Rotary Cutter what size bush hog for my tractor

[georgia plow boy]

Hi, I hope I'm posting in the right place, I have a 3600 ford diesel, Not sure of the hp, but I think its around 40hp, When I bought the tractor it came with a 6ft bush hog, its in pretty bad shape but still works good its old and heavy, My father has a pretty decent 5ft bush hog medium, both 3 point hitch, Ive been using the 5ft, But I don't want to wear his out, So I was wondering is the 6ft too big for my tractor or how big can I go without putting two much strain on it, I would like to get a newer one pretty soon and would like to get one to fit my tractor since its going to have to last a long time , thanks for the help

 

[MESSMAKER]

I would think you should have no problem with the 6 foot.

 

[Tractor Beam]

Second that. If it's 40 HP, you'll run a 6 foot no problem

 

[georgia plow boy]

thanks

 

[bullbreaker]

I would think you should have no problem with the 6 foot.

Agree with MessMaker.
I have a Bush Hog sq172(6') and pull it with my L3400DT Bota.With FEL on flat land and my 255lb.s tractor pulls it like its not even back there(3rd. gear low)2 or 4wd.
Boone



(ROPS down was cutting under/trees)

 

[georgia plow boy]

Im not on flat ground Im bush hogging pasture thats pretty Hilly, not mountains but I live in the foot hills,

 

[Allan_Cen_Ont]

Yes your tractor is 40 pto hp according to this site TractorData.com Ford 3600 tractor information

 

[Rod in Forfar]

I just went through this with two dealers and they both told me the same thing for my 65" wide tractor: a bush hog doesn't turn fast enough to suck grass up after it's been trampled the way a lawn mower does, so anything your tractor's wheel knocks down won't get cut. So there's no real advantage to having a rotary mower wider than your tractor. Both recommended a 5' even though my tractor has enough power for a 6'. I bought a Rhino 160 for my 35 hp TAFE. It does a very good job though I find its long chassis and wheel a problem on tight corners. I was used to a Walco 5' which is much shorter.

 

[MarkV]

Im not on flat ground Im bush hogging pasture thats pretty Hilly, not mountains but I live in the foot hills,

I would also think that a 6' would be the most practical with your rolling ground. The rule of thumb is 5 PTO hp per foot of mower. With 40 PTO hp you could run something a little bigger but on rolling ground bigger will cause more scalping and is harder to maneuver.

MarkV

 

[clemsonfor]

i was thinking 6 is fine my uncle pulls a 6 ft squealer behind his JD 4400 which i think is around 33hp motor. Yours should easily turn a 7fter, if in really thick 6 ft tall grass just offset to the cut side a little more so your only moving 6 ft of grass at the time. But knee length or shorter i think the 7 foot will spin easily.

 

[MMagis]

I never see anyone make mention of what is being cut. I run a 5’ on a Ford 3000, and there are many times it gives the tractor all it can handle when I’m in really heavy grass. If you’re mowing something like in Bullbreaker’s picture then sure, a bigger one would be fine. If you’ve got heavy grass to mow, go with the 5’.

 

[MarkV]

I never see anyone make mention of what is being cut. I run a 5 on a Ford 3000, and there are many times it gives the tractor all it can handle when I知 in really heavy grass. If youæ±*e mowing something like in Bullbreakerç—´ picture then sure, a bigger one would be fine. If you致e got heavy grass to mow, go with the 5?

That really is a good point that is overlooked often in the "what size" treads we often have. Really thick heavy 1' tall grass can be harder to cut than many 1" saplings. I would still think that with 40 PTO hp the tractor should run a 6' mower well unless conditions are really extreme.

MarkV

 

[beppington]

... a bush hog doesn't turn fast enough to suck grass up after it's been trampled the way a lawn mower does, so anything your tractor's wheel knocks down won't get cut.

By that argument (not considering your available HP) I would think you would want the absolute widest mower you can get, so the mower is cutting as much grass way out past the rear wheels, where it hasn't been flattened down, yet.

So there's no real advantage to having a rotary mower wider than your tractor.

None except mowing faster! :laughing:

 

[georgia plow boy]

Thanks for all of your help, When I purchase a new one or a newer one, I will likely get a 6ft, what I was going by is, I bought an 8n a few years back, it had a 5ft with it and mowing in heavy grass it would bog it or I would have to rev it up so high it would boil water out of the radiator, as soon as I could I bought a 4ft to go behind it and it worked well and as I started looking closer it seemed to me folks around here would just get the biggest mower they could to go behind their tractors, so they could finish as quick as possible, but I had rather take a little more time to finish and be easier on my tractor since I have a whole lot more time ,than money to spend fixing a tractor thats been abused