I have 37 acres, 29 which are CRP grass-land. I have a new King Kutter 72" rotary tiller and will be purchasing a John Deere MX6 72" rotary cutter. I would like to get feedback from others whether or not a 2012 John Deere 4120 e-hydro (43hp, 35ptohp) would be sufficient. My thoughts are that a 4320 is another $2000, which I could use to purchase other implements. Probably buying within the next week. Thanks for your input.
Buying Advice 4120 sufficient MX6 cutter/KK 72"tiller?
- Thread starter MikePet
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RJD2516
Bronze Member
I run a 72" KK tiller on my L3800. 38hp, 32 at PTO. Runs it great. However, if the ground is real hard, I run it at half depth. Then, if so desired, I run it at full depth (which I never do, because it just gets to soft). So, if you want to run full depth on unturned soil on the first path, it might bog down a little. But not much.
The mower is a no brainer. It will easily handle it.
The mower is a no brainer. It will easily handle it.
LD1
Epic Contributor
You should be fine. I have a L3400 (29HP PTO) and run a 6' cutter and have ran a 60" tiller. No problems out of either.
The added HP would allow you to go a tad faster ground speed, but if you are fine doing work a tad slower, those implements will be just fine. Tilling you want to go slow anyway to get the soil really fine. So I doubt HP would be an issue there anyway.
The added HP would allow you to go a tad faster ground speed, but if you are fine doing work a tad slower, those implements will be just fine. Tilling you want to go slow anyway to get the soil really fine. So I doubt HP would be an issue there anyway.
couchsachraga
Gold Member
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What are you cutting with the MX6? I tackle grass as well as small brush (under 2" or so, typically under 1" actually) and was recommended against the MX7... with a 4520. Dealer said grass would be OK, but getting and keeping a MX7 spinning would take all the 4520 had... which makes me wonder how the MX6 would work with your 4120 if you tackle much brush.
I had a 5' woods Brush Bull with my Yanmar (27 PTO hp or so IIRC) it worked fine but I did have to slow down quite a bit if things were thick.
I had a 5' woods Brush Bull with my Yanmar (27 PTO hp or so IIRC) it worked fine but I did have to slow down quite a bit if things were thick.
LD1
Epic Contributor
In my experience, grass takes the most HP. It is really dense.
Brush/weeds and an occasional 1-2" sapling is nothing. But just 18" of pasture grass will bog a bushhog down in a hurry.
I'm with the consensus here, a 4120 will do just fine. Depending upon what your real needs are, you might not need that much cutter though. I got a Frontier RC20 model for my 5410 (85HP) and as you may imagine it handles it just fine. I just needed something to mow the pastures and didn't need the heavier duty model.
I will be cutting primarily light brush, less than an inch in diameter, and prairie grass. The JD MX6 is only $500 more than the Frontier RC2072 6' rotary cutter(dealer quote) so I think that is money well spent. On a side note, does anyone know if the drive-train and hydros are the same strength/durability on all the 4x20 models?
I was just mentioning what I've done, I'm not doing serious hogging of any sorts, just overgrown grass. I couldn't justify the extra money to do the same thing, sounds like you can.
It should be the same exact transmission/drivetrain throughout the 4x20's.
dusty3030
Veteran Member
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All the drive train is the same, 4520 and 4720 have economy pto is the only difference other than the horsepower.