Rotary decisions

PCNH · Mar 26, 2002

Ok. I've searched and read MANY posts on rotary cutters over the past few weeks. Although I now know more than I ever did about these machines, I'm still as much in the dark as ever. The only thing I've decided on is size, 5' for a NH 1725 (29 HP). I think it's coming down to the mighty $. Be frugal and hope for the best, or think "you get what you pay for" and possibly overkill. There's good arguements on both sides. I'll be cutting everything from grass to whatever diameter hardwood I dare try to tackle, not to mention the old stumps and rocks. I think I'm leaning towards "you get what you pay for", and "you can't take it with you"...

TerryinMD · Mar 26, 2002

PCNH,

Then try for something in the middle. Therer a plenty of choices. You need to go to all of the dealers, explain your needs, kick the tires, and compare. Get lots of pretty colored glossies to compare and contrast. Get some basic pricing information and, most importantly, get to know the dealer. If you don't feel comfortable with them, move on to the next.

Terry

rdln · Mar 26, 2002

Me thinks you'll be happy with a light duty 5 footer for under a thousand dollars.

I have beat the sheet out of my land pride light duty 6 footer and 5 pounds of welding rod and eight years later it is still going strong.

If you have any inkling that you might provide this service as a business I would step up to the $1500 range with safety chains and all.

Don't get hung up on deck thickness, there is nothing strong enough short of titanium that will stop a rock from denting and still be light enough for your tractor to lift it.

beenthere · Mar 26, 2002

I'll be cutting everything from grass to whatever diameter hardwood I dare try to tackle, not to mention the old stumps and rocks. 

I would suggest you get a stump jumper, on whatever size you decide on.

Bird · Mar 26, 2002

P.C., I had a 4' Bush Hog Squealer on my B7100 (rated for 1" stuff) and was amazed at the bigger stuff I cut without damage. Then when my cousin bought a new TC29D New Holland and it was delivered with a new 5' Squealer, the salesman delivered it and immediately set out to demonstrate right through the woods and timber; sounded terrible, but after he left I raised that thing up to check the blades, stump jumper, and bottom side and didn't find a bit of damage. And that's their light duty one.

BB_TX · Mar 27, 2002

Is that 29 hp engine or PTO?
I think you may be amazed at what these thing can do. I run a 6' Howse light duty behind my JD 950 (27 hp PTO). It cuts all but the tallest grass with ease. Tall, green, heavy grass only makes me slow down a little. I also occasionally get down by the creek and clear some of the growth. I have mowed over cedars that stand about 3' tall and 2" at the base with no problem. If I run over dry limbs on the ground, it really bangs and clangs but chops them up too. And I only paid $500 for the cutter new.
If you intend to mow a lot of pasture, you might consider the size further. Assuming a 1' overlap, a 6' cutter would give a nominal 5' cut; a 5' cutter would give a nominal 4' cut. Mowing 10 acres at avg. 4 mph would take 4.1 hours with 6 footer and 5.2 hours with a 5 footer. But then that takes away from seat time. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MikePA · Mar 27, 2002

When using a 3ph rotary cutter (I just got a 5' Woods BrushBull), is it OK to back over/on top of saplings, brush you want to cut? There are some places I need to cut that;

(1) The only way I can get to them is back in.
For example, in front of our place there's a small drainage ditch. On one side of the ditch is a narrow patch of grass, then the road. On the other side of the ditch is a narrow patch of grass, then a fence. (I should take a picture), i.e., looking from above, left to right, Road--Grass--Shallow Ditch--Grass--Fence. Neither patch of grass is wide enough for the tractor. I can cut most of the grass next to the road by driving as far off the road as I dare, without tipping into the ditch. I think I can back in and lower the mower onto the other side.

(2) I'd rather not run over some of the brush with the tractor in order to mow them.

Bird · Mar 27, 2002

is it OK to back over/on top of saplings

Sure hope so, since most of us do it frequently./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Sometimes simply back over them; sometimes raise the mower with the 3-point, back slowly over them, and slowly lower the mower on them.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2002

...And I only paid $500 for the cutter new...

That's an outstanding price for a 6' rotary cutter... no matter who's brand... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JohnMiller3 · Mar 27, 2002

Here's an area I did about a week or two ago... with some 4 to 5" saplings now missing... You can see the ground "shredded material", and notice the picture background is the type of brush in this area I cleared...{trees backward... most small brush forward}

{see attachment}

MikePA · Mar 27, 2002

Thanks, John. Those small saplings/brush are similar to what is growing between my ditch and fence row. Their size is too big (and too numerous) for hand shears, too small for a chain saw (they jam up the saw). I could use the blade on my trimmer, but that'd take a long time. Looks like backing my rotary cutter over them and lowering it will be the ticket.

PCNH · Mar 27, 2002

Thanks guys. Now I know I'm not buying used and I'm not buying a medium duty ($1,500 to $2,000), although I would love to own any one of them. I think it's going to come down to dealer and gut feeling.

BB_TX, 29 engine HP.

This may have already been covered, but are there 1 or 2 John Miller III's?

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2002

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr>

When using a 3ph rotary cutter (I just got a 5' Woods BrushBull), is it OK to back over/on top of saplings, brush you want to cut?

<hr></blockquote>

It depends on the cutter, and what you are trying to cut. Some cutters are strongly reinforced in back, whereas others just have angled/bent sheet metal back there. Unless it is reinforced you are likely to bend the sheet metal if you back into something too big.

MikePA · Mar 27, 2002

This may have already been covered, but are there 1 or 2 John Miller III's?
There's only one John Miller, III!

OverlyRun · Mar 30, 2002

Given the size of his photo archive and the breadth of his knowledge, I always assumed there were at least three JM III's.

JohnMiller3 · Mar 30, 2002

...I always assumed there were at least three JM...

Well... you're almost correct... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Actually, there's at least 5 John Miller's going back to the late 1800's... {never started counting until my Grandpa though...} /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JohnMiller3 · Mar 30, 2002

...There's only one John Miller, III!...

Kinda sounds like something my Mother or Grandma used to say... (and now sometimes my wife...!) /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

pennwalk · Mar 30, 2002

I have an old square King Kutter 4' hog. When I tried to back over a briar patch there turned out to be a tree in there. I bent the the upright hitch frame on the hog before I could get on the clutch. When going forward the front axle either knocks 'em down or the tractor stops. So you do have to take care backing the bush hog over unknown stuff.

Chris

pennwalk · Mar 30, 2002

Don't get hung up on deck thickness

I have an old square deck 4' King Kutter. I have hit a few rocks and there is very little denting. On the other hand I bought a Woods M4 for parts which looks like it lost a battle with a giant ball peen hammer, DENT CITY. I'm not sure if the KK is made of thicker metal or if the design just stands up to the punishment better.

Chris

pennwalk · Mar 30, 2002

I think that rotary cutters are pretty simple machines and there is not that much functional difference between the brands. I bought a used 4' King Kutter and it has done everything I have asked of it. It is not as pretty as the new machines and I guess you will have to call back in 20 years to see if it stood the test of time. I think there are a good number of folks here who have gone with the very affordable King Kutters and I can't remember hearing a lot of complaints.

Chris