Mowing LS size for bush hog

[tude]

I stopped at a LS dealer to check out their tractors. I mentioned that I was looking for something to run a 5 foot bush hog. The sales person told me that LS recommended a 40 HP tractor for that size mower. It had something to do with having a strong enough drive for the mower. This sounds like over kill to me.

 

[jbrumberg]

I run a 60" rotary cutter on my 29HP/+23HP PTO NH w/o any difficulties on my sloped 8 acres. The rig balances well with FEL and liquid filled rear R1's.

 

[tomplum]

My little XJ runs one with out even knowing its there.

 

[Professor Marvel]

there are bush hogs and there are bush hogs
I have a 5 ft bush hog that weighs a lot. Brand unknown. It is the kind i would feel ok doing power lines with. Not so with the tractor i run it with ND T45d). I would not want to run it with anything less than 40 hp.
At the same time on my little kubota i have run a 5 ft lightweight rotary cutter that it handles just fine.
you are not always comparing apples to apples

 

[papachaz]

I run a 5' medium duty JBar bush hog with my XG 3025, depending on what I'm mowing, typically I'm in 6th gear and moving along fine. Shorter/thinner and I can bump up a couple of gears....

this is 24.4 engine HP and 19.2 at the PTO. I've heard '5 hp per ft of bush hog' my whole life, but with the electronic PTO you can get away with a little bigger mower. Now, go back up to the post about the different grades of mowers, and I agree with that 100%

 

[Professor Marvel]

also depends what you are cutting
I cut 3ft overgrown neighbors yard maybe once a year with my BH and at times it boggs down my NH if I don't slow down
nothing seems to slow down my old ford 5000

 

[George2615]

papachaz noted 5 HP per foot of rotary cutter which is what I have heard also. I used to run a 5'er on a 26HP Mahindra and I think the PTO HP was around 21-22 and it worked fine. I don't have one right now but my 36HP LS could easily run a 6'er. A 5' mower would not cover my rear tracks which is 66" wide.

 

[mred2]

As stated, it depends on the grass and the mower. I had a very heavy 5' that I used with a 35hp tractor. In tall grass it was all it could handle. I purchased a new lighter mower. It seems to work better, large stuff is now down. I now use a 50hp tractor with a flail mower.
But a 30hp tractor should handle most all 5' mower on average grass.

 

[jbrumberg]

I agree about general PTO HP requirements, mower weight and drivetrain differences for any given size of rotary cutter and what type of vegetation is being cut as operational concerns. Another concern- terrain and slope affecting tractor/rig balance.

 

[rgr33]

I run a 5 ft bush hog, flail mower, and finish mower on different parts of my farm. My LS 33 hp, and JD 27 hp both do well. I do not have any areas with3 ft high growth to cut, so can’t comment on that.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think the 5 HP per foot is just an average for average type of mowing. For cutting weeds, 3-4 HP per foot may be adequate but when in heavy swamp grass, you might need 10 HP or more for cutting. I have a 7 foot that I run on my LS P7010 and I have to slow way down when cutting the lowland swampy wire grass (that is what I call it) to keep from stalling.

I can cut normal grass and weeds/tree saplings at 10 mph which is about all I can do to stay in the seat.

 

[atsah]

I stopped at a LS dealer to check out their tractors. I mentioned that I was looking for something to run a 5 foot bush hog. The sales person told me that LS recommended a 40 HP tractor for that size mower. It had something to do with having a strong enough drive for the mower. This sounds like over kill to me.

I would say it is overkill, even if you cut into some heavy stuff with it now and then you can slow down.

 

[uphere]

I have run a 30 year old Howse 5' fter on both a 4140 and a 4041 and it could easily take out 2" poplar with no problem. Will be replacing it finally with a 6' this year just to cover my tire width - if the wife allows it ?

 

[Maxify]

The dealer isn't blowing smoke.
You can buy smaller and wish you'd bought a larger size if you want but rule of thumb is exactly what he said.
I run a 48" bush hog with a 15 hp @ crank & 12 @ PTO but that doesn't mean it does it efficiently.
I put an incredible amount of counter weight up front and run the engine flat out cutting with it.
BUT it's 30 yrs old and I bought it for exactly that purpose.
Plus, if it blows up tomorrow, I rebuilt it once and can again.
It owes me nothing.

I also own a 40hp LS, as it says in my bio. and wouldn't hesitate running a 60" cutter behind it.
However, I know that it's maxed for efficiency at the 2300 rpms for torque on the PTO on that piece of equipment.
{It's cabbed and surrenders ~10hp for my A/C}

It all depends on what you want to do and not max out your machinery for potency & longevity.
Your machine...your rules. Cause it's your money that'll replace it before it's time in the long run.
It's your call.

 

[Avenger]

I run a 6ft King Kutter, a cheaper rotary mover, hooked to my 45hp tractor. I have gone over just about everything, including a huge stump that broke the stump jumper off the shaft!

I have heard the 5hp/ft-of-length thing too. In fact, a friend of mine who has a 25hp Mahindra wont borrow anything of mine because it's "All too big" according to that rule. Whatever. I see it as a guideline, not a rule.

I think what is more important in mowing is the ability to cover your tracks. It really depends on what your mowing too. Thin grass vs sage brush means you will need a bigger tractor. Mowing though 8ft reeds or though a field of 1in saplings, or a pasture? How about hills, if you are mowing uphill, is your tractor strong enough to spin the pto and climb?

Just things to consider.

 

[Supraman0614]

Similar to Avenger, I have a 6' LS brand bush hog on my XR4145. I can cut heavy pasture grass right down to the dirt while moving along pretty quickly. It doesn't have any adverse effect on the tractor. As others have said, you need to match your cutting speed to what you are cutting, and get the size mower that covers your track. In my experience, you don't need 40hp to run a 5' bush hog.

 

[LD48750]

I have/do run a 5' Howse bushog with my Ford 2N & 1510.
Both under 20 PTO HP.
Adjusting ground speed, it will cut anything I can drive the tractor over.
My old MF50 would cut faster but not better.

 

[Underdog57]

My LS is 41 hp (33 pto) my track is 6' wide.

I am looking at brush cutters, most everyone recommends getting a 6' to cover my tracks but,

1) I won't be cutting much grass or any fields

2) I will be mowing a power line a couple times a year

3) I will mainly be using it for brush cutting in the woods & swamp

I am thinking of just getting a medium to heavy duty 5' cutter because of maneuverability and substantial cost savings, plus I don't think having a cutter quite as wide as my tires is that important for my uses. I am afraid with a big 6' I will be banging into trees all the time!

Need some advice, what do you think 5' or 6' ?

 

[Avenger]

I would recommend the 6ft. It goes where my tractor goes, as in, if my tractor will fit, so will the mower. If getting into tight spaces is a concern, look for a shorter mower or a flail mower.
If you get the 5ft, you will most likely regret it and end up selling it get a 6ft. But that is just my opinion.

 

[Professor Marvel]

My LS is 41 hp (33 pto) my track is 6' wide.

I am looking at brush cutters, most everyone recommends getting a 6' to cover my tracks but,

1) I won't be cutting much grass or any fields

2) I will be mowing a power line a couple times a year

3) I will mainly be using it for brush cutting in the woods & swamp

I am thinking of just getting a medium to heavy duty 5' cutter because of maneuverability and substantial cost savings, plus I don't think having a cutter quite as wide as my tires is that important for my uses. I am afraid with a big 6' I will be banging into trees all the time!

Need some advice, what do you think 5' or 6' ?

i picked a heavy 5 for my bushog and i do what you describe. didn't get a 6 so i really cant compare. it would be nice to cover my footprint but had the same fears as you. and sometimes my 5 bogs down. i am not mowing lawn with mine. in fact mine does an ugly job on lawn. but it chops the heck out of tough overgrown stuff. sometimes i think i should put a slip clutch on it to protect my pto drive train
i would certainly get a 6 maybe 7 if i was mowing lawn