Mowing L3130 brush hog size (again)

[cs6000]

I'm sure you folks get sick of the brush hog/HP debate. I've got a specific question, though. I recently bought a used L3130 with a front loader/box blade. I already have an old John Deere with a 4 ft brush hog that I use for rough stuff.

I'm wondering if I could get by pulling an average weight 6ft rotary brush hog. I read another poster that said he has this set-up and it works for him. This tractor says its PTO is 25.5 HP, which is under that "rule of thumb" ratio.

I'd only use the 6 footer to cut grassy areas, though, no thick stuff. Just a time saver over the 4 ft. It just seems like not worth the bucks to buy another brush hog if I only go up to a 5 ft.

 

[kuboman]

I'm sure you folks get sick of the brush hog/HP debate. I've got a specific question, though. I recently bought a used L3130 with a front loader/box blade. I already have an old John Deere with a 4 ft brush hog that I use for rough stuff.

I'm wondering if I could get by pulling an average weight 6ft rotary brush hog. I read another poster that said he has this set-up and it works for him. This tractor says its PTO is 25.5 HP, which is under that "rule of thumb" ratio.

I'd only use the 6 footer to cut grassy areas, though, no thick stuff. Just a time saver over the 4 ft. It just seems like not worth the bucks to buy another brush hog if I only go up to a 5 ft.

It will work fine. You have a hydro so just go the speed you have power for.:thumbsup:

 

[Grandad4]

You should be fine, but mowing thick grass with the bush hog does demand power. Manage your speed, keep the blades sharp, don't mow too short, and if the you hit a patch that still bogs the tractor, just take a narrower swipe at it. Your biggest issue will be if you try to push things along to get done quicker since you don't have any spare power to allow for it.

 

[bigbull338]

youll be fine with a 6ft shredder.as said if you have HST youll prolly want to run in L or M.an keep your rpms.

 

[TripleR]

Kind of a qualified yes, but only if you get the right cutter. I run a Land Pride RCR2672 on my 5030HSTC and really wouldn't want to run it on anything smaller or with less power for what I cut.

Some people tend to get confused or misdirected by "it will only be used to cut grass". Depending on the grass, type, height, density, grass can easily take more power than weeds or light brush.

Sometimes, you can cut more with a 5' than a 6' if you have to go considerably slower with the 6'.

I am not disagreeing with the advice given, I just think I would go with a 5' unit on that tractor. My 5030 will run a 7', but I went with a 6' and sure am glad as without the FEL that front end gets really light in the hills.

 

[dstig1]

FWIW, the owners manual says 72" max for the L3130 under "rotary cutter." I have not used an RC so cannot confirm or refute this in the real world...

 

[jshwhite]

I'm sure you folks get sick of the brush hog/HP debate. I've got a specific question, though. I recently bought a used L3130 with a front loader/box blade. I already have an old John Deere with a 4 ft brush hog that I use for rough stuff.

I'm wondering if I could get by pulling an average weight 6ft rotary brush hog. I read another poster that said he has this set-up and it works for him. This tractor says its PTO is 25.5 HP, which is under that "rule of thumb" ratio.

I'd only use the 6 footer to cut grassy areas, though, no thick stuff. Just a time saver over the 4 ft. It just seems like not worth the bucks to buy another brush hog if I only go up to a 5 ft.

I know it's a little more hp than the 3130, but I've got a 3710 and have no problems at all running a Woods 6ft rotary cutter. It'll cut some really heavy stuff. With the hst it's easy just to slow down a bit if it starts to bog. Not sure if that helps any, but just thought I'd share that info

 

[Grateful11]

I agree with Grandad4. I've seen fairly thick lush grass pull down a bush hog faster than groves of 5ft high stemmy weeds. I'm talking grass that might be 10" high. I'm not sure if it's because it builds up under deck so fast and can't it out fast enough or what. We have a 6' 3pt and 7' pull type bush hogs and the 3pt gets pulled with either an L3940 or IH 574, the 7' gets pulled with a 106 PTO HP IH 686 with a turbo.

 

[bigbull338]

a IH 686 is just shy 70hp an not 106hp.

 

[Grateful11]

a IH 686 is just shy 70hp an not 106hp.

I guess you missed the turbo part. It has an M&W Turbo on it. It was put a PTO dyno about 6 years ago and was putting out 106hp.