8 Ft Bushhog to big for 50 HP Tractor?

[jbwalls]

I have a Mahindra 5035. This tractor has (according to the spec sheet) 43 HP at the PTO.
I am looking to up size on my rotary cutter. I currently have a 6 ft that my tractor handles easily, but it is light weight and a regular POS.
So i am looking to up size and get a better quality cutter. I am cutting about 40 acres of pasture land.

I am looking at a Bush hog 2308 3 point cutter. This cutter's specs call for 45 HP.

My question is this. Will my tractor handle this or is it going to be too large? I understand i can go with a pull behind or a semi pull behind and i can probably do those with my tractor.

Thanks for advice!

 

[goeduck]

Are you just trimming the pastures? I would say you would be fine trimming pastures that were already grazed down. But it would bog down in heavier cutting if you ever needed to do that.

 

[jbwalls]

Yes. Trimming some of the grass (sage or water grass) that doesn't get eaten and/or weeds.
Plan on cutting twice a year. so it shouldn't ever get too high.

 

[Rustyiron]

You'll be fine power wise, but I would suggest a pull behind for the weight.

 

[LD1]

Should be just fine even with a lift type.

I run a 1620 pound woods ds96 on my 3800# (bare tractor) mx5100. It's real light in the front with the cutter in the air....and I wouldn't go uphill with cutter raised.

But in mowing operation ...half of that weight is in the tailwheels and no problems mowing uphill.

You have a tractor that is a good 1000-1200 pounds heavier ier. And the 2308 is about the same weight. So I don't see any issues at all.

As to power, I have HST so gan go infinitely slow....but even in thick stiff I have rarely had to go slower than 3-3.5 mph

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have a Ford roughly the same size and I am considering the same size mower. I've ran a 7' single spindle bushhog on steep ground and thick brush/grass. I experienced a lighter front end when I raised it compared to a 6' on the hills but it was still manageable. In regards to power I could have used a few more horses but I was still in the same gear and cutting the same height as when I had a 6' bushhog on the same grass and hill.
That being said I would like to find an 8' mower myself, typically they are a twin spindle design and don't hang out as far so they may be easier to manage than a 7' mower, I may have to slow down a bit but I think at the right speed it would work just fine.

For clipping pastures I wish I had a 12' pull behind.

 

[skipperbrown]

My FIL has a 65hp NH and a Frontier 8' cutter. I am amazed how fast he can pull it through fields that get cut once a year. I think you will be fine if the weight is ok. The 8' cutter is a hoss. You don't kick it around to get it lined up for hookup!

 

[ruffdog]

You'll be fine power wise, but I would suggest a pull behind for the weight.

I agree, at least LOOK at the pull behind models and do a test drive! If you use a big 3 point cutter on pastures, it doesn't mean you have to hook up the top link. I mowed for years never using the top link....just keep the tail wheel lubed.

 

[LD1]

. The 8' cutter is a hoss. You don't kick it around to get it lined up for hookup!

This size tractor and mower.....a cat II quickhitch is almost a requirement

 

[bilrus61]

The specs call for a 45 HP for a lift and 36 for the pull. Will be the same mowing they just want a bigger tractor to handle the weight on the 3pt hitch. I used the very heavy duty Rhino tw96 behind a Kubota L4200 with 37 pto HP for years and it did fine but would get that engine a bit warm in the thicker ragweeds in the bottom near the creek.

That is a lighter duty 8 foot cutter and I think your tractor would lift it fine. If not just run it simi mount as a previous poster said, leave off the toplink. So much easier to mow the nooks and crannies with a mounted cutter instead of a pull behind. I ran my Rhino simi-mounted with a hydrolic cylinder but I never adjusted it once I found the height I wanted on the real wheel. Oh and as stated you have to really lub the rear wheel axles and hubs if you run simi mounted. Every 20 hours or so. Good luck.