Difference between Alamo SH88 and SHD88

[JoeBo]

I've just decided that I'd like a rough cut flail mower for keeping 8 - 10 acres of old grown up weeds looking a little better. I had been looking at an MC88 but with some help from Halftrack, I decided against it and to stick with Alamo. Anyway, I've come across some SH88 and SHD88 mowers and can't seem to find out what the differences are. I believe the SHD series stands for Super Heavy Duty. Does anyone know the difference between these two?

Also, what are your thoughts on a Ford 917? I seem to see a few of them. Thanks.

 

[Fallon]

I picked up an old 7' 719 a while back for $100. A new PTO shaft, new knives & belts ran about $400. Then I found the hood was dented so that the previous owner had removed knives as they were striking the hood. A weekend with the plasma cutter & welding a few patches on fixed that. There is still a 1-2' crack in the hood that is probably a source of a lot of noise.

Despite being such a beater, I still use it over my LandPride 5' rotary cutter I bought new 2 years ago. Better cut, less scalping, wider & more manuverable with the offset & shorter impliment. I'd recomend one if you don't mind a bit of work to get some tired iron back in shape & can score one for a good price. I doubt the 917s are in the same league as some of those beefier flails like the Alamos though.