How 'boutta Howse cutter?

[rockyridgefarm]

How \'boutta Howse cutter?

When I biught my tractor, we decided to wait on a new cutter. Of course, we immiately twisted up th 4' BushHog. And funds are short, do to the usual suspects (the taxman, etc..)

So, a friend told me about a brand new looking cutter. It is a Howse 6', with less than 10 hrs on it. It looks new, and the guy parked it in an area he mowed with it. The cut looks real nice.

We would use it to maintain our pasture. We have critters that do a fair job at it, so we will not be doing real heavy stuff, and no real trees to cut.

Asking price is $450.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

Hello--When we were first starting our business 26 years ago and learning the equipment business ins and outs, we sold those cutters and they do perform pretty well on light to medium applications--The Kicker comes when you need blades,tailwheel bushings or driveline parts--The parts are mostly unique to "Howse" and old dealers like myself are about the only place to find your future parts needs and they are not cheap!! ---$350 wolud be a fair price for the used 6ft cutter with no warranty--New is only $550-$600--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Disc Mower Headquarters*

 

[crown]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I own a 4 footer and have cut alot of very tall grass and vegitation, along with more than my fair share of rocks. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
It has performed well. I would recommend one.

 

[BB_TX]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I have been using a 6' Howse rotary cutter for about 3 years now. Works great for me. I do mostly pasture and ditch mowing but also get into some pretty tough stuff along the creek including 3'-4' tall cedars and saplings plus the usual deadfall.

 

[Whiskey]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

Rockyridgefarm:

I been using a 4' Howes for about 12 years now and it's done well. I re-skined it a couple of years back because it was rusting out, no big deal now it's bulet prof. Just called my local scrap yard and they cut it all out for me and I got it all welded up. still has many years left...money well spent.

Whiskey

 

[Bird]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I had a 5' Howse (bought new in '99) and my nearest neighbor had a very old 7" Howse that he had bought used. No complaints with either one.

 

[bher]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I have the 5' model. I think that it is a piece of junk. $450 is too much.

 

[gkk2001]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I agree about the Howse, not very good quality at all. the first time I used mine, the U joint bearings flew out.
The metal is soft and will bend easily/ You are getting what you pay for with these. I stay away from Howse eqpt now.

 

[Tractorman13]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

Mike I have a 6' howse and cant keep the blades from bending,nobody makes aftermarket blades for it so I have to take some metal and reinforce them.all the 5' and smaller Howse mowers that I have seen seem to do pretty well.

 

[Von]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

My neighbor and I both have Howse 5ft. cutters and are both running KingKutter blades on them. Can get them from TSC and they are less than $14.00 each! They are only about 1/2" shorter, and we think they hang down about 1/2" lower. But the blades that we took off of both cutters were so bent and twisted, we couldn't tell! So you might want to see if the KingKutter 6ft. blades are the same size like the 5ft. are.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: How \'boutta Hose cutter?

I owned a Howse and it wasn't the best in the west... however, I've seen some Howse units that were built like tanks.../forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Howse does have a better A-frame design than KingKutter however... but Howse seems to have erratic quality control...

when it comes to Howse... it basically boils down to a coin toss...

Do ya feel lucky...? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Re: How \'boutta Hose cutter?

Thanks Ya'all!!

We have ~65 acres that we mow. We don't have to mow it a lot, and there are several operators wanting seat time.

But I get to maintain the equipment. And fix fenses. And remodel the house. Etc. Etc.

So at $450 plus chain guards and slip clutch, this isn't such a good deal...

I figure there's a good reason the guy is selling it with only 10 hours on it.

That's why I left ot out of my other thread, where I am between the LX6 and MX5.

Still looks like the MX5.

 

[RonC]

Re: How \'boutta Howse cutter?

I have a 5' cutter I purchased for $400.00 and cut 6 acres with it. I have cut up to 1.5 inch small trees with no problems. For the money I would say Howse does a pretty good job.

 

[BB_TX]

Re: How \'boutta Hose cutter?

Mike-You might look into the used Howse a little closer. They actually make 4 levels of cutter; economy, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy duty. I suspect all the problems noted here have been with the economy models. The heavier duty models may not be subject to the same problems. If it is the economy model, then $450 is not a great price.
Mine is the economy model and I have had none of the problems noted even though I have run over some pretty large and solid chunks of wood that washed up out of the creek. I did bend the deck a little by backing into a tree, but that's another story. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Re: How \'boutta Hose cutter?

Thanks, I did happen to notice that it IS the Economy model.

At dealers around here, pretty worn out cutters go for $500.00. This one looks brand new and is $450.00. Hardly anyone I talked to here is familiar with Howse. So why isn't he asking $600.00?

But the big deal is that I want chains and a slip clutch. I can't see adding those to a unit that could be a waste of my time. Yet, to the next guy, it might be perfect....