Rotary Cutter 60" or 72" for 27 PTO HP?

[Hipomus]

I'm buying a Yanmar YT235. It will be my first tractor and I would like some opinions on what size rotary cutter/brush hog to buy.

The dealership has Ironcraft(aka Titan) and the 72" is rated for 30-50 PTO HP. The tractor has 27.

My problem is that I'm getting wheel spacers(I don't like how narrow these newer tractors are, especially since I'm getting a cab) so the 60" won't cover the footprint.

I'm assuming these manufacturers are rounding up required horsepower(to cover their butts and for a nice round number), but there's no way to know. Do you guys think I'll be ok with the 6 footer?

Alternatively, I could get a 5 footer and adjust the 3 point to run it to one side. I'd need to get it 4ish inches over to cover the wheel, though I'd like to get it further it possible. I've seen older threads talking about doing this but no one has said exactly how far they've managed to move it over. I know it will vary by tractor, but I wonder what I could reasonably expect?

I'd really prefer the 6' option, but I also want it to work properly.

Thanks!

 

[fidowanttobe]

I have a 28 HP pto diesel manual tranny tractor and it handles a 60" brush hog no problem and if I could I would gladly swap it for a 72" however I don't use it enough anymore to justify the upgrade.
Now I mostly run a 84" finish mower.
Really depends on how tall and thick it is and how fast you want it done.

 

[sea2summit]

General rule of thumb is 5hp/ft of cutter but there are many variables. How thick is the material you're cutting? Tall grass or is there woody weeds or saplings as well? How's the terriain? Hills suck power, you already mention wheel spacers so that's an indicator.

For me, I wouldn't run a 6' cutter on a 27PTO HP machine. But if you're cutting light material (basically just heavy mowing) on mostly flat ground you should be fine if you go slow.

 

[2manyrocks]

I was running a lightweight 6' cutter on a 35hp Mahindra 3525 gear drive, but tall vegetation would choke it unless I raised the cutter up or slowed down.

Got to be careful with what cutter weight relative to your tractor's weight, especially if hills are involved. Even a lightweight 6' cutter is pretty heavy just because of the size of the deck.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

With a hydro trans you have infinite speeds, with gear drive, you don’t, so going to large would then be an issue.

 

[Hipomus]

General rule of thumb is 5hp/ft of cutter but there are many variables. How thick is the material you're cutting? Tall grass or is there woody weeds or saplings as well? How's the terriain? Hills suck power, you already mention wheel spacers so that's an indicator.

For me, I wouldn't run a 6' cutter on a 27PTO HP machine. But if you're cutting light material (basically just heavy mowing) on mostly flat ground you should be fine if you go slow.

My land is about as flat as it comes, I just don't like the height/width ratio with these tractors. I figure it's worth $450 to be on the safe side.

The grass can get pretty tall but I'll maintain it well enough after the first cut. It was a hay field before I bought it. With the little forest area that I can touch(wetland) I'll clear up anything sizeable with a stump bucket or by hand.

I'd think I should be fine, I just don't want something that barely works.

 

[scootr]

A 72" flail would require less power to run and they are easily offset so you only have one tire in the cut. Don't settle for whatever the dealer has in stock. Look around. And enjoy the new tractor.

 

[2manyrocks]

You also want to factor in the amount of acres you plan to cut and how much time it will require based on your ground speed and effective cutting width. Here is a mowing per acres calculator. Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

I usually estimate no more than about 5 mph will be possible due to rough fields and obstacles. You also lose effective cutting width due to overlap.

 

[scootr]

Also I'm not sure if the Cab has to figured into the tractors load when determining how much mower it can handle.
I over-faced my Skid Steer (60" bucket) with a 72" brush hog and ended up buying a second 60" to use in thicker brush. The 72 would bog down or stop (hydraulic drive).
This was an expensive lesson.

 

[ruffdog]

The 5 foot one.