Rotary Cutter Rotary cutter size recomendation conflict

[art]

I think for the back forty you are going to need something other then the turf tires for much work out there. Over all The 84" wouldn't be that bad as it would take a lot less time.

 

[cisco]

Ahh, figured out the problem via info in your 2nd post. You're on the right track re. a medium duty cutter for the type of land you have - rough, lots of stuff growing like saplings. The BB 72 may be right. I've the BB60 behind a 3410 GST, and my tractor is marginally powered for that kind of cutter. It's not just the pto (29.5hp), but the weight of the unit (1039 lbs) on the 3ph. That said, it is a brute, and after 3 years is still strong on anything short of about a 3 inch hardwood sapling (I used to say 4 inches until someone on this forum pointed out the difference between our "pride" estimate and a ruler - so I measured the next time I brush cut). Woods has had a problem, and that's the paint job - lousy on my unit (areas of superficial rust, while my similarly aged tractor looks great) and others who have posted on the forum. A BB72 is probably right for you - 1140 lbs and minimum pto HP requirement of 35. The 84" is only a bit more at 1280 lbs, but with a 40 HP requirement - you'd still be OK if you 3ph can handle it, though you'd have to back off a bit a times, brush cutting less than the full width of the cutter (which I have to do on many occasions).
Folks tend to confuse the medium duty cutters (1000 lbs plus even at 60") with the light duty ones. I have "tamed" my land, and intend to sell the 60" unit and buy a 72" light duty cutter (for Woods - 400 lbs less than the 60" medium duty unit) - I've now mostly have "field grass", and nothing over 2" in width brush. You'll likely do the same, but for now you need some decent brand of no-holds-barred-wipes-out-everything-in-its-path cutter.