Why Can't Someone Make a Good 12' Batwing Cutter?

[MMC]

On a good cutter, all 3 cutting decks don't turn the same rotation direction, so when you turn one way or the other, you may notice a poorer cut.

Mine cuts better when I make a turn, or circle a tree counter clockwise. The only difference would be the direction the blades are spinning.

I also try and not turn too sharp, as the main drive shaft gets more pressure on it from a sharp turn, than a gradual turn. Those CV joints and shafts are expensive, and I litterally slather the CV joint with grease daily to cut down that wear. Last one made it 11 years and was still tight.

X2 on the CV Joint. My Bush Hog 2815 gets pushed full after 8-12 hours operation. The other benefit is that the rear of my tractor(s) will never rust with all that grease slung on them...

 

[Hay Dude]

This is a great 12’ mower. I’ve had 3 different types of commercial Deere mowers and they have gone far above and beyond what I would expect. My CX-15 and a former MX-8 and a 390 offset flail.

And no, I am NOT a paid spokesman for Deere

I thought this one looked pretty nice, too.

 

[rockinbbar]

This is a great 12’ mower. I’ve had 3 different types of commercial Deere mowers and they have gone far above and beyond what I would expect. My CX-15 and a former MX-8 and a 390 offset flail.

And no, I am NOT a paid spokesman for Deere


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I thought this one looked pretty nice, too.

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They probably are real good cutters for lighter duty projects.

Looked at the JD awhile back, but it's light duty as well.

May end up taking anther look at the Bush Hog 12' because it has the drive lines and gear boxes to rate cutting 3" growth.

Interesting that my 12' Viper and the Bush Hog are the same frame and design. I think the difference is that the Viper has cheap Chinese gear boxes and hydraulic cylinders. Probably would have been better off with the Bush Hog than the Viper, but when I got the Viper, Bush Hog had suspended production on theirs.

 

[Hay Dude]

They probably are real good cutters for lighter duty projects.

Looked at the JD awhile back, but it's light duty as well.

According to Deere’s website, the “FC” cutters are good to 2” material. I can tell you first hand, their cutters are very conservatively rated. If they say it’ll handle 2”, it’s probably good to 3”, although I wouldn’t advise anyone to use a machine beyond it’s rated capacity.

https://www.deere.com/en/cutters-shredders/rotary-cutters/#flex

May end up taking anther look at the Bush Hog 12' because it has the drive lines and gear boxes to rate cutting 3" growth.

Interesting that my 12' Viper and the Bush Hog are the same frame and design. I think the difference is that the Viper has cheap Chinese gear boxes and hydraulic cylinders. Probably would have been better off with the Bush Hog than the Viper, but when I got the Viper, Bush Hog had suspended production on theirs.

I think all gear boxes are “cheap Chinese”. I know my Woods gear boxes and Deere gearboxes are made in China. Last Bush Hog I looked at had Chinese gear boxes, too.
I haven’t seen an American made gearbox in decades, but that may have changed.

My CX-15 is rated to 4” with standard blades, but I rarely try to cut 4” material with it. Mostly grass and brush.

Another option is to order their heavy-duty FC-10R model with a deleted wing. It’s only 10’, but it’ll be extremely heavy built. It’ll cut up to 5” material with a high impact blade, but if you do that with your tractor, you’ll cook your PTO pretty fast.

https://www.deere.com/en/cutters-shredders/rotary-cutters/fc10r-rotary-cutter/

These mowers are sick. They will cut just about anything.

You need a real heavy duty cast iron PTO box to do consistent heavy 3-5” brush cutting. Those are small trees and they put a huge shock load on your PTO.

 

[rockinbbar]

According to Deere’s website, the “FC” cutters are good to 2” material. I can tell you first hand, their cutters are very conservatively rated. If they say it’ll handle 2”, it’s probably good to 3”, although I wouldn’t advise anyone to use a machine beyond it’s rated capacity.

https://www.deere.com/en/cutters-shredders/rotary-cutters/#flex

I think all gear boxes are “cheap Chinese”. I know my Woods gear boxes and Deere gearboxes are made in China. Last Bush Hog I looked at had Chinese gear boxes, too.
I haven’t seen an American made gearbox in decades, but that may have changed.

My CX-15 is rated to 4” with standard blades, but I rarely try to cut 4” material with it. Mostly grass and brush.

Another option is to order their heavy-duty FC-10R model with a deleted wing. It’s only 10’, but it’ll be extremely heavy built. It’ll cut up to 5” material with a high impact blade, but if you do that with your tractor, you’ll cook your PTO pretty fast.

https://www.deere.com/en/cutters-shredders/rotary-cutters/fc10r-rotary-cutter/

You need a real heavy duty cast iron PTO box to do consistent heavy 3-5” brush cutting. Those are small trees and they put a huge shock load on your PTO.

Yeah, I probably should have said "beefier" gear boxes. They are probably all China now.

I know those little round ones they have on the Viper 12' are not very good. Replaced both of wings and the splitter gear box under warranty. Both wing cylinders have been replaced twice. Deck cylinder is showing some blow by now too.

Not cutting very much in the way of brush with it, maybe the occasional 2 inch or smaller. But I do use lots of hours worth.

Not had any trouble with the PTO's on either tractor, but they are pretty HD models, and not weekend specials that a lot of tractors are now.

I'm pretty much a stickler for a quality tractor. They can keep all the "economy" model tractors... even the JD E series and the New Holland and Case Workmaster class tractors.

 

[Brown Dog]

idk about these new JD model #’s but the old MX & HX series had a good bit slower BTS than the Bush Hog cutters.
My BH 2815 with massive output shafts cuts lika champ

 

[rockinbbar]

idk about these new JD model #’s but the old MX & HX series had a good bit slower BTS than the Bush Hog cutters.
My BH 2815 with massive output shafts cuts lika champ

Yessir! Those are excellent cutters!

 

[RayIN]

Today I picked up a Indiana auto & RV advertising magazine. It has an 11' batwing Bush Hog in it for sale. Wouldn't you know it, I cannot find it again tonight.
I think it was somewhere in MI. I wonder if it can be found easier on their website?

 

[Hay Dude]

idk about these new JD model #’s but the old MX & HX series had a good bit slower BTS than the Bush Hog cutters.
My BH 2815 with massive output shafts cuts lika champ

Never had a minutes trouble with my CX-15. cuts anything I throw at it. Bought mine in 2016 and it’s paid for itself 20 times over.
One of the best unknown features about the Deeres are the “dual deck” design. All the rock dents are absorbed by the bottom deck. Keeps the upper deck and the mower looking great for a lot longer than single deck mowers.
I’m looking for another!

 

[EddieWalker]

I was thinking about the rating for what size material it can cut, and how people here are commenting that they are not cutting anything that size.
The reason I was thinking this was because I was out mowing my pasture and when I got close to a tree, I mowed over a branch on the ground that was hidden by the grass. That branch was at least 2 inches thick, and the only reason I know it was there, was from the sound of my blades breaking it up into smaller branches!!