Rotary Cutter. 6' or 5'

[SCOTTYDAWG]

I'm looking for a rotary cutter for my DK40 SE hst , some guys have told me a 5' will work better than a 6' in thick grass/brush. This is a new tractor for me any suggestions would be great.

 

[o2batsea]

Honestly, any really thick grass and brush will thoroughly defeat a rotary cutter. They tend to simply whomp the stuff rather than cut it. You will probably have to do several passes if it's truly jungle-like.
I would steer you towards the 5 footer. Way easier to manoever and less weighty. 6 foot is a little much for your tractor.
Have you thought about a chemical approach? You can buy a LOT of glyphosate fot the cost of a rotary cutter.

 

[jjlite]

I have a 6' on my 4035 and runs it fine. When I get into grass that's eye level while hogging I really have to slow down. I would think your DK would do just fine with a 6'. It does bog down a little while cutting Willow bushes which are a real pain in the *** but picking the proper speed for the job makes all the difference in the world. Good luck.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd go with the 6 footer...

The initial mowing might be slower...and you may have to take partial width passes on thick stuff. Follow up mowings, assuming you mow regularly, will be faster and less work. A cutter wider then your rear tire width allows you to get closer to fences and other obstacles.

However, 6 foot cutters can be a lot heavier then 5 footers as well as more cumbersome.

BTW, do carry a brush or something to clean off your grills...heavy brush mowing can generate a lot of dust and pollen. You don't want your tractor overheating. If your tractor is an open station machine, consider wear a dust mask too.

 

[DK35vince]

My DK 35 runs a 6' King Kutter standard duty cutter just fine, so a DK 40 should have no problem with a 6' cutter.

 

[coobie]

I run a 6ft brush hog brand heavy duty with slip clutch cuts great.I had a 5ft. light duty that cut ok also.If you have tight areas I would go with the 5ft if not go with the 6ft.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Iv compared a 5' and 6' cutter in the same model line. At 45HP PTO the tractor did well with either. The 5' handled big stuf better.

I think 5' is the sweet spot for single spindle cutters.
larry

 

[IslandTractor]

I have a 5 foot Woods Brush Bull (medium duty) on my DK40se. I would have bought a 6ft version but I wanted to get one used and the 5ft showed up first. No regrets. I use it only for heavy brush as I have a six foot flail for mowing light brush and fields. Based on how the five footer performs, the DK40se could easily handle a 6ft bush hog. If I were mowing fields I'd get the six. If primarily doing heavy brush hogging, the five is fine.

 

[LD1]

I'd go 6' minimum.

The tractors these days are geared quite low. And if you have HST thats even better.

With the HP you have, you will find yourself slowing down quite a bit even with a 5' cutter, not because you lack power, but because terrain is just too rough. Get the 6', and go slower. With the 6' cutter, I dont think there will be any time where you have to use your lowest gear. Therefore you have plenty of power. So 6' and go slow is an easier ride for you and your equipment.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I'll second Royjacksons advice. No need to take a full cut in the heavy stuff except for the first shot through the middle. set it so the rear is a couple of inches higher then the front so only the leading edge of the blade is cutting.

 

[nybirdman]

I believe your tractor would handle the five ft.better.I have both(44 HP) and in six ft.canary grass the six footer will bog down the tractor unless barely moving.With the five footer I never have to slow down.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Honestly, any really thick grass and brush will thoroughly defeat a rotary cutter. They tend to simply whomp the stuff rather than cut it.

My Woods rotary cutter has NO problem in thick grass or brush at all! It cuts it down and cuts it up,

There's a reason their nik name is "brush hog", as that's what they were designed to do, cut heavy grass and brush...

I do some custom cutting, it's heavy grass and brush that I cut most, it's amazing how tough my Woods cutter has been!!

As for 5' or 6', more power is better in heavy stuff, especially grass...

SR

 

[LD1]

No secret that a 6' requires more power than a 5' cutter. In the thickest of thick, a 5' may handle better at a faster clip. But power needed and how the cutter "handles" has to do with width and speed. A 5' cutter mowing at 6MPH will handle just the same as a 6' cutter mowing at 5 MPH. Just slow down with the 6'. Time to complete the job will be the same, and will be a smoother ride.

For the times when stuff isnt so dense, and you have power to spare and are only going slow because of maneuvering or terrain, thats the times that a 6' cutter will get done quicker. I have a 6' cutter behind 29 HP PTO, and have never used 1st or 2nd gear. And only on a very rare ocassion do I need 3rd gear. Everything is mostly done in 4th-6th gear. Sometimes I have to slow down because of power, but more frequently I have to slow down because the field is just too darn rough. I have both a 5' and a 6' cutter. Never use the 5'. And you have more power than me.

 

[o2batsea]

My Woods rotary cutter has NO problem in thick grass or brush at all! It cuts it down and cuts it up,

There's a reason their nik name is "brush hog", as that's what they were designed to do, cut heavy grass and brush...

I do some custom cutting, it's heavy grass and brush that I cut most, it's amazing how tough my Woods cutter has been!!

As for 5' or 6', more power is better in heavy stuff, especially grass...

SR

Well, that pic shows a rather forgiving swath through tall grass. C'mon over to the Eastern Shore an try getting through the Phragmites and salt bush, with a lot of poison ivy thrown in for extra spice!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That pict. shows me cutting a food plot to get mulch for my gardens, I never said it was the toughest thing I cut...

SR

 

[Citydude]

with 34 horses on your PTO, a five foot cutter simply isn't big enough to maximize your tractors capabilities. you have more than enough power to run a 6 foot cutter. I run a 6 foot cutter behind a PTO power of 29 horses and it cuts fine in heavy stuff.

 

[newbury]

6 foot.
In really thick brush you can back in and chop until you clear enough to make a 5' path.

A 6 footer can take a 5 foot bite. A 5 footer can't take a 6 foot bite.

 

[Oleozz]

I have used both a 5 and 6 ft Bush Hog behind my DK 45. The 5 footer seemed to cut better in the thick stuff but the 6 footer does great with cutting corn stalks. If you don't have large areas to mow I might go with the 5 ft.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Honestly, any really thick grass and brush will thoroughly defeat a rotary cutter. They tend to simply whomp the stuff rather than cut it. You will probably have to do several passes if it's truly jungle-like.
I would steer you towards the 5 footer. Way easier to manoever and less weighty. 6 foot is a little much for your tractor.
Have you thought about a chemical approach? You can buy a LOT of glyphosate fot the cost of a rotary cutter.

My Woods rotary cutter has NO problem in thick grass or brush at all! It cuts it down and cuts it up,

There's a reason their nik name is "brush hog", as that's what they were designed to do, cut heavy grass and brush...

I do some custom cutting, it's heavy grass and brush that I cut most, it's amazing how tough my Woods cutter has been!!

As for 5' or 6', more power is better in heavy stuff, especially grass...

SR

Grass takes a lot of HP because the duty cycle is very hi ... but seriously, Where are the trees and brush? My BX1500 MMM would handle that grass.
larry

 

[ovrszd]

Grass takes a lot of HP because the duty cycle is very hi ... but seriously, Where are the trees and brush? My BX1500 MMM would handle that grass.
larry

You forgot the smiley face.