Rotary Cutter

[JD755]

Just a couple pictures JD used on the back of their advertising brochures during the late 90s. One shows the 4000 series tractors, the other shows the 5000 Ten series. In the background of both are the earlier 55 and 5000 series tractors still on display.

 

[JD755]

Just more filler for what it is worth. A couple clips from JD announcements in 2006 regarding the 500,000th tractor (a 4720 cab) from the Augusta plant:

"The John Deere Augusta facility is home to the John Deere 2000 TWENTY Series, 3000 TWENTY Series and 4000 TWENTY Series compact utility tractors, as well as the 5000 Series utility tractors. In 2001, 10 years after the factory was first opened, the company dedicated a new 206,000-sq ft facility specifically for the production of the 5000 Series Tractors. In sum, Augusta now encompasses 413,000 sq ft of production and shipping space on slightly more than 200 acres."

Since the first John Deere 855 Tractor was built in 1991, John Deere-Augusta has been the linchpin-facility for the production of our high-quality compact utility tractors, says John Jenkins, president, John Deere Worldwide Commercial and Consumer Equipment. Over the past 15 years the products in the under 60-horsepower category have evolved tremendously. But our goal today remains as singular as when that first John Deere 855 came off the line in 1991: To provide our customers with products that deliver the quality and value they have come to expect from John Deere.

 

[C-Range]

Anyway, to get back to the question of this thread, I have a 413 rotary mower on my 2305. It's a 4ft cutter. I wouldn't dream of putting anything bigger on it, in fact, it's really just a little too big in my opinion but it's all I could find in my area on Craigslist at the time.

When I kick on the PTO, I need to have the engine rpm just right. Too low and the engine stalls, too high and the surge through the tractor is shocking. The sweet spot is around 1700 rpm. This mower is very heavily built and I'm amazed that the 3PH can even lift it, but it does and without hesitation.

Then again, I've heard others say they run a 5ft deck on these sized machines. Hat's off to em.

 

[RoyJackson]

I believe you're incorrect.
Next time I run down to check the 790, I'll check the product identification plate. I'm pretty sure all the smaller and medium sized CUTs are built in Japan, knocked down for shipment and then set up in the US (basically install the tires, fluids and things like that). Most of the 5xxx series are built in India.

I finally remembered to look at the product ID plate. It clearly states "Yanmar Company". This plate (on a 790, 770, 670 and probably most others) is affixed just above the PTO shield, for those of you who want to look.
I think you'll find quite a few Deere CUTs are Yanmar and Augusta just does the final assembly (install tires and maybe some sheet metal).

Quoted from Ensoll:When I kick on the PTO, I need to have the engine rpm just right. Too low and the engine stalls, too high and the surge through the tractor is shocking. The sweet spot is around 1700 rpm. This mower is very heavily built and I'm amazed that the 3PH can even lift it, but it does and without hesitation.

Then again, I've heard others say they run a 5ft deck on these sized machines. Hat's off to em.

Gear tractors are easier to engage the PTO, especially with something like a cutter. A gear tranny clutch can "feather" the engagement. And, the operator can "blip" the throttle if the tractor starts to stall...I don't think hydros can do that.
I did quite well with a 5' cutter behind a Deere 670 (16.5 PTO HP). That was a 1900 lb tractor, BTW.

 

[defed]

i have a 6' king kutter box blade, and the quality of it is pretty good. also have a 6' king kutter 3pt finish mower. overall, pretty heavily built, but has a few design flaws (in my opinion). not sure of the make on my 5' brush hog. think it might be a howse, which is probably similar to kutter. of the 3 implements, the brush hog seems to be the weakest....but then again, it takes the most abuse.

 

[C-Range]

Yep, I completely agree with ya there Mr. Jackson. For engaging the PTO, in this case, I'd rather have a mechanical engagement for my own peace of mind. I don't know much about it but I understand these hydraulic systems are built to take it. But still....

As a matter of fact, I think the guy I bought the 413 from had a 670. He told me he got the mower with the tractor but never used it. Someone sure used it because I had to straighten out the sheet metal, replace the blades, and repair the chain guard before I could put it to work. Now she's as close to perfect as I'll be getting her.

 

[RoyJackson]

As a matter of fact, I think the guy I bought the 413 from had a 670. He told me he got the mower with the tractor but never used it. Someone sure used it because I had to straighten out the sheet metal, replace the blades, and repair the chain guard before I could put it to work. Now she's as close to perfect as I'll be getting her.

When I was shopping for a cutter, my intent was for a 4 footer. The Land Pride dealer (who was also a Kubota dealer) told me he sold the 5 foot cutters for use behind the Kubota 7500 tractors (now that's a 7510 or 7610, I believe).
I was pretty skeptical, but he was right.
About the only difference between the old 670 and my current 790 is the 790 doesn't bog as much and recovers quicker...and that's with 7.5 more PTO HP. The 670 didn't bog much...and recovery time was in seconds. The 790 is incremently better.

 

[JD755]

I finally remembered to look at the product ID plate. It clearly states "Yanmar Company". This plate (on a 790, 770, 670 and probably most others) is affixed just above the PTO shield, for those of you who want to look.
I think you'll find quite a few Deere CUTs are Yanmar and Augusta just does the final assembly (install tires and maybe some sheet metal).



Gear tractors are easier to engage the PTO, especially with something like a cutter. A gear tranny clutch can "feather" the engagement. And, the operator can "blip" the throttle if the tractor starts to stall...I don't think hydros can do that.
I did quite well with a 5' cutter behind a Deere 670 (16.5 PTO HP). That was a 1900 lb tractor, BTW.

Agree that the gear drive tractors, 650, 670, 770, etc, have always been built by Yanmar in Japan. But the hydro models were originally manufactured in Horicon, Wisconsin and later moved to Augusta, Georgia when that factory was built. They do use Yanmar engines.

As with anything like this there are individual exceptions. One of those would be the 4100. It was not built in Augusta. I remember stories about where it was built but never saw anything to confirm it. That model was marketed as a door-buster for the new 4000 series. The price increase to step up from it to the 4200 was about 50 percent.

 

[RoyJackson]

Agree that the gear drive tractors, 650, 670, 770, etc, have always been built by Yanmar in Japan. But the hydro models were originally manufactured in Horicon, Wisconsin and later moved to Augusta, Georgia when that factory was built. They do use Yanmar engines.

As with anything like this there are individual exceptions. One of those would be the 4100. It was not built in Augusta. I remember stories about where it was built but never saw anything to confirm it. That model was marketed as a door-buster for the new 4000 series. The price increase to step up from it to the 4200 was about 50 percent.

Learn something new every day!

 

[TripleR]

Gear tractors are easier to engage the PTO, especially with something like a cutter. A gear tranny clutch can "feather" the engagement. And, the operator can "blip" the throttle if the tractor starts to stall...I don't think hydros can do that.
I did quite well with a 5' cutter behind a Deere 670 (16.5 PTO HP). That was a 1900 lb tractor, BTW.[/QUOTE]

This will vary from one manufacturer to the next as my Kubota BX2660 has the "manual" engagement for the PTO while my JD 2305 doesn't, so I can use the lever to allow the cutter to spool up to full engagement.

As to the cutter, a County Line will be OK if you aren't going to cut anything other than relatively small stuff and grass/weeds and I wouldn't want anything bigger than a four footer.