is lifted. If you can lift it, can you still steer it without using the brakes?

 

[Cataclysm]

I had an old 7' single that I ran as a pull type off the lower 3pt arms. Worked just fine, just be aware when you turn sharp the back of the mower really picks up speed.