Single gear box versus multiple gear box cutters

jcummins · Oct 25, 2013

I had a Kubota M7040 three years ago, had to sell it due to a move Texas to Illinois. Now, looking for another one. Anyone have one for sell let me know.

BUT that痴 not my question. With the M7040 I had a 7ft cutter single gear box. I got to thinking while using that cutter, that with only one gear box, you have 7ft both side to side and forward aft. With that cutter I had 49sq ft of moving mass. Compare that to say a 10ft double gear box cutter, you have 10 ft wide by 5 ft deep, or 50 sq ft of spinning mass.

Are multiple gear box cutters more efficient? Do they take less horsepower? I致e wondered about it then, and thinking about this again, since when I do get the tractor, it will quickly be follow be some type of brush hog mower.

john_bud · Oct 26, 2013

jcummins said:
I had a Kubota M7040 three years ago, had to sell it due to a move Texas to Illinois. Now, looking for another one. Anyone have one for sell let me know.

BUT that痴 not my question. With the M7040 I had a 7ft cutter single gear box. I got to thinking while using that cutter, that with only one gear box, you have 7ft both side to side and forward aft. With that cutter I had 49sq ft of moving mass. Compare that to say a 10ft double gear box cutter, you have 10 ft wide by 5 ft deep, or 50 sq ft of spinning mass.

Are multiple gear box cutters more efficient? Do they take less horsepower? I致e wondered about it then, and thinking about this again, since when I do get the tractor, it will quickly be follow be some type of brush hog mower.

Depends on how you define "efficient".... For cutting BRUSH with woody junk trees in it, you want higher rotating momentum that a huge single spinning disc gives you. That momentum is used to over power the brush and beat it to death, but it does take more HP to get it spinning -- yet less to keep it spinning when just cutting air. For cutting Grass and twiggy stuff, multi-gear box cutters are going to be lighter and will use less HP while the deck is full of grass because there is less "stuff" in there getting cut and re-cut. Make sense? Does to me... and it might even be right! Who knows??