Brush Hog - Tractor Supply

[Scrambler82]

Hello,

It has been a while, the SoCal remodel on the house is completed and the yard work is more of a big job than thought, not just Landscaping but the maintaining of the Fields as a Fire Protection. (A problem in a Flash Fire Area - Fire Department Mandated).

I purchased a Brush Hog from Tractor Supply, over a year ago, and just got it on about a month or so back.

I am using the 60" model of the Country Line Implement and so far it is an amazing tool.

My wife and I have been dreading cutting the side field after a wet winter and I didn't know which way to turn so I broke down and set myself to attaching the Brush Hog and making the necessary adjustments.

Well folks, all I can say is it turned out to be a easier than I thought to cut the driveshaft to fit my tractor, and top link threw me for a while but I'm getting the idea of the adjustment. I still have a slight problem with the Tool digging-in in the front more often than I like but I lift it a little and it seems to help me but I need to add some larger skids to the front and do a little more adjusting.

But the Brush Hog itself, not the heaviest duty tool in my tool box, but it is strong enough to handle my work load and then some... it definitely made my life easier. Cutting the 4 to 5 foot weeds in the side yard alone, was a breeze, this things ate through the weeds like they weren't even there and after the second pass the next day the field actually looks a little like a lawn... not my intent, but from a distance it looks good.
Once I got started I had cut for over 5 hours, the side field, alone my 1/4 mile driveway, and along the main road, which should be covered by the HOA but for some reason my end of the HOA appears not to be on the list. (At least I get the mani road graded), and the upper five acres, had a few rocks but this Hog was easily maneuvered through the rock field and cut the weeds easily with a better look than expected.

So if anyone was thinking about "CountryLine" from Tractor Supply, it does what is needed in a medium duty package, and for the average land owner it should work.

Thanks for reading, I do get carried away... once in a while.

Ltr

p.s. I hope to update this thread as soon as I get some more time on the tool, but I am thinking it should be a good tool for a long time. Biggest thing... GREASE IT REGULARLY, before each use is not a bad thing.

 

[suburbanfarmer]

Can it actually cut brush up upto 3" thick?

 

[mcfarmall]

Can it actually cut brush up upto 3" thick?

Not likely.

 

[Scrambler82]

Can it actually cut brush up upto 3" thick?

Not likely.

I have cut into some small bushes, approximately 1 to 1.5", I really didn't look but some were very dry. Does that make cutting easier... not sure. Usually backing over them with the tool raised, then I lower it and move forward, so far it has worked out ok.

I have not attempted anything larger but it seems like it didn't have any problem with the 1.5" stock BUT... cutting heavy stock may decrease the life of the tool.
I don't like to use things to their max specifications, I buy heavier duty than needed and don't usually use it to the max spec., that way they live longer.

 

[ericm979]

Mowing tends to put a lot of stuff in the air and clog the tractor's radiator screen. Clean it more often.

If your mower has a slip clutch it needs to be slipped and adjusted once per season.

I also mow for fire clearance and don't mow once the grass is dry. It's too likely to generate sparks.

 

[Wolfy]

Another very important aspect is to check the oil level regularly in the gear box on the brush hog.

 

[Scrambler82]

Mowing tends to put a lot of stuff in the air and clog the tractor's radiator screen. Clean it more often.

If your mower has a slip clutch it needs to be slipped and adjusted once per season.

I also mow for fire clearance and don't mow once the grass is dry. It's too likely to generate sparks.

Since I am new to using the Brush Hog, I didn't even think about the Fire Hazard, thank you for the suggestion; I WILL follow the suggestion !

Another very important aspect is to check the oil level regularly in the gear box on the brush hog.

Yes Checking the Oil in the Gear Box is as important as the grease in the Universals.
Thank for filling in the missing Lubrication !




Thanks for the replies !

 

[Zebrafive]

Can it actually cut brush up upto 3" thick?

Where did you come up with 3" ? Or are you needing that capacity? Bush Hog has cutters rated for 3", as do other makers.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

At 3" i want the stump out....

 

[orezok]

Don’t forget to carry a large fire extinguisher while hogging.

 

[oosik]

Have any of you ever witnessed a rear cutter that was cutting 3" material. The Highway Dept has a Brown 684 mounted on a New Holland 150hp tractor. The 3" trees were birch or aspen or quaken asp. Whatever.

The SOUND. I was about 200 feet away and very glad of it. It sounded like something - either the tractor or the rear cutter - was being torn apart.

There is no question - the Brown 684 is rated for 3" trees. If it were me - I'd be out there with my chain saw.

I would think that a forrest mulcher would be more in order.

 

[ericm979]

I've pulled up short pieces of old lumber while brush hogging, and once a head sized sandstone rock. It makes a heck of a clatter until I lift the mower up (I often keep my hand on the 3pt control while mowing but there's still a reaction time). I won't mow vegetation with a stem diameter much over 1.5" on purpose.

Around here they recommend that you mow in the morning when the vegetation moisture is higher and the wind is lower. Unless the grass is still very green I go back after mowing to check to see if anything's ignited. I don't want to be that guy who accidentally starts a fire.

 

[JDAOWNER]

I've pulled up short pieces of old lumber while brush hogging, and once a head sized sandstone rock. It makes a heck of a clatter until I lift the mower up (I often keep my hand on the 3pt control while mowing but there's still a reaction time). I won't mow vegetation with a stem diameter much over 1.5" on purpose.

Around here they recommend that you mow in the morning when the vegetation moisture is higher and the wind is lower. Unless the grass is still very green I go back after mowing to check to see if anything's ignited. I don't want to be that guy who accidentally starts a fire.

I HAVE A KING CUTTER 6' TAGALONG--AWSUM MACHINE. IT KEPT LOSING GEAR OIL FROM THE GEAR BOX. FINALLY REALIZED THERE WAS NO VENT IN THE GEAR BOX AND PRESSURE WAS BUILDING UP AS I MOWED AND THE OIL GOT HOT. THE PRESSURE WAS PUSHING THE OIL PAST THE LOWER SEAL. I DRILLED THE FILL PLUG AND PUT A COTTER KEY IN THE HOLE AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

6' KING CUTTER --TRAIL MOWER--8O HP GEAR BOX WITH SLIP CLUTCH. IT'S ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND I'M CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH IT.

 

[Scrambler82]

I HAVE A KING CUTTER 6' TAGALONG--AWSUM MACHINE. IT KEPT LOSING GEAR OIL FROM THE GEAR BOX. FINALLY REALIZED THERE WAS NO VENT IN THE GEAR BOX AND PRESSURE WAS BUILDING UP AS I MOWED AND THE OIL GOT HOT. THE PRESSURE WAS PUSHING THE OIL PAST THE LOWER SEAL. I DRILLED THE FILL PLUG AND PUT A COTTER KEY IN THE HOLE AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

6' KING CUTTER --TRAIL MOWER--8O HP GEAR BOX WITH SLIP CLUTCH. IT'S ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND I'M CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH IT.

I believe this Brush Hog is made by King Kutter, I will have to check out the Breather, I think there is one but I will report back.

Thanks for the info.


I can't find the spec on the size of stock this thing should cut but I am starting to think this unit is more light duty than medium duty.

I will have to watch out for the size of stock I cut and try to keep this thing going for more than a few seasons.

AND then there is the driver, he might not make it !

 

[von-mil]

The breather plug on my King Kutter mower was painted over at the factory. I needed to sand off the paint for it to work.

 

[Scrambler82]

I checked my unit, and there is a breather, it is part of the Filler.

There is a little bit of oil residue around the breather but I think that would be normal.

I need to check the oil and grease the U-Joint before using again.

 

[troverman]

I bought a County Line 5-foot rotary mower from Tractor Supply yesterday for $1200. This is what I would consider a middle of the road mower. It is a step above the Chinese units that are imported and a step below the major names like Land Pride or Bush Hog. The mower itself is manufactured by Tarter of Kentucky. The gearbox is made by OmniGear which is a US owned and managed company in Houston but the manufacturing is done in China. The driveshaft is 100% Chinese. The metal deck and side skirts are a little thinner than what you'd see from Land Pride or Bush Hog, but still adequate. The rear wheel is laminated and will last a very long time assuming it is not roaded. There is a grease fitting on both the rear wheel swivel and rear wheel hub. The blades are on a stump jumper dish and are the lift / grass design. There is a tool caddy mounted on the deck with the owner's manual inside - I will remove this and put two cheap box end wrenches and spare shear bolts inside. For the money, this is a decent quality mower. If you needed a mower for everyday, commercial use I'd probably get something heavier duty. But so long as you use this mower within it's rated limits, I think it will last a very long time, even with a lot of use.

 

[suburbanfarmer]

Where did you come up with 3" ? Or are you needing that capacity? Bush Hog has cutters rated for 3", as do other makers.

I need that capacity cause in certain locations thats how thick it is.

 

[Tractorable]

If your rotary cutter is digging in then consider getting a set of check chains to connect from your top link mounting point on the tractor to the 3pt pins on the bush hog. They’ll keep the mower at the same height all the time.

Set your top link loose so that it lets the mower undulate over the terrain.

 

[Alan W.]

Ive had a 5 foot King Cutter that I bought to mow construction lots for a long time. Dont know what size brush its rated for but it has cut a phone pedestal, meter vaults, and once a sewer man hole cover, not to mention the numerous rocks, boards and concrete rubble. These were buried in the head high weeds. The manhole cover tweaked the lift straps a bit. There is a lot of little wires in those phone pedestals. Oh and a groundhog.
All Ive had to do to it is replace the lower seal. It still has the original blades.
Thankfully all its cut since 08 has been light brush and weeds.