Brush hog advice

[RoyJackson]

I don't use the upper link so the total weight is not an issue. The heavier duty Buhler has much more weight to swing than the smaller cutter so I have to watch what I'm doing more. I have the 72" belly mower sticking out the side so I thought I might as well get the same size cutter to use. I grew up using a 5 ft woods Dixie cutter on the back of a ford 8n and 801.

I notice that the 6 ft has a higher tip speed so it cuts cleaner than the 5 ft cutter. The cutters take less HP to run than the finish belly mower so I can travel faster.

(Bolded text) I think you got that backwards, Brother...cutters require more PTO HP then a same sized finishing mower. Check out some of the implement manufacturers' web site for PTO HP recommendations.

As far as your first paragraph...I normally use the top link but there are a few sections I disconnect it so the cutter can pivot (about the lower link pins) at abrupt changes such as slopes or embankments.
For you folks who try this, just make sure the PTO drive shaft has enough overlap so it doesn't come apart when you back it over a ditch.
Another time I disconnect the top link is when I transport the cutter. I don't raise the cutter...I tow it using the tail wheel. I'm only traveling a hundred yards or so and I would not do this if I was transporting on a road.

 

[ruffdog]

No, I didn't get it wrong. I can definitly mow faster with the cutter than using the mid mount mower. It doesn't look near as nice but it sure is faster. Not only that, but the cutter rides the field better than the rollers of a finish mower. The neighbors 5' cutter didn't cut worth a darn either until I sharpened the blades for him. Maybe check your blades?????

 

[LD1]

A 5' rotary cutter requires more HP than a 5' finish mower IF THEY are being used to full potential.

IE: a 5 foot mower mowing a lawn vs a 5' cutter in a field that hadn't been touched for 6 years.

But if you are using a cutter to just knock down some 10' grass/weeds, yes that takes less HP than with 5' RFM.

 

[stevewatr]

Ran the cutter yesterday for giggles, no major issues I can see. Here is a video of the walk around I did yesterday pointing out the issues I do have to address. Suggestions/comments are always welcome.

Here is the video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_1UuSd9nXM]Old Bush hog model 305 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Hollow]

The removable sidebands are for cutting hay. Take them off and it will sling the grass clear without mulching it.

 

[ruffdog]

Good video Steve! Here is a pic of the Behlen I bought last year up on blocks for the winter. You can see I took all the upper link stuff off because I don't need it. They list it as weighing in at 830 lbs.

Most of the cutters will have a certian amount of play in the upper link brackets so when you raise your 3pt the front of the deck raises first, then the back will raise up. Yours almost looked like it doesn't have that play. You need that for going through gullys and over bumps so the mower can follow the terrain.

 

[Soundguy]

A 5' rotary cutter requires more HP than a 5' finish mower IF THEY are being used to full potential.

IE: a 5 foot mower mowing a lawn vs a 5' cutter in a field that hadn't been touched for 6 years.

But if you are using a cutter to just knock down some 10' grass/weeds, yes that takes less HP than with 5' RFM.

that's contrary to what I've observed.

most situations spec that you can run a 1' LARGER finish mower vs rough mower.. thus menaing the finish mowers take less hp per foot.

tall stemmy weeds are WAY easier to cut that lush grass.

as for thick lawn.. the longer the grass.. the more a finish mower struggles.. and the more hp it eats.. till you hit abuse levels

in the end.. specific condition, tractor setup and mower build will all have a hand in how it plays out though.. some mowers are more efficient than others.

i've seen some finish mowers that were hd enough to be rough mowers.. etc..

 

[greg_g]

that's contrary to what I've observed.

Agreed, because "...IF THEY are used to full potential" is a nebulous qualifier at best. I'm not actually sure what that even means.

It's a long accepted precept that finish mowers require fewer horsepower per foot of cutting swath than do rotary cutters - when both machines are used iaw their respective manufacturer instructions. That said, I suppose some folks could be fooled into believing the opposite - if they use said machines for tasks they were never designed for.

//greg//

 

[LD1]

What I am trying to say (and I think ruffdog is trying to say too) is:

If you are not worried too much about cut quality, and are always going to be mowing say 6-8" grass back down to 3-4", a rotary cutter will do so at a faster ground speed and less load on the engine than a RFM.

So basically, mowing 8" grass with a RFM is pusing its limits. But toward the bottom of the limits of a RC.

When I am using the cutter and cutting the field pretty low, and havent mowed the yard for a week or so, and make a turn in the yard, It clips the grass in the yard off pretty nicely like it isnt there. Cutting it to the same height with a RFM would require a slower ground speed.

So I think what ruffdog is saying (and I agree) is that if you have a field with 6-8" grass that needs mowed, it can be done faster with a RC than a RFM, but you do give up a little cut quality

 

[ruffdog]

LD1...that is exactly what I was trying to say!

 

[greg_g]

Now you guys are rewriting history. What Chris and I disagreed with is your apparent mutual contention that "A 5' rotary cutter requires more HP than a 5' finish mower". Gonna be pretty hard to back-pedal you way outa that one. Woulda been much simpler to just say "Oops, I was wrong", and move on.

//greg//

 

[LD1]

Now you guys are rewriting history. What Chris and I disagreed with is your apparent mutual contention that "A 5' rotary cutter requires more HP than a 5' finish mower". Gonna be pretty hard to back-pedal you way outa that one. Woulda been much simpler to just say "Oops, I was wrong", and move on.

//greg//

Not sure what that is supposed to mean

What we are saying is pretty simple: If you use a RC to do the job of a finish mower, you can mow faster than with the RFM, and not bog down the tractor nearly as much.

 

[stevewatr]

Now you guys are rewriting history. What Chris and I disagreed with is your apparent mutual contention that "A 5' rotary cutter requires more HP than a 5' finish mower". Gonna be pretty hard to back-pedal you way outa that one. Woulda been much simpler to just say "Oops, I was wrong", and move on.

//greg//

The way they explain it, I don't think they ae wrong, so why admit to somthing your not??

 

[greg_g]

The way they explain it, I don't think they ae wrong, so why admit to somthing your not??

Ok, I'm wrong. Some of their examples of how and where to use a RC versus a RM stretched the imagination to the point where I lost track of the message. Extrapolating from the 5hp rule, a rotary cutter does in fact require more horsepower than a finish mower of the same swath. Guess I just went off the tracks when they started mowing 10' weeds with a FM.

//greg//

 

[LD1]

Ok, I'm wrong. Some of their examples of how and where to use a RC versus a RM stretched the imagination to the point where I lost track of the message. Extrapolating from the 5hp rule, a rotary cutter does in fact require more horsepower than a finish mower of the same swath. Guess I just went off the tracks when they started mowing 10' weeds with a FM.

//greg//

Just dont understand why some people got to act like this^^^:confused2::confused2:

It's pretty simple. A RC and a RFM are designed for two totally different things. And under normal circumstances, a RFM does require less HP per foot.

But there in that grey area, (8-10" stuff) that is pretty light work for a RC, but pretty heavy for a RFM. In is in THIS stuff that a RFM sucks up more of the power. And RC can go at a much master ground speed.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Just dont understand why some people got to act like this^^^:confused2::confused2:

#1 reason why engineers should stick to their particular field of expertise. #1 reason why theory, "rule of thumb", and sales propaganda "specifications" need to all be taken with a grain of salt.

Attempting to appear "smarter than one really is" based on liberal use of above generally results in just the opposite effect.

 

[LD1]

#1 reason why engineers should stick to their particular field of expertise. #1 reason why theory, "rule of thumb", and sales propaganda "specifications" need to all be taken with a grain of salt.

Attempting to appear "smarter than one really is" based on liberal use of above generally results in just the opposite effect.

All of these complexly worded posts that a simple guy like me just doesnt understand.

Is that post directed at me? or Greg? is it even a negative post?

Who knows. Who cares.

Let me ask you FWJ, since you to a ton of "hogging".

In a feild that is 10" grass, can you cut it down to 4" quicker with a RC or RFM

 

[Farmwithjunk]

All of these complexly worded posts that a simple guy like me just doesnt understand.

Is that post directed at me? or Greg? is it even a negative post?

Who knows. Who cares.

Let me ask you FWJ, since you to a ton of "hogging".

In a feild that is 10" grass, can you cut it down to 4" quicker with a RC or RFM

Answer to first question, NO, it wasn't directed towards you.

In an attempt to answer your final question, if I was taking 6" off of an already 10" tall field of grass, there would be no finish mower in my plan.....

 

[LD1]

In an attempt to answer your final question, if I was taking 6" off of an already 10" tall field of grass, there would be no finish mower in my plan.....

Thats my thoughts too. And we both know why:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

i can't imaging subjecting a finish mower to tall grass.. just wasn't designed for it.. it's abusive..

soundguy