Rotary Cutter Do rotary mowers mulch?

hoytp · Jul 30, 2012

I looked at a 60" Countyline rotary mower at TSC the other day. The blades were tilted some 20 degrees to horizontal, in the direction that would provide an updraft when mowing. The blades on my 1993 Bushhog Squealer are horizontal.

Is there in fact a mulching effect with the TSC mower? I'm thinking mainly of the big clumps of long grass that accumulate when I let bush-hogging go too long. Thanks for any ideas.

brin · Jul 30, 2012

I don't know about TSC rotary mowers but my Bush Hog brand Bushog 60 in, squeeler sure is a mulcher...it is close in on all sides front of mower, back and sides and has lifting mulching blades...it does not leave any windrow no matter , at least so far, how high my grass has been and it has been up over the front of my tractor...4 ft. or so...

Stick895 · Jul 30, 2012

If there isn't much of a discharge chute I assume there is at least some mulching effect. But I think the blades are angled more for creating an updraft effect to give a better cut, with mulchinga secondary benefit.

hoytp · Jul 31, 2012

Thanks. That's very helpful. I'll give it a try. There is some room between the blade and the deck which may allow the cut grass to clear.

gwdixon · Jul 31, 2012

Some grape farmers in California run a rotary cutter up the rows to mulch the pruned grape vines. I have run mine through eucalyptus orchards to chew up the pruning and downed bark/twigs. Works great.

A pile of grass may be another story. A L3650 I had would bog down pretty easily with grass piles. If I did it again I'd approach the pile(s) very slowly to let the mower digest the grass a bit at a time. That probably won't spread it as much as you would like.

The blades would tend to rotate back out of the way as the heavy grass piles were encountered. Centering the pile/windrows on the center of the cutter may help to spread the grass a bit better.

Haven't heard from member, farmwithjunk, for a while but he would be a good one to respond since he mows commercially.

Zebrafive · Jul 31, 2012

If you run the front of the cutter a little higher than the rear you will get a mulching effect. The front cutts a little higher and when the rear gets there it cuts a little more off. Takes more HP than to cut wth the rear of the cutter higher than the front.

hoytp · Jul 31, 2012

Interesting. Thanks. My 1993 L3650 has begun running hot, and it occurs to me that mulching will take more power than just cutting with a flat blade. Also, running the mower faster will help with the updraft, and that's when the welds on the mower separate a bit more when I hit a stump.

Maybe I need farmwithjunk for more than one reason.

clemsonfor · Jul 31, 2012

FarmwithJunk has been down with some health issues. You can read about it here.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...248227-anybody-heard-farmwithjunk-lately.html

But my Jbar rotary mower has upturned blades and it sure leaves a windrow, there is a bit of mulching effect but it sure leaves clumps and wind rows.

90cummins · Aug 1, 2012

I installed 2 sets of high lift blades (two blades mounted together) on my RM59-3 mower with a huge improvement in cut quality and mulching.
I found that I can run the PTO at a reduced speed and still obtain a better cut while using less fuel.
Also if you do this install the old blade on the bottom as this will protect the new blade if you hit an obstacle.
The only possible drawback is the increased force of the discharged clippings if people are in the vicinity.
I run 2 sets of blades on my 52” walk behind with excellent results also.