Mowing LS size for bush hog

[tude]

I stopped at a LS dealer to check out their tractors. I mentioned that I was looking for something to run a 5 foot bush hog. The sales person told me that LS recommended a 40 HP tractor for that size mower. It had something to do with having a strong enough drive for the mower. This sounds like over kill to me.

 

[jbrumberg]

I run a 60" rotary cutter on my 29HP/+23HP PTO NH w/o any difficulties on my sloped 8 acres. The rig balances well with FEL and liquid filled rear R1's.

 

[tomplum]

My little XJ runs one with out even knowing its there.

 

[Professor Marvel]

there are bush hogs and there are bush hogs
I have a 5 ft bush hog that weighs a lot. Brand unknown. It is the kind i would feel ok doing power lines with. Not so with the tractor i run it with ND T45d). I would not want to run it with anything less than 40 hp.
At the same time on my little kubota i have run a 5 ft lightweight rotary cutter that it handles just fine.
you are not always comparing apples to apples

 

[papachaz]

I run a 5' medium duty JBar bush hog with my XG 3025, depending on what I'm mowing, typically I'm in 6th gear and moving along fine. Shorter/thinner and I can bump up a couple of gears....

this is 24.4 engine HP and 19.2 at the PTO. I've heard '5 hp per ft of bush hog' my whole life, but with the electronic PTO you can get away with a little bigger mower. Now, go back up to the post about the different grades of mowers, and I agree with that 100%

 

[Professor Marvel]

also depends what you are cutting
I cut 3ft overgrown neighbors yard maybe once a year with my BH and at times it boggs down my NH if I don't slow down
nothing seems to slow down my old ford 5000

 

[George2615]

papachaz noted 5 HP per foot of rotary cutter which is what I have heard also. I used to run a 5'er on a 26HP Mahindra and I think the PTO HP was around 21-22 and it worked fine. I don't have one right now but my 36HP LS could easily run a 6'er. A 5' mower would not cover my rear tracks which is 66" wide.

 

[mred2]

As stated, it depends on the grass and the mower. I had a very heavy 5' that I used with a 35hp tractor. In tall grass it was all it could handle. I purchased a new lighter mower. It seems to work better, large stuff is now down. I now use a 50hp tractor with a flail mower.
But a 30hp tractor should handle most all 5' mower on average grass.

 

[jbrumberg]

I agree about general PTO HP requirements, mower weight and drivetrain differences for any given size of rotary cutter and what type of vegetation is being cut as operational concerns. Another concern- terrain and slope affecting tractor/rig balance.

 

[rgr33]

I run a 5 ft bush hog, flail mower, and finish mower on different parts of my farm. My LS 33 hp, and JD 27 hp both do well. I do not have any areas with3 ft high growth to cut, so can’t comment on that.