Finish mower

[CMV]

I read (on the internet so it MUST be true) that you can run a larger finish mower than a bush hog due to lower HP requirements. Any truth to that?

Now that I've cleared out a lot with bush hog, I have larger area to mow. Tractor doesn't mind the 5' bush hog at all. What does that translate into as far as largest (widest cut) finish mower I can reasonably run?

I'm limited as far as ground speed because of rough terrain - <5mph - so wider cut path is only good way to reduce mowing time. But doesn't make sense to spend $ to get a finish mower if I'm not going to get lot more than the 5' cut I already have with bush hog. Manual says 54" rotary cutter, 60" belly mower, so maybe I should be happy that I'm already a little wider than 54"... I don't really care about it looking like it was done with a finish mower vs a bush hog. Cut is cut for my recreational land. Gets cut about every 3rd week, depending on how much rain & speed of growth.

24.4 engine HP, 18.5 HP @ PTO

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That absolutely hasn't been MY experience...

For an experiment, one time I ran a 5' rotary cutter (Bush Hog brand) on my rifle range... After cutting a while, I switched to a 5' Woods finish mower...

There's NO question that the finish mower took more power, and that's on the same day, same field and same tractor!.

SR

 

[DK35vince]

Depends on what you are trying to use the finish mower for.
If you are trying to mow field grass, finish mowers don't do well in deep grass and use a lot of power vs a brush mower.
Mow the lawn regularly (like a finish mower is meant to do) then yes you can probably run a larger finish mower than a brush mower.
I run a 6' brush mower on my 34 HP tractor for the field ( generally 2-3' grass), but I run a 7' rear finish mower for the lawn with no problem.

 

[teg]

Yes, a finishing mower takes less HP to run a Finishing mower. My 23.5 hp PTO runs a 5' bush Hog and a 6 foot Finishing mower made by Bush Hog... and I still have power left over.

 

[JD5210]

Here is an article you maybe interested in looking at.

TractorData.com - Mowing with tractors

I attached some sales information on finish mowers you might be interested in.

 

[teg]

I attached some sales information on finish mowers you might be interested in.

Thanks, It confirms my reasons for Bush Hog, Rear safety chain standard, 18,272 fpm (which is the most important part about cutting grass) and I can not believe the Woods deck is only 0.16" vs. 0.18" for the others...

Also, about "Heavy Mowing" it's NOT a bush hog... what I normally do is bush hog, wait a couple days then use the finishing mower on the field to make them look nice and bust up the clumps.