Rotary Cutters

Nocona Dave · May 12, 2015

Can anyone tell me where I can get a quality rotary cutter less than JD?

Thanks,

Nocona Dave

DT86 · May 12, 2015

Well, for heavy stuff there are brands like Bushhog, Landpride, Rhino and Brown. They may or may not be cheaper.

Then there are countless others such as Taylor-Way, King Kutter, Fred Cain, Howse, Kodiak, ect. If I weren't mowing trees often I would own one of these brands.

MinnesotaEric · May 12, 2015

DT86 said:
Well, for heavy stuff there are brands like Bushhog, Landpride, Rhino and Brown. They may or may not be cheaper.

Then there are countless others such as Taylor-Way, King Kutter, Fred Cain, Howse, Kodiak, ect. If I weren't mowing trees often I would own one of these brands.

Woods covers the heavy to the light stuff as well.

The real question is what type of material does the OP want to take down and if it is heavy stuff, how armored up is his tractor?

DT86 · May 12, 2015

Yes, Woods too. How could I forget them?

Nocona Dave · May 12, 2015

I will be "taking down" grasses, cereals, and legumes. Oats, rye, bermuda, teff, alfalfa, cowpea, etc. Tractor is not very well armed-JD 5303, about 45-50hp, depending upon who is asked.

Thanks guys, but it's bedtime here in the heartland, or somewhere

Nocona Dave

DT86 · May 12, 2015

Uh, rotary cutter = bush hog, ect to most. I'm guessing you are looking for a disc mower instead?

Nocona Dave · May 13, 2015

Yes, a disc mower. I'll learn all the names eventually

DT86 · May 13, 2015

In that case there is Vermeer (my personal favorite due to the simplicity of blade changes and the fact we've had good luck with them), Fella, Krone, New Holland, Kuhn (who last I heard built the Deere models to start with), and Kubota.

Don't think you could go wrong with any of those, but there are others too.

How many acres are you mowing a year?

Nocona Dave · May 13, 2015

About 320 Acres. I have heard of some of those, but I'll look at more tomorrow.

MinnesotaEric · May 13, 2015

Nocona Dave said:
About 320 Acres. I have heard of some of those, but I'll look at more tomorrow.

You want to mow all 320 acres?

I'm out: I know about rotary cutting trees, not mowing fields and meadows, but I think you want a tow behind batwing mower for epic mowing.

Nocona Dave · May 13, 2015

yea, when you cut it 3 times for every year. 3crops x three cutdowns =328 easily

Tx Jim · May 13, 2015

Nocona Dave said:
Yes, a disc mower. I'll learn all the names eventually

Kuhn,Krone,Vermeer make good disc cutters. JD doesn't build the smaller disc cutters but buys them from another manufacturer which was Kuhn but I'm not sure who builds them for JD now. I've owned a Vermeer 9' cut for yrs and I like the quick-clip for changing blades as no wrenches are required.

Lawnman TX · May 13, 2015

I have a Vermeer tm800 and love it. I have had other Vermeer 3 point mowers before and love the separate pod design. Each cutter head runs in its own grease, if one gear goes bad it toes not destroy your whole cutter bar like the oil bath design. With only 50 hp I would say to get a trail mower or a caddy, the 3 point could be too much for your tractor. Vermeer has a smaller tm700 that I think is rated at 50 hp

countrybumpkin · May 13, 2015

Nocona Dave said:
yea, when you cut it 3 times for every year. 3crops x three cutdowns =328 easily

So are you wanting to cut this to bale for hay, or just keep it mowed?

Nocona Dave · May 13, 2015

I will be cutting for hay. Had not heard of Vermeer. Went online last night and found the 700, looks good and I like the quick change option as well. Now if I can find someone to price it for me...

Nocona Dave

farmer2009 · May 13, 2015

I've been eyeing the tm800 as well. But used are 10k and new is over 15k. Atleast in my area. Any of the disc mowers that are using the modular bar are good cutters. New Holland and Vermeer I know use them. Repairs are fairly quick and affordable. A couple of years ago the Kuhn dealer said they still used the old oil bath bar design. These repairs can be time consuming and expensive.

JSanders10 · May 13, 2015

Nocona Dave said:
I will be cutting for hay.

There's a big difference between disc mowers and rotary cutters. For haying, you do want a disc mower.

Nocona Dave · May 13, 2015

Yea, just said it wrong in the beginning. I guess I'm from a different generation. When I started, the top of the line were the old bar cutters. Lot of problems with them, but I remember hay cutting with cutters and mowing with brush hogs.
The whole 'cutter' and 'mower' designations have switched places. Just an old man learning curve...Have I showed the "old white man dance'?

Thanks to all for correcting me,
Nocona Dave

joeu235 · May 13, 2015

We've used a John Deere 275 for at least 10 years. Regular maintenance and knife changes is the only work every required on it. And yes, there actually is Kuhn red paint underneath the green.