Rotary Cutter Is there a "bad" brush cutter

[acs55812]

Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I have a JD 4100 and will be gettting a small (48") brush cutter, is there specfic ones to stay away from?
Thanks
Dan

edit to add:
Local choices are:

Howse $695 new

Bush Hog Squealer $925 new

Walco $875 new

John Deere LX-4 1250 new

King Kutter XB L-48-40-XB $820 new

King Kutter used 5 ft. (4.5 hour drive) $475

Any opinions would be appreciated

 

[JerryG]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I don't think that I would say that any of them are bad. What I would say is that there are different designs and styles. It's just like me, I prefer a Woods cutter because of the quick attachment of the cutter blades.

 

[acs55812]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

So as that my expectations are correct, what can I expect to cut with this cutter---such as will it go as large as 3 inch pine trees AS LONG AS I GO SLOW?

The goal here is to clean up a lake cabin property, plenty of brush 1 inch and less and "clumps" of balsem-pine trees that I would like to clear out most 3" and less. In a nutshell the property has not been used/cleared in about 15 years.

 

[npaden]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

Those prices seem high for a 4 foot rotary cutter.

I bought my 6' last year for $850. It was an offbrand (Cimarron) but I think it is a little better built than the King Kutter's I've seen.

3" would be pushing it for a light duty cutter. Maybe those prices you are showing are for heavy duty cutters and that would probably do the job on 3" trees as long as you are only mowing them down 1 or 2 at a time.

Good luck!

 

[BB_TX]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I bought a Howse 6' rotary cutter 6 yrs ago for $550. Has been great. I mow about 4 acres every 2-3 wks and about 10 acres 3 times a yr. When I first got it, I cleared a lot of area overgrown along the creek and fence rows. Quite a few cedars about 4'-5' tall and near 3" trunk at the base. Cedar is fairly soft. I would raise the cutter about 1' off the ground and VERY slowly back over the cedar pushing it down and letting the cutter chop it slowly, then lower the cutter to a few inches. It would bang and complain but did a good job on it and never hurt it that I could tell.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I think the average economy models are designed for no more than 1" material. That said, I have an economy Howse 48" that I have cut 3" material with as BB_TX said, by moving backward very slowly and cutting a little at a time.

For much 3" cutting, I would make sure to buy a heavy duty cutter with a heavy duty gear box on it. The typical economy mowers often have the same gear boxes on them, and are not long for the world with regular 3" stuff.

Most of the brands make lightweight to heavy duty and most are pretty good ones in their range. I'm quite happy with my lighter weight Howse, but for you, I'd go heavier-duty Howse or whatever brand.

Woods makes excellent cutters, but again, in different strengths, costing more than many others. I've seen a lot of 30+ yo Woods around.
John
John

 

[Highbeam]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I would say a bad rotary cutter is one that uses oddball non-standard blades or uses a reverse rotation gearbox.

Also bad would be cutters like mine where the lower 3ph arms connect to a pin from the side instead of a full removable pin with a cotter. This side pin is usually bolted to a part of the mowers 3ph structural linkage where the lower connection points are not rigidly attached to the mower deck. It is hard to explain but basicly allows the mower deck to actually float for and aft of the tractor a bit. The method is weak and will bend the linkages if you back into things like trees to chop them up.

My 5 foot rankin is on the garage floor right now to change the hitch style to use the removable clevis style pins with cotters instead of the lynch pins. Hooking up the mower is easier without having to mess with the 3ph stabilizers.

 

[Soundguy]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

Wow those are some steep prices. I got my 5' KK for 525$ just a few years ago. I ran my 5' kk behind a Nh 1920 which is capapble of pulling a 6' cutter fine. I basically cut anything I could get the front axle over.. that includes hidden lumber.. rocks.. old tires.. old fence line, tall ant mounts.. etc.

Got a nick or two in the blades.. otherwise.. all is fine. 3" would have to be green and flexible.. and in that case.. i think tractor pto hp is more of a limiting factor than brushog design.. The smallest gearboxes I've seen are 40hp rated. When you get into 'woody' I think 3" is pushing it. I occasionally rip out a 15' sweet gum with a 3" to 3.5" at the base tree with my 10' mower and it makes an awfull racket before it gets mulched up... but my howse 10' cutter eats it up.. yummy good..

Soundguy

 

[kossetx]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I have a 5' howse and it has stopped for nothing in the last 14 years including many3" trees. I think nowdays for the price the kk is built a little nicer though.

 

[valleydweller1]

Re: Is there a \"bad\" brush cutter

I think the sappling size rating has more to do with the stoutness of the gearbox than the width of the cut. Even so, 3" would be excessive if I recall correctly when I bought mine; I think the 5' woods was rated up to 1 1/2" or something.

If you have the option, but the biggest one that will work. I have a 42" for my BX 2230. When I bought it, the dealer said the 48" would "probably work ok" for me, but the 42" was a better overall size match. I'm starting to wish I would have purchased the 48" instead.