Best older 7' rotary cutter

[LD1]

A seller on Tractorhouse has a Bush Hog 297 for $800. These have a 130HP gear box, 15,000FPM blade speed and weigh over 1300 lbs. Rated to cut 3"

I called about this one yesterday. Already sold, but had a busted stump jumper and according to them, it would cost $1200 to repair. So it was indeed a case of too good to be true.

Still looking though

 

[Zebrafive]

Maybe? Just think with shipping its gonna push it up to prices similar to whats currently available in my area. At the risk of not being able to see it first.

I gotta sit down and spreadsheet out some specs that I can find on some of these cutters.
Bushhog 287, 297, 307, etc
Landpride 1884, 2084, 2584, 2684, etc
Woods 84, 84x, bb84, bb840, etc

Need to see how they all stack up. Weight, Gearbox HP rating, deck and skirt thickness, and blade speed are probably the most important

For your spread sheet. In this order Weight, Gear box HP, Deck/skirt, Tip speed, plus rated cut capacity:

Bush hog 287 1127 110hp 10ga/ 1/4" 14,514fpm 2 1/2"
Bush hog 297 1328 130hp 10ga/ 1/4" 15,268fpm 3"


Woods BB84 1084 90hp ? /? 15,086fpm 2"

Woods BB840 1416 120hp 10ga/ 1/4" 16,000fpm 3"

You must have a trailer . . . road trip might be a good option fuel wouldn't be that bad . . . :confused3:

It would be longer trip than I would want to make.

I called about this one yesterday. Already sold, but had a busted stump jumper and according to them, it would cost $1200 to repair. So it was indeed a case of too good to be true.

Still looking though

No mention in the ad, they should have disclosed.

 

[LD1]

Yea, pretty crappy of them not to disclose. ALOT of people use tractorhouse to get a feel for what stuff is worth. And it looked like a good cutter. I honestly thought they just forgot a 1 in front of the price or something and was an honest typo.

There is still the 717 around me. But can't find any info on them at all. Still got the sq840 close too. But would prefer something a tad heavier than 900#.

There is an old bushhog 307 near. I had a 306 and they are tanks. But 1700# may be a tad much, and they are a SLOW blade speed. 11k fpm.

Seen some frontier 2084's too for a decent price. Weight and specs put them on par with many others that are rated at a 2" cut capacity. Maybe frontier is conservative when they rate it for 1" and smaller?

See some mx7's though. Man is everyone proud of them. I see 5-10 year old ones listed for $4500+/-

And even some of the woods, landpride, bushhog, etc. Seeing 2500-3000 prices is a tough pill to swallow when a guy can buy a brand new Titan 1607, 100hp gearbox, 1325#, 7ga top deck, dual wheel....for $2600.

Sure, Titan, Kodiak, etc arent as good on the upper end of things like woods, landpride, bushhog, etc. But comparing economy models, like the bb84, 1884, or the sq840....I thing they can hold their own.

Still just waiting on that "right" deal on the "right" cutter to show up here local. Not in any hurry

 

[Zebrafive]

I agree the sq840 is light duty. Built more for pastures that have not got any brush in them, more grass and weeds.
The only light/medium one I like would be the Woods BB84, at least it has a 90HP gear box.
The JD MX series have been having output shaft failures, the shaft breaking where a snap ring groove has been cut. I would not buy any MX series.
About all I can tell you about the 717 is the older ones below serial number 6000 used a Comer gear box like Woods uses. Output shaft is 2". The blade holder to output shaft uses a bolt rather than the castle nut/cotter pin Woods uses. Probably compares to Woods BB84 gear box?

JD also had a 709 which was heavier built/duty than the 717

 

[LD1]

I agree the sq840 is light duty. Built more for pastures that have not got any brush in them, more grass and weeds.
The only light/medium one I like would be the Woods BB84, at least it has a 90HP gear box.
The JD MX series have been having output shaft failures, the shaft breaking where a snap ring groove has been cut. I would not buy any MX series.
About all I can tell you about the 717 is the older ones below serial number 6000 used a Comer gear box like Woods uses. Output shaft is 2". The blade holder to output shaft uses a bolt rather than the castle nut/cotter pin Woods uses. Probably compares to Woods BB84 gear box?

JD also had a 709 which was heavier built/duty than the 717

I just wish I could find some specs on the 717 and 709 but I seem to be coming up empty. Blade speed, weight, cut capacity, gearbox rating, etc. I think 1500# would be max I would want

 

[countrybumpkin]

May or may not help.

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you are not going to cut real heavy brush the squeeler is fine. The 307's... At their age...some of the gearbox parts may no longer be available. With your mechanical skills you can fix plaything. Just make sure that the parts support is there. You have a really good list.

 

[Zebrafive]

JD 709 John Deere lists as HD/Commercial. 1381lbs, Deck is 4.5mm (.179") same as 7ga, skirt 6mm (.236") just under 1/4" , 100HP gear box (BB84 is 90HP) 16,061fpm blade tip speed. JD used several gear boxes over the years, so HP and tip speed may vary. JD says 100HP continuous, 150HP peak. I have not seen others rate their gear boxes that way.


JD 717 John Deere lists as Medium Duty. 1061lbs, 80HP gear box (BB84 is 90HP) , 3.5mm deck (.135") same as 10ga, skirt 4.5mm (.179") same as 7ga, 14520fpm blade tip speed.


JD MX7 John Deere lists as "Mid Duty" 1332lbs, 54HP continuous/92HP peak gear box, Deck is double two 4mm (.140") (hence the weight) , skirt 6mm (.240"), 17542fpm blade tip speed GEARBOX is the WEAK LINK! Blade speed seems too high for me.


Frontier RC2084 John Deere lists as Standard Duty. 1100lbs, 90HP gear box, Deck 3mm (.110) same as 11ga, Skirt 3.5mm (.135) same as 10ga, 14,995fpm blade tip speed.


JD 717 "looks" too light duty to me, since you say, you mow commercial. Same reason I would not get the BH Squealer (commercial use).


Of the JDs, my only choice would be the 709, if you can find a good one.


Another thing you will find on light/medium duty cutters is the tail wheel hub has bushings, not bearings. Something to check/think about.

 

[Zebrafive]

I forgot to add cut capacity
RC2084 1"
MX7 2"
717 2"
709 4" MY FIRST PICK

 

[LD1]

Thanks Zebra, that fills in some of the blanks.

The puzzling standout looking at my spreadsheet thus far is the DEERE 709.

Seems across all MFG's there are TWO options for top and sides. Either 10ga deck or 7ga.....and either 7ga sides or 1/4"

Three "bushhogs" have the 7ga top and 1/4" side signaling true heavy duty. 307, 327, and 417. 3" and 4" cut capacities. 1700, 1950, and 2000# respectively. ALl too heavy for my MX.

ONE offering from Landpride compares . rc3684, 4" capacity, 7ga deck, again, 2000#.
ONE woods, the BB8400x, 7ga, 4" cut capacity, 1800#
Rhino has ONE....the 484. 7ga, 4" capacity....1823#.

EVERYTHING else on my lists, All the bushhogs (287,297,sq840, bh217, bh317, bh27, sq184) All are 10ga decks, range from 925# (squealer) to 1461# (297) and 2"-3" cut ratings

All the Landprides (1884, 2084, 2584, 2684, 2784) 10ga decks, 2" cut ratings, 851 -1400 pounds
The woods BB84 and 840 are 11ga and 10ga.....1000# and 1400#
The rhinos, (184, 284, tw27, tw84) all 10ga or lighter, and 1100-1300#.

SO......everyone else throws on a 7ga top deck, BIG gearbox, 1/4" sides to boast a 4" cut capacity.....and this pushes weight up to ~1800+ pounds

SO....how does deere go to the heavy 7ga top.....1/4" sides, and 4" rating like everyone else.....but manage to stay 500 pounds lighter?.