Batwing mower

[leonz]

If you are cropping this land and have that many glacial rocks from frost heaving you should rent
or buy a rock picker to dig them out and rent out the rock picker for extra income.

 

[Gomer pyle]

My intention is to buy more land. All bushhogging is for myself or my dad. I am capable of working on/rebuilding, as I have multiple times. Although I really don't want to start out with reattaching a deck first thing, been there done that. I know bladetip makes a huge difference in cut quality. I do plan to stay away from Titan, etc.. but each brand has good/bad models. Also, I know JD, Landpride, Bushhog, Schulte are all good brands but what about Rhino, Alamo, and so forth. Mechanical soundness about build quality are different.

 

[Gomer pyle]

I do not intend to crop any of it. Pasture clipping and my dad owns a rough hillside farm

 

[K5lwq]

My brother only buys Rhino mowers and swears by them. I have always used BushHog brand. There are plenty of good brands out there but at some point it is personal preference based on what your experience has been or what is commonly seen in your market. I would not be afraid of any of those brands.

 

[diesel85]

My brother only buys Rhino mowers and swears by them. I have always used BushHog brand. There are plenty of good brands out there but at some point it is personal preference based on what your experience has been or what is commonly seen in your market. I would not be afraid of any of those brands.

I tend to go by what I've had better/easier luck repairing.

 

[jaxs]

I am capable of working on/rebuilding, as I have multiple times. Although I really don't want to start out with reattaching a deck first thing, been there done that.

i would never guessed it simply based on questions you asked. i was born on a farm almost 80 years ago and been involved since. The ONLY people I know that can say they have rebuilt multiple rotary mowers are mechanics working in shops for corporate operations. Outside of replacing u-joints,blades,stump jumpers and seals I think I've overhauled 2 mowers in my entire life and that's par for neighbors. We primarily have used FMC and Service which I cand tell from feeling gear lash while turning by hand if gears are worn or loose. I can't say the same for others which I have less experience. With your extensive experience rebuilding mowers I think you only need to know what a mower sells for new to judge remaining life and value of used units. I'd like having you with me if I were looking at used mowers.

 

[Gomer pyle]

i would never guessed it simply based on questions you asked. i was born on a farm almost 80 years ago and been involved since. The ONLY people I know that can say they have rebuilt multiple rotary mowers are mechanics working in shops for corporate operations. Outside of replacing u-joints,blades,stump jumpers and seals I think I've overhauled 2 mowers in my entire life and that's par for neighbors. We primarily have used FMC and Service which I cand tell from feeling gear lash while turning by hand if gears are worn or loose. I can't say the same for others which I have less experience. With your extensive experience rebuilding mowers I think you only need to know what a mower sells for new to judge remaining life and value of used units. I'd like having you with me if I were looking at used mowers.

I've only been around a few brands. I try not to tie myself to only my knowledge. Older hands with more experience have saved me in the past. Parts availability is a huge problem with some brands. A notorious problem on a certain brand that is covered up or currently correct is not something I can know about.
My post was intended to start conversation about positive experiences with XYZ brand or notorious problems with ABC brand

 

[jaxs]

I don't have extensive experience other the two mentioned earlier. Both met my expectations other than FMC parts becoming hard to find. About all I can add that might help you is weigh your sources carefully before hanging you hat and wallet on their reviews and recommendations. For instance, I don't put a lot of stock in reviews by people who sing praises for Harbor Freight.

 

[workinonit]

My cousin has a road maintenance mowing service that does highway grass cutting for the state. He has literally tried all the brands and he says the JD 15 foot cutters hold up the best of any of them. All of them wear out after a while. He has a graveyard of them at his equipment shed.

 

[McCaskey]

The downside of my batwing mower is the turning radius of the tractor. A spinning PTO with universal joints can't be turned in less than a 100' radius without blowing up the universal joints on the driveshaft or tractor PTO bearings.