Medium duty 5 ft bush hog?

[paulsharvey]

So, for years and years, ive made due with a Ford 917L 54" flail mower, that I have always kind of hated, or maybe just never liked? Last year, I got a 7 ft APP/chisel, and the guy threw in a rusted pile that is allegedly a 48" New Holland bush hog. So, its been in his swamp for a decade and in my woods for a year, but I "rigged" it up last weekend, and despite having 40% of a deck, only 1 side, a broke 3 point frame, and a structural ratchet straps, oh, and no tail wheel, or frankly back end of the "hog" it runs very smooth, cuts good, and is quite. Which is odd, any ive used in the past vibrated a ton, were very noisy, ect.

So, I dont need/want a "heavy duty", but an actual medium duty, 60 inch, that is also well balanced, smooth, and quite. I think this one might be beyond rebuilding. So, which models would you call medium duty, that are also smooth and well balanced? And if coarse affordable, if not "cheap". New or not, im more asking models, and then I'll figure out the shopping.

 

[RayIN]

Check out King Kutter, and this thread: Rotary Cutter - New Lowery Manufacturing (LMC) Rotary Cutter

FWIW, I once bought a very similar rotary mower. I totally replaced the deck with 1/8" sheet steel. The entire frame, including tail wheel was in good shape.
If I counted my time, transportation costs of driving around looking for stuff, welding rods, Buying and having the sheet steel cut to size and bent on their press brake, wear on hand electric tools, etc., I probably had more money in that rebuild than a new one cost. Oh, I left out the skinned knuckles and banged up knees.
I think scrap steel is now $160/ton.

 

[paulsharvey]

When I hooked this up, I really expected to immediately turn it off, and throw it away. Only reason I was/am considering doing any repairs is, it actually cuts well, and is smooth for a bush hog (maybe others ive used through the years where worse than most on vibration?).

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I have a Bush Hog BH115, I like it!

It is long though ... And weighs 518.4 Lbs on my scale.

It does have some "lift" on the blades ...

It's rated at 1" but I've cut more ...

Now that I've "tamed" the back pasture ... It cuts grass good, but leaves the typical windrow ...

Shorter looks better!

 

[Travis_R]

How much are you wanting to spend on a new rotary cutter?
For a good, 5 foot medium duty cutter, you will not go wrong with the Bush Hog BH215. It’s not cheap, but it’s tough and you will not tear it up. Ive had a lot of Bush Hog brand cutters over the years. They are the best in the business.

 

[yanmars]

I did not care for my King Kutter, my Bush Hog brand and an old Massey Ferguson as I recall were better.

 

[paulsharvey]

How much are you wanting to spend on a new rotary cutter?
For a good, 5 foot medium duty cutter, you will not go wrong with the Bush Hog BH215. It’s not cheap, but it’s tough and you will not tear it up. Ive had a lot of Bush Hog brand cutters over the years. They are the best in the business.

Same as everyone else, as little as possible. I am leaning 75% towards the right used one. Used market was a fair number of nearly new, priced at almost new, and then an other segment of cheap, and really Rough. Seem some pretty decent looking ones in the $600-1000 range. But im not entirely against the right deal new, sub $2k

 

[paulsharvey]

What i want to avoid is spending $1899, on new, but crap. At the same time, I dont need, and dont want to spend the money, on legit Heavy duty.


I kinda have a hard time paying new medium duty prices, when you can get a good condition Brown Tree Cutter for $1000: but I dont have the tractor to run one.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Ive had a lot of Bush Hog brand cutters over the years. They are the best in the business.

You've had better luck with Bush Hog brand cutters than I have, for me, they have NOT been the best in the business!

I have three Woods cutters right now, and they have been the best cutters I've ever owned. I also like the way the blades attach too, they are much easier than the other brands to put on or take off.

I don't think the OP has any idea what a "medium duty" rotary cutter is, as his budget is way too low for an actual "medium duty" and most of the models being suggested, sure aren't medium duty!

SR

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, on medium duty; I define it as heavier/better built than the typical light duty; but still below heavy duty or commercial. Honestly, all of the equipment makers also really like to throw the name "heavy duty" around, even for the lowest of the low end.

Also, even the expensive, big names, make some models that are pretty light duty.

So, im thinking the BH215, I think is the model, is what im calling "medium", and a BH 115 would be light duty. So, maybe a better way of asking, what are other models in a similar "weight class" from other makers, like Woods, Landpride, JBar, ect.

 

[SatchmoIsBack]

Well, on medium duty; I define it as heavier/better built than the typical light duty; but still below heavy duty or commercial. Honestly, all of the equipment makers also really like to throw the name "heavy duty" around, even for the lowest of the low end.

Also, even the expensive, big names, make some models that are pretty light duty.

So, im thinking the BH215, I think is the model, is what im calling "medium", and a BH 115 would be light duty. So, maybe a better way of asking, what are other models in a similar "weight class" from other makers, like Woods, Landpride, JBar, ect.

I've read, in here, that Betstco makes pretty good equipment. NOT a recommendation because I have no personal experience with them. Just a heads-up you might want to inquire into

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have seen a 5' rotary cutter that was galvanized at the Rebel Auction that they hold monthly in Hazelhurst Georgia and I remember thinking that they went for a very reasonable price at the time, you certainly would never have to worry about rust issues, also see a few Industrias America brand mowers that are built in Mexico go for reasonable prices, I bought an Industrias America pull type offset harrow and it ain't been nothing but good for me, well built also.

 

[Travis_R]

The Woods BrushBull BB60.30 is the comparable model to the Bush Hog BH215.
BUT… not comparable in prices.
Both are excellent, Medium Duty rotary cutters.

Another top quality brand to look at is Rhino Ag. Both Rhino and Bush Hog are owned by the Alamo Group.

 

[Travis_R]

I have seen a 5' rotary cutter that was galvanized at the Rebel Auction that they hold monthly in Hazelhurst Georgia and I remember thinking that they went for a very reasonable price at the time, you certainly would never have to worry about rust issues, also see a few Industrias America brand mowers that are built in Mexico go for reasonable prices, I bought an Industrias America pull type offset harrow and it ain't been nothing but good for me, well built also.

The galvanized rotary cutter you seen was probably made by Modern Ag (Dragon Products) out of Beaumont, Texas. They are good cutters and make high quality implements.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Maybe instead of light/medium/heavy duty ... Go by the rated diameter of what the manufacturer says it's cutting capacity is ... 1", 2" , 5"! ...

The heavier duty it's rated for will generally mean that it will last longer ... If you have enough tractor to get it spinning ...

The BH 115 (1" cap) that I have says minimum PTO HP of 20

The BH 215 (2" cap) says minimum PTO HP of 25

The BH 315 (3" cap) say minimum PTO HP of 35

The BH 516 (5" cap) says minimum PTO HP of 70 ... But it is a six footer too, they don't make it in the 5' size ...

Then how heavy is it, can you pick it up?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The Woods BrushBull BB60.30 is the comparable model to the Bush Hog BH215.
BUT… not comparable in prices.
Both are excellent, Medium Duty rotary cutters.

Woods rates THAT cutter 25 to 50 hp, that's not medium duty, it might be plenty for a little tractor but it's not med. duty...

After Bush Hog had those chinese gearboxes blowing up left and right and then my last BH cutter had the paint coming off in sheets, exposing cracks in the deck, I no longer buy BH cutters!

SR

 

[scootr]

Woods rates THAT cutter 25 to 50 hp, that's not medium duty, it might be plenty for a little tractor but it's not med. duty...

After Bush Hog had those chinese gearboxes blowing up left and right and then my last BH cutter had the paint coming off in sheets, exposing cracks in the deck, I no longer buy BH cutters!

SR

I was given an old BH 5' cutter and it's built like a tank... strong and no worries, there's not a spot of paint on it

 

[paulsharvey]

Ok, so, in my mind; the 1" capacity is light/standard duty; 2" medium duty; 3-4" heavy; anything over that extreme duty (Brown is the only one I know off, they have 6" and even an 8" model).

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I guess my questions would be ...

1. Why do you want a 2" rated brush hog?
A. Cutting 1" - 2" brush?
B. Heavier duty so it will last longer while cutting 1" or less?
C. Other?

2. What are you cutting?
A. How often?
B. What tractor will it be hooked to?

3. How quickly do you want to aquire it?
A. How far are you willing to go to get a "deal"?
B. Tractor House has a few used ones, but most are over $2K can you go that high?

 

[Rvrrat14]

You might be interested in studying the Bush-Whacker HD60. I have the HD72 and really like it. Stump jumper and an inside deck ring in case a blade gets bent, etc. It is a more heavy duty unit, but not as costly as what some think is the ‘holy grail’. Very well built unit.

HD-60 - Bush-Whacker

Bush-Whacker’s heavy duty single-spindle cutters are great for small areas of grass and small brush. It’s truly a great cut for your money. The Bush-Whacker units come standard with stump-jumpers and deck-rings, and when combined with 120HP gear boxes, you will be hard pressed to find a better...

bush-whacker.com