Woods BB60 or BB600

[GuyL]

I am buying a new Kubota 4330DT with loader. I also need a bush hog. I am leaning toward the BB600. I would prefer to buy more than I need but I don't want something that will wreck the tractor.

Dealer priced the BB60 at $1,250 and the BB600 at $1,895.

The dealer also sells Rhino Cutters which look about as beefy as the BB600. I didn't get a model number or price on the Rhino yet (it is a 60 inch).

I do have some rather nasty brush and small trees maybe up to 2 or 3 inches.

I would appreciate anyone's experience with these cutters. I really have to buy from the dealer to get the financing and agriculture tax break on the package.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

Guy

 

[GuyL]

I am buying a new Kubota 4330DT with loader. I also need a bush hog. I am leaning toward the BB600. I would prefer to buy more than I need but I don't want something that will wreck the tractor.

Dealer priced the BB60 at $1,250 and the BB600 at $1,895.

The dealer also sells Rhino Cutters which look about as beefy as the BB600. I didn't get a model number or price on the Rhino yet (it is a 60 inch).

I do have some rather nasty brush and small trees maybe up to 2 or 3 inches.

I would appreciate anyone's experience with these cutters. I really have to buy from the dealer to get the financing and agriculture tax break on the package.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

Guy

 

[MikePA]

I have a BB60 and it's great. I use it to cut our 3 acre pasture a few times each summer. I also use it as a brush shredder, i.e., I pile up the brush and then back the BB60 over the pile and turn it into mulch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Keep in mind that you only have to cut the nasty stuff once. You know what your on-going requirements are, but paying 50% more for the BB600 is quite a premium. Make sure you're going to need this capability after the initial clearing.

You're tractor is more than enough to handle either model.

 

[MikePA]

I have a BB60 and it's great. I use it to cut our 3 acre pasture a few times each summer. I also use it as a brush shredder, i.e., I pile up the brush and then back the BB60 over the pile and turn it into mulch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Keep in mind that you only have to cut the nasty stuff once. You know what your on-going requirements are, but paying 50% more for the BB600 is quite a premium. Make sure you're going to need this capability after the initial clearing.

You're tractor is more than enough to handle either model.

 

[canoetrpr]

I have the BB60. Its a nice well made cutter. I'm sure the BB600 would not hurt but I don't really need one that is heavier duty for my application.

The one thing I will suggest is look into a wider cutter. I have a Kubota L3400 and I am sorry that I did not go with a BB72. The BB60 just covers my tires. An extra foot would have been VERY useful when mowing by fencelines.

 

[canoetrpr]

I have the BB60. Its a nice well made cutter. I'm sure the BB600 would not hurt but I don't really need one that is heavier duty for my application.

The one thing I will suggest is look into a wider cutter. I have a Kubota L3400 and I am sorry that I did not go with a BB72. The BB60 just covers my tires. An extra foot would have been VERY useful when mowing by fencelines.

 

[john_bud]

I have an L3410 and the BB600. You can easily handle the BB600 or the BB720. I would NOT get the 60 or 72, they will not be able to take cutting 2-3" trees. They are limited to 1", where the BB600/720 can handle 2" (and larger if softwoods).

Do get the safety chains.

The rhino is a good cutter too, but the blade retention used by Woods is the easiest and IMHO makes it the better buy.

jb

 

[john_bud]

I have an L3410 and the BB600. You can easily handle the BB600 or the BB720. I would NOT get the 60 or 72, they will not be able to take cutting 2-3" trees. They are limited to 1", where the BB600/720 can handle 2" (and larger if softwoods).

Do get the safety chains.

The rhino is a good cutter too, but the blade retention used by Woods is the easiest and IMHO makes it the better buy.

jb

 

[LeadPoison]

I have a BB720 and it is everything I need it for and more. It weighs 1140 pounds and I run it behind my M4900. I would be hesitant to run a BB 720 behind your tractor without thoroughly checking the rated implement specs in the manual. The difference between the BB72 and BB720 is tremendous.

I paid $1950 for the BB720 without chains. I run it where flinging material 300 yards wouldn't hurt anything. So far I love it. I have backed it through six foot tall brush and it simply ate what was there and made it disappear.

 

[LeadPoison]

I have a BB720 and it is everything I need it for and more. It weighs 1140 pounds and I run it behind my M4900. I would be hesitant to run a BB 720 behind your tractor without thoroughly checking the rated implement specs in the manual. The difference between the BB72 and BB720 is tremendous.

I paid $1950 for the BB720 without chains. I run it where flinging material 300 yards wouldn't hurt anything. So far I love it. I have backed it through six foot tall brush and it simply ate what was there and made it disappear.

 

[Bob_Young]

I'd like to second what LeadPoison said. I bought a BB720 with my L4300. It's almost too much for that tractor, but whatta cutter! Without the FEL in place I couldn't lift it off the ground without raising the front end. It is ideal, however, for whacking down the 2" to 3" woody stuff that grows on the fringes.

Luckily I have another larger tractor (old Ford 4000) that handles the BB720's weight much better. The two are made for each other. When I use the L4300 for hogging, I either hook it up "two point" leaving the toplink unattached or leave the FEL on the tractor. "Two point" works OK if you know the area you're cutting well and are sure there's no lurking stumps, downed limbs or big rocks that'll require an emergency raise.

So what's this got to do with the BB600? It's almost as heavy as the BB720. Like LeadPoison sez, there's a section in your tractor manual which specifies the maximum cutter size and weight recommended for your machine. It'd be wise to take a look at that section before committing to any implements. According to the manual, the L4300 is limited to 6' cutters weighing no more than 880 lbs, as I recall. Your L4330 is heavier so it might handle more.

If you're planning to go with Pat's EZ Hitch, keep in mind that'll put the mower's weight another 3" further aft; with that much more 'nose up' leverage from the load. The manual recommendations don't take that into consideration.

With cutter weight at nearly 1200# with chains the L4300 has handled the BB720...sort of....so far. The L4330/BB600 match up is probably closer to the ideal.
FWIW
Bob

 

[Bob_Young]

I'd like to second what LeadPoison said. I bought a BB720 with my L4300. It's almost too much for that tractor, but whatta cutter! Without the FEL in place I couldn't lift it off the ground without raising the front end. It is ideal, however, for whacking down the 2" to 3" woody stuff that grows on the fringes.

Luckily I have another larger tractor (old Ford 4000) that handles the BB720's weight much better. The two are made for each other. When I use the L4300 for hogging, I either hook it up "two point" leaving the toplink unattached or leave the FEL on the tractor. "Two point" works OK if you know the area you're cutting well and are sure there's no lurking stumps, downed limbs or big rocks that'll require an emergency raise.

So what's this got to do with the BB600? It's almost as heavy as the BB720. Like LeadPoison sez, there's a section in your tractor manual which specifies the maximum cutter size and weight recommended for your machine. It'd be wise to take a look at that section before committing to any implements. According to the manual, the L4300 is limited to 6' cutters weighing no more than 880 lbs, as I recall. Your L4330 is heavier so it might handle more.

If you're planning to go with Pat's EZ Hitch, keep in mind that'll put the mower's weight another 3" further aft; with that much more 'nose up' leverage from the load. The manual recommendations don't take that into consideration.

With cutter weight at nearly 1200# with chains the L4300 has handled the BB720...sort of....so far. The L4330/BB600 match up is probably closer to the ideal.
FWIW
Bob

 

[cisco]

I've an L3410. Started with a BB600, which admittedly is marginal for the pto (gst, so not the hst decrement) horsepower AND the lift capacity of the 3ph; the front end ballast of a FEL was useful. Anyhow, I needed to clear heavy brush and saplings, and to survive occasional encounters with stumps and the like. That brush cutter was an instrument of destruction. However, and as a prior post noted, once you've conquered the heavy stuff, you won't need such a cutter. After the 2 years it took me to tame my property, I traded the BB600 in on a B72, and it is working fine for grass and moderately heavy brush. Despite being 12" wider, it weighs 300 lbs or so less than the BB600, and my tractor appreciates the difference (I now can disconnect the FEL when mowing, and not have "light" front tires). It also is easier to remove and sharpen the blades, and it cuts grass better (top ends of cut grass are more cleanly cut).
So, you might consider renting something heavy duty to do the initial clearing, or approach your dealer on some sort of deal to switch out brush cutters, at modest fee to yourself (if you've not wrecked the cutter - I came close) after a year.
Now, given the size of your tractor, you also might consider taking my experience with the L3140 gst, and going one size larger for your tractor - you should be able to handle such just fine.
Have a good time - many of us have cleared OUR property, and it's personally satisfying to watch things shape up.

 

[cisco]

I've an L3410. Started with a BB600, which admittedly is marginal for the pto (gst, so not the hst decrement) horsepower AND the lift capacity of the 3ph; the front end ballast of a FEL was useful. Anyhow, I needed to clear heavy brush and saplings, and to survive occasional encounters with stumps and the like. That brush cutter was an instrument of destruction. However, and as a prior post noted, once you've conquered the heavy stuff, you won't need such a cutter. After the 2 years it took me to tame my property, I traded the BB600 in on a B72, and it is working fine for grass and moderately heavy brush. Despite being 12" wider, it weighs 300 lbs or so less than the BB600, and my tractor appreciates the difference (I now can disconnect the FEL when mowing, and not have "light" front tires). It also is easier to remove and sharpen the blades, and it cuts grass better (top ends of cut grass are more cleanly cut).
So, you might consider renting something heavy duty to do the initial clearing, or approach your dealer on some sort of deal to switch out brush cutters, at modest fee to yourself (if you've not wrecked the cutter - I came close) after a year.
Now, given the size of your tractor, you also might consider taking my experience with the L3140 gst, and going one size larger for your tractor - you should be able to handle such just fine.
Have a good time - many of us have cleared OUR property, and it's personally satisfying to watch things shape up.

 

[GuyL]

Thanks to all who responded! I decided on the BB600. While I am normally one of those who keeps equipment until it is "unfixable" I may consider selling the BB600 once my heavy work is done and then go with a 6 foot cutter. I am just concerned I would damage the standard duty woods or worse yet, borrow a heavy duty cutter and be responsible for any repairs which we all know ALWAYS happens when borrowing implements.

 

[GuyL]

Thanks to all who responded! I decided on the BB600. While I am normally one of those who keeps equipment until it is "unfixable" I may consider selling the BB600 once my heavy work is done and then go with a 6 foot cutter. I am just concerned I would damage the standard duty woods or worse yet, borrow a heavy duty cutter and be responsible for any repairs which we all know ALWAYS happens when borrowing implements.