B Series and rotary cutter size...

[amstaff]

Hi! I was curious what size rotary cutter one of the smaller B series tractors could handle. Specifically, would the B2320DT run a 5' light (or medium) duty rotary cutter??? I already have a utility tractor and run a 10' heavy duty lift type rotary cutter, but would really like a small tractor with smaller cutter to get into all the places I can't go with the bigger tractor and cutter. It would be used exclusively mowing horse pasture.... read: grass only.

So does anyone have any first hand experience running a B2320DT with a 5' rotary cutter? How about a B2620 with a 5 footer? I'm looking at one of these specifically because of low cost and a cash deal. I'm sure a L2800 may be better suited, but it comes at a greater expense. One more thing, it would have a loader on it as well... that should help with some of the weight of the rotary cutter on such a small tractor.

Well, what do you think?

Regards,

Amstaff

 

[SSdoxie]

I used to have a B8200D rated at 16 PTO HP and bought a 4' for it. After I got things cut down the first time I could have easily run a 5' for maintenance as far as HP goes. A 4' medium duty was about all it wanted to handle weight wise, try to swing it around making turns, etc.

 

[maximus1277]

I run a 5 ft brush hog on my B2320 DT. No issues.

 

[amstaff]

Thanks for the info!

I was checking out the dimensions on the B2320, and it almost appears that the tractor (no loader) will fit in the back of a fullsize pickup bed. Anyone done this?

Amstaff

 

[Verticaltrx]

Thanks for the info!

I was checking out the dimensions on the B2320, and it almost appears that the tractor (no loader) will fit in the back of a fullsize pickup bed. Anyone done this?

Amstaff

Yes, it will. I've hauled a B7610 in the bed of my F-250, no trouble whatsoever. I think even my B3200 would fit with the tailgate down.

As for the rotary cutter, I'd really want a 4' unit. I use a 5' on my B3200 and it is plenty of cutter weight and size wise for that tractor. I'd think it may be too much for a B2320. HP isn't the only thing you need to take into consideration. :thumbsup:

 

[SDT]

Hi! I was curious what size rotary cutter one of the smaller B series tractors could handle. Specifically, would the B2320DT run a 5' light (or medium) duty rotary cutter??? I already have a utility tractor and run a 10' heavy duty lift type rotary cutter, but would really like a small tractor with smaller cutter to get into all the places I can't go with the bigger tractor and cutter. It would be used exclusively mowing horse pasture.... read: grass only.

So does anyone have any first hand experience running a B2320DT with a 5' rotary cutter? How about a B2620 with a 5 footer? I'm looking at one of these specifically because of low cost and a cash deal. I'm sure a L2800 may be better suited, but it comes at a greater expense. One more thing, it would have a loader on it as well... that should help with some of the weight of the rotary cutter on such a small tractor.

Well, what do you think?

Regards,

Amstaff

Mower size depends upon tractor PTO HP, tractor and mower weight and, especially, what you plan to mow and how quickly and often you plan to mow it.

The well established rule of thumb is 5 PTO HP per foot of cutter size. I've been mowing with dozens of tractor/mower combinations for over 40 years and consider this to be a MINIMUM rather than optimum suggestion.

Bottom line: If you plan to use a 5' cutter with your 2320, you will need a LIGHT mower, front weights if your ground is not level (mandatory if you remove the FEL), and you will not mow anything but light cover very quickly.

Dean

 

[BeezFun]

Hi! I was curious what size rotary cutter one of the smaller B series tractors could handle.

My B2710 pulls my 5' bush hog and a 5' trail mower attached to the back of the bush hog with no problem.

One more thing, it would have a loader on it as well... that should help with some of the weight of the rotary cutter on such a small tractor.

I wouldn't leave the loader on, it really beats up the front end when you're traveling at mowing speeds over anything except a sod farm. There isn't much weight from a mower when the rear wheel is down. If you have to transport it a long way with the wheel up maybe you need to rethink it a little.

 

[RobertN]

Too many variables...

As another poster, I had a B8200HSTD for a long time; it was an awesome tractor, except the pto hp was a little lacking. In very light stuff, the 4' mower did ok. It physically could lift it etc. In anything but very light grass, it was underpowered. I would have never used a 5' on mine though. I thought the PTO was too lacking, and you could never go slow enough. Sometimes, if the stuff is thick, you just slow down, but not in this case.

The current tractor is 40hp, and has power to spare running a 6' mower.

Having had limited HP, and now having plenty, I definitely agree with the informal guideline of 5pto-hp per foot of rotary mower.... By that calculation, that old('85) B8200 should have had a 3' mower...

For a 5' mower, I would want at least 25hp on the PTO.

The hard part though, is how tough is your mowing? I have thin to extremely thick grass, and brush up to 2" or so(sometimes thick brush). Is it hilly, or flat? I take care of my Dad's 8 acres; it is flat but has some of the toughest grass I have ever seen... It is generally easy in the thinner grass I have here, even when I get in to some brush. My Dad's flat land mowing looks like it should be easy, but that grass is tough. It doesn't help that he lets it go a bit too...

 

[unbidden]

I have a BX2660 and run a 60" LandPride with no cutting issues at all. That being said, my 2660 has a few more hp's to the rear pto than does the B2320DT.

 

[RobertN]

Just looked the B2320 up; 17hp on the PTO... Based on past experience with 16pto-hp, that is way underpowered for a 5' rotary mower.

You guys must have a lot easier mowing than I do(albeit, my hardest mowing is at my Dad's, and my schedule doesn't let me get there frequently enough, so sometimes the pasture is tall...).

I'd be looking at a B3030, or B3200. Even those are only in the 23pto-hp range.

Having been underpowered before(B8200 was a GREAT tractor otherwise, tough, built like tank), I would not go short on power unless I was significantly budget restrained(which is why I do not have TnT on the current tractor).