6 Foot Rotary cutter For JD 3038E Question!

[wirlybird]

OK, so I just sold my RC2072 I was using on my JD 3038E.
Main issue is that the track width of the rear tires isn't as wide as the cutter and it leaves two strips of uncut grass! This means you have to do a big overlap to get a nice cut. Because of this a 5 footer actually works better.
Anyone running a 6 footer on a CUT like the JD3038E and getting a decent cut?
There is a Landpride 1872 locally at a good price and am tempted to try it out, but it may just be wishful thinking that it will be any better.
I do know on my 5 footers that some brands seem to cut better than others.

Anyway, I though I'd ask before giving up hope on running a 6 footer with my current tractors.

 

[duffer]

I used my neighbor's 6' bush hog on my 38 hp Mahindra. Cut just fine. No uncut 'brush". If your rotary cutter was a finish mower, I don't have any problem with mine, and it's 7' wide.

Sounds more like a blade issue to me.

 

[wirlybird]

I used my neighbor's 6' bush hog on my 38 hp Mahindra. Cut just fine. No uncut 'brush". If your rotary cutter was a finish mower, I don't have any problem with mine, and it's 7' wide.

Sounds more like a blade issue to me.

I would think if it were a blade issue the cut would be bad all over.
I will say I don't care for the design of the JD cutters blades.

 

[Travis_R]

If this helps, where I’m located in Southeast Louisiana, a 6’ rotary cutter (bush hog) for a 38 hp Massey Ferguson 231 tractor is not enough horsepower because the Bahia grass is so thick and will choke the tractor down.

 

[wirlybird]

The 6 foot Frontier ran fine on the 3038E. It just left two partially cut trails where the tires are. Had to do a massive overlap to get an overall nice finish. I did better with a 5 footer!

I recently bought a used landpride RCR1872 and tried it. Cut 18 acres over two days and after getting overlaps figured out it cut excellent.
No comparison to the RC2072.
It's a heavy one but the 3038E seems to have decent power for it.
I'm mostly wanting the larger one for open field cutting.

 

[RayIN]

If this helps, where I’m located in Southeast Louisiana, a 6’ rotary cutter (bush hog) for a 38 hp Massey Ferguson 231 tractor is not enough horsepower because the Bahia grass is so thick and will choke the tractor down.

His tractor is rated at 30 PTO HP. That's not enough to properly use a 6" rotary cutter IMO. Of course he can gear-down if not already using low gear. Not enough tractor for the job IMO. TractorData.com John Deere 3038E tractor information

 

[wirlybird]

His tractor is rated at 30 PTO HP. That's not enough to properly use a 6" rotary cutter IMO. Of course he can gear-down if not already using low gear. Not enough tractor for the job IMO. TractorData.com John Deere 3038E tractor information

The RC2072 is rate 25 and up PTO HP and the landpride 1872 is rated 20 to 65 PTO HP.
Of course, the more the better. I just mowed 18 acres in the last 2 days with no issue whatsoever.
I was mowing at a speed like I would mow with the 5 footer. Out in a field you can only go so fast and with a hydrostat it is easy to slow and speed up as warranted.