Mower pros and cons.

AKfish · Nov 30, 2005

It's darn near 10 below tonight and I'm thinkin' about mowin' green grass! (Makes the winter days and weeks pass along easier...) Nonetheless, I've been reading some of the posts about mowers and some of the heavy duty cutters sound like they might be too much for my little ol' JD 970. Steering through the pasture with 1,100 or 1,400 lbs. hangin' off the 3-pt. might be like steering out on our pond this time of year --- really wide with alot of drift!! However, my question to the mower owner's in the crowd is; what are the diffences between a flail mower, a brush hog type mower, a rotary cutter and a finish mower?
I'd like to buy a mower to mow the pasture grass, small brush, etc. that grows up under our electric fence lines. In addition, I'd like to maybe mow the right-of-way lines under the power lines on my property and get rid of some of the brush and get the grass to fill in more of those areas. The fence tape is probably 2 feet off the ground around the pasture, so there's some clearance to maneuver a mower under but I don't really know what type of mower would best fit my needs.
When I was a kid, the only mowers (including windrowers) that I was familiar with had a sickle with replaceable blade sections and guards. Even the highway department used sickle mowers. Many of 'em had the old wooden pitman shaft. So, I've got pretty dated ideas about mower technology. Feedback appreciated. AKfish

SWB · Dec 1, 2005

I would recommend a 5' standard duty brush-hog type rotary cutter for the uses you described.

RoyJackson · Dec 1, 2005

I also say go with the rotary cutter, but your 970 has the power to handle a 72" cutter easily...so I'd say go with the 6' unit.

As far as the fence...the 6' unit would be wider then your rear tires, so you should be able to do the job. A sickle mower wouldn't work as you wouldn't be able to raise it to clear fence posts. Personally, I'd turn that fence off while you make the first pass along the fence line.

"what are the differences between a flail mower, a brush hog type mower, a rotary cutter and a finish mower?"

Rotary cutter and Bush Hog are the same thing...a rotary type mower used for Field and brush clearing.

Flail Mower is also used for field mowing. These blades move more like an old reel type mower, but that's where the similarity ends. Do a search here on TBN for Flail Mower....you'll get more info then you'll need.

Finishing (aka grooming) mowers are for finished lawns.

Farmwithjunk · Dec 1, 2005

Different types of mowers shine in different conditions. Some are more "flexable" than others when it comes to tackling varying conditions. Others have glaring faults in common conditions....

Bush hogs probably will be your most versitile mower. They won't give the "finish cut" like a finish mower, but will handle clipping pastures, mowing heavy weeds, grinding up brush, and dealing with hidden obsticles (i.e. rocks, stumps, car tires, and worse) Down side is the weight (if you're using it on a smaller tractor)

Flail mowers leave a better "finish" than a bush hog. That comes at a price. They are a bit more "delicate" than a bush hog. Also, they tend to wrap up with weeds when you try cutting taller growth. They don't "launch" obsticles nearly as bad as a bush hog. (You will see lots of flail mowers used around parks, schools, playgrounds, ect,) They may be close in weight to a comparable width bush hog, but do to their being "shorter" than a rotary mower, they handle better behind a lighter tractor. Another fault is the expense involved when it's time to change knives. They can be touched up, but no major grinding. Typically, they have dozens of knives per foot (of width)

Finish mowers have their place..... On a groomed lawn. Under less than ideal conditions, they take a thrashing. Just imagine taking your "lawn mower" into a patch of brush.

Sickle bar mowers are almost a thing of the past.....Just not at MY place. I've got one that I use to clip pastures in the summer, as well as cut UNDER fences, ditch lines, and on pond banks. They do a GREAT job. The "finish" is better than a bush hog. Also, do to their low "thirst" for fuel, they're much more economical to run (from fuel standpoint anyway) than a bush hog. Problems/downsides? You can't cut brush or in "trashy" conditions. They require more care and upkeep (read ROUTINE MAINT.) than a bush hog. Sharpening (or re-"sectioning") one is time consuming and tedious. Also, they will leave more "un-shredded residue" than a bush hog. Not that much of a problem on a pasture, but you wouldn't want it on a "lawn".

I use my bush hog for about 75% of my field mowing. The sickle bar takes the other 25%. Then there's a lawn mower for the yard.

AKfish · Dec 1, 2005

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a bush-hog type mower would best suit my needs. I'd forgotten about "pluggin" the old sickle mowers and having to back up to reset the trip on the bar... and then diggin' and pulling the weeds and stuff out of the guards. Probably end up being a pain trying to mow through the wild roses and willows, etc. You're right Roy, I'll have to turn the fence off and probably have to unhook the bottom line and drape it over the top of the posts so I don't snag it and/or cut it in two. My wife would have a cat if I cut her fence up!!
My owner's manual lists a 6' finish mower and a 6' rotary cutter. I was a little surprised to see that some of those cutters can be pretty hefty! 'Course that would make the front tires not tear up the grass when you're making a turn...
I'll do some rootin' around in the old posts and review some of the opinions regarding the various brands and models. Thanks again. AKfish

have_blue · Dec 1, 2005

AKFish,

Be real careful deciding between a rotary cutter and a finish mower. Don't buy a mower based on what your land looks like now. Buy one based on how you want your land to look over time.

If you intend to mow 3-4 times a year or less, definitely go for the rotary cutter. It can handle the saplings and woody weed stems that tend to get ahead of you.

If you intend to keep your land up, go for the finish mower. Cut it first with a rotary cutter. Borrow or hire one. Mow everything real low, and go slowly enough to chop everything up real fine. Your land is now ready for a finish mower.

Random thoughts: Smaller tractors can handle wider finish mowers much better than rotary cutters. A tractor that can handle a 6' rotary cutter can usually handle a 7 or 8 foot finish mower just fine. Finish mowers cut lower, and cutting lower kills weeds and rough grasses, thus you need to cut less often. Keeping rotary cutter blades really sharp and the deck properly set can do a suprisingly pretty job. Back off 100 feet, and it looks like it was cut with a finishing mower. Never mow in 4WD unless it's an emergency. (tears up grass)

Good luck,,,

RoyJackson · Dec 1, 2005

"Be real careful deciding between a rotary cutter and a finish mower. Don't buy a mower based on what your land looks like now. Buy one based on how you want your land to look over time."

I must disagree with this statement...

If the Field is rough now, you could really tear up a finishing mower pretty quick...long before the Field is ready for a finishing mower.

Finishing mowers are quite a bit more expensive then rotary cutter too.

So, unless that Field is basically a "lawn", I think the rotary cutter would be the better way to go at this time.

AKfish · Dec 1, 2005

Well, now you guys are making it difficult for me... The pasture is pretty level and the right-of-way is too. I definitely want to mow it often enough to knock down and keep the roses and willows from creeping in and taking over. I have tried my best to explain to the horses that they should eat all the roses and willows in the pasture but they just won't listen! Maybe I can get obsessive about keeping the blades shapened on the bush-hog and have a nice looking fence line... but then again the city parks and rec department might have some pretty good finish mowers for auction again this spring... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Appreciate the discussion. AKfish

SWB · Dec 2, 2005

My neighbor has his field cut with a 6' finishing mower. We have the same terrain. I use a 5' bush hog. You can't really tell the difference.

have_blue · Dec 2, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If the Field is rough now, you could really tear up a finishing mower pretty quick...long before the Field is ready for a finishing mower. )</font>

Roy,

I guess my communications skills are terrible. I would never suggest that anyone run a finishing mower on rough land. I tried to say if the land is too rough for a finishing mower, use a rotary cutter to get it into shape before running a finishing mower.

My point is, neglected land can look really rough until a couple of passes with a rotary cutter. It's amazing what a little work and few passes with the rotary cutter will do.

Now, if the land is full of humps and bumps and holes and stumps, and you do not intend to improve it, then a rotary cutter is probably better for you.

You can look at a piece of land today and think "Rotary Cutter". After a few days of work and a couple of cuts with the rotary cutter, you may be thinking "finishing mower".

I still say your choice should depend more on what you want to do with the land than what the land looks like...up to a point of course.