Help with Heavy Cutting.

[CE Worker]

Hey Guys New User Here

I work with my father running a environmental company. Recently we started taking over foreclosed properties for the banks in our area. When the housing market crashed there have been a lot of devlopments foreclosed on.

Most of the time when we get to a property it's a delvopment that has not been cut in a long time. We have a Kubota L3400 that we use to pull a bush hog.

This season alone I have been through 2 bush hogs. What we are cutting is 5-10 feet in some places so it makes were you can't spot rocks logs etc.

I have had a country pride and a field general cutter. The field Generals support braces snapped and the gear box went out. The Country Pride has held up cutting wise a lot better but the back wheel has went out twice and the body of the cutter has had it. There is to much blade play and when we hit something it causes the blades to cut through the top of the deck.

Now I know that the bodies on the Cutters are going to get damaged and can't be help but I need something with a very strong rotary system that is going to hold up.

So if you guys have and suggestions it would be nice. I'm new to all this as it's just something we picked up for more work so if you guys have advice to get the job better I'm up to that too.

 

[Bartcephus]

Step up in grade to a commercial rotary cutter or go with a flail mower. Bush Hog's Commercial units are STOUT and built strong. They have bigger gear boxes and heavier guage decks. Also, If you have a FEL, lower the FEL when you mow to let you know about the stumps, rocks and logs. I assume you are taking it slow in these uncharted territories. Wear your seatbelt, keep your ROPS up, and take it SLOW. I have been on properties were an old uncovered well was hidden by tall brush.

 

[bullbreaker]

Also if you have a FEL keep it real low to inspect brush and go real slow on first cuts.
Also you should have some kind of rear shield(grateing) to protect operater from behind and quality approved eye protection.
Also bushhog should have chains instead of rubber deflectors since it sounds like your cutting near neiborhoods.

Boone

 

[cat 297c]

Check Out Brown Manufacturing an look at there tree cutter model:thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Look at a heavy Bush Hog brand cutter. Try a 290 series like a 295 (5' cut) or 296 (6' cut) as seen at: Rotary Cutters Single Spindle 290 Series

As you have found, light duty cutter will not take the kind of workload you are putting on it when cutting commercially and the extra money up front for a heavier cutter will pay off in reduced downtime.

Aaron Z

 

[fishfactor]

If it's possible budget wise, consider switching to a skid steer. You can make the first pass high (1-2 feet) and can usually see most things. We do a lot of this type work with ours and have done little more than broken a blade once and the output shaft on a seperate incident over 4 years.

 

[Furu]

Look at the Woods BB-720 It is a great cutter and very robust. It is in their medium duty unit. You could go up to the Heavy duty unit as well. I use the BB-720 but it does come in smaller and larger widths. Can't say anything negative about the unit, a real workhorse. I have unfortunately hit some very big rocks and stumps but no metal. Blades get dulled but they can be sharpened.

 

[tift104]

I agree with Cat. We run the Brown Tree Ax's and they are a heavy duty cutter. They have a 145HP gear box with a well braced deck. The tree cutters were designed for forestry applications so don't expect to use it to mow the yard or cut hay.