how many hp for cutter
- Thread starter Debbie Ra
- Start date
- Views: 2981
NSBound
Platinum Member
5 hp per foot seems to be the rule of thumb on here, but you could likely get by with 20-25 hp if the cutting's not too tough.
Last edited:
There is a size/weight element to this, in addition to horsepower. Most people would say a sub-compact tractor (like a Kubota BX series) may have enough horsepower for a 5ft cutter, but the tractor itself is too small and light for a cutter of that size.
lungdoc
Gold Member
5 hp per foot is a rough rule of thumb but will vary a lot depending on the weight of your cutter and what you are cutting. There are 5 foot cutters that wiegh 3 times more than others - and could outweigh what the hitch can lift. Cutting rough brush is a lot different than cutting grass/hay in a field.
grnspot110
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2007
- Messages
- 2,673
- Location
- MO
- Tractor
- John Deere 1944- H, 1961 Cub Lo-Boy, 2016- JD 2025R, 2018- JD X580
Just put my OLD JD 5' Gyro mower on the JD 790 (27 HP) today, plenty for weight! I was mowing field edges, mostly brome grass & weeds that hadn't been cut yet this year. No power problems, although it did work it some when I got into some heavy Reed's Canary grass. This is a one day/ year job, so no reason to buy a newer mower when the old Jd was already there! ~~ grnspot110
Attachments
buck12
Veteran Member
I run a 5' Rhino with a Mahindra 2615 with 26 hp (23 pto hp if I remember correctly). I have cut heavy grass, weeds, and briars/woody vegetation taller than the tractor with no problems. As others have said you must consider hp and weight of the cutter.
CenTex Chris
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2010
- Messages
- 108
- Tractor
- 2009 Kioti CK35 HST and 1947 Ford 2N
Does the 5hp / ft. guideline change for finish mowers? Or should that be the subject of a separate thread. I have a 34hp tractor that delivers 26hp at the PTO. Feels like it cuts through heavy brush nicely with a 5' shredder. Wondering if my finish mower should be 5' or 6' -- not much difference in implement cost; hoping I have the hp for a 6' RFM.
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
You could easily run a 6' mower with 26 PTO HP. A 5' cutter is also the right size for your Kioti.
There's nothing hard and fast about the 5 HP per foot "rule". My first tractor was 16.5 PTO HP and did a fine job with a 5' cutter. It was slow going though.
mooseracing
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2010
- Messages
- 111
I think it is like the brush hogs where we could go on and on.
I think with a finish mower you want more power, not saying 35HP isn't enough for a 5-6ft finish mower but you will notice thick or tall grass, compared to a brush cutter where you will go right through grass that is rubbing the belly of the tractor.
I also want to be able to mow the yard with a little pace, I usually use 3rd low (iirc) is about 2-4mph depending on hills. I don't want to have to crawl.