MX5800 rotary cutter opinions

[turkish]

I am the proud new owner of an Mx5800 HST with very low hours. I spent a little more than I wanted for it (and the land I’ll use it on). I can afford it, but I’m cash flow conscious.

I need a rotary cutter in the next couple of months and have been scouring local ads for lightly used attachments. As you can imagine, not a ton out there that isn’t very beat up. I don’t want to buy light duty junk that will rust out in 2 years, if I can avoid it.

A local attachment dealer got a few used BH416 cutters. These are 1300lbs and quite heavy duty. Bush Hog literature recommends 60 PTO HP, which I’m short on. The price seems fair at around $3k and condition looks pretty good. I feel like they have a lot of life in them, but I am pretty sure it’s too much mower for my machine. Am I right? Tia.

 

[BigGG]

I am the proud new owner of an Mx5800 HST with very low hours. I spent a little more than I wanted for it (and the land I’ll use it on). I can afford it, but I’m cash flow conscious.

I need a rotary cutter in the next couple of months and have been scouring local ads for lightly used attachments. As you can imagine, not a ton out there that isn’t very beat up. I don’t want to buy light duty junk that will rust out in 2 years, if I can avoid it.

A local attachment dealer got a few used BH416 cutters. These are 1300lbs and quite heavy duty. Bush Hog literature recommends 60 PTO HP, which I’m short on. The price seems fair at around $3k and condition looks pretty good. I feel like they have a lot of life in them, but I am pretty sure it’s too much mower for my machine. Am I right? Tia.

That looks like a heavy one. You might not be able to cut a bunch of the biggest saplings it's rated for, but we use a 6' cutter behind a Ford 3930, which is 47 hp I think. You should be good. You'll need a loader or front weights.

 

[turkish]

Yep. I do have a loader.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Maybe consider a dual-spindle 8-foot-wide unit. Takes less PTO power with a wider cut.

 

[turkish]

Maybe consider a dual-spindle 8-foot-wide unit. Takes less PTO power with a wider cut.

Thanks. I certainly would if one were available nearby for a good deal. I’ll rent a cutter a year or two while I look for a deal if I have to. I only need to use it, at most, 20hrs a year.

A DS pull type would be exceptional. I have rear hydros to use it.

 

[JWR]

Couple of comments: 1) You have PLENTY of oomph for a 6 foot hog. I ran a Deere MX6 for years using a 48hp JD 4700 and it was a great combo with zero issues (other than it threw a stump jumper a couple of times.) Now I am NOT one going around trying to clear saplings and thickets but you probably are not either. 2) You cannot go wrong with a real brand name Bush Hog if it is in decent shape. They back their products and they are good to start with. Like every company some of their units are better than others. The BH416 looks like a good one to me, might even be heavier duty than you need? Usually not a reason to complain. 3) A $3K price tag is very good I think. The BH416 is around $7K new. So buy it. Check the gear box and make sure it is not leaking, bad seals, or cracked. Condition of blades matters but they are not killer priced. You cannot do a blade change yourself. That is a tough job even with the right tools, high torque specs, etc. 4) Mine is a model 297 considered Medium duty and heavy as hell; I have no need for what they call heavy. Mine weighs 1400 lbs, 7 ft. Had it now for 14 years. Once the gearbox cracked barely noticeable but slight leak. Dealer claimed I abused it. The company backed it in spite of being out of warrantee (said they had seen it before) and made the dealer put on the new one they sent.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

I been running a six foot land pride with my mx5200 for 6 years. Match made in mechanical heaven imo.

Thing is perfectly sized.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Trust me I use it well for hogging, even tho it looks like I only need a mower in this pic. It's the only pic I had of the 6' cutter

 

[turkish]

Couple of comments: 1) You have PLENTY of oomph for a 6 foot hog. I ran a Deere MX6 for years using a 48hp JD 4700 and it was a great combo with zero issues (other than it threw a stump jumper a couple of times.) Now I am NOT one going around trying to clear saplings and thickets but you probably are not either. 2) You cannot go wrong with a real brand name Bush Hog if it is in decent shape. They back their products and they are good to start with. Like every company some of their units are better than others. The BH416 looks like a good one to me, might even be heavier duty than you need? Usually not a reason to complain. 3) A $3K price tag is very good I think. The BH416 is around $7K new. So buy it. Check the gear box and make sure it is not leaking, bad seals, or cracked. Condition of blades matters but they are not killer priced. You cannot do a blade change yourself. That is a tough job even with the right tools, high torque specs, etc. 4) Mine is a model 297 considered Medium duty and heavy as hell; I have no need for what they call heavy. Mine weighs 1400 lbs, 7 ft. Had it now for 14 years. Once the gearbox cracked barely noticeable but slight leak. Dealer claimed I abused it. The company backed it in spite of being out of warrantee (said they had seen it before) and made the dealer put on the new one they sent.

What’s the significance of the manufacturer’s 60-hp minimum? That’s what has me a little nervous. I’m well shy of that.

 

[JWR]

[all numbers from Tractor Data] Your MX5800 lists 57 to 61HP (net, gross) and PTO at 50. My MF2660 was called 81HP engine and yet in the dynamometer test it put out 90HP. I'm sure these things vary and I would not go so much by the numbers.

What means more to me is that my Deere was 48HP engine gross and only 41.5 HP PTO and it handled a 6ft MX6 hog perfectly. No issues at all. The Deere (...stick with me here even though this is Green...) current , new 6ft hog medium duty calls for "25 to 65 HP" and is said to be OK for 2" material cutting. I did read the specs on the more applicable medium duty version lighter than the Bush Hog BH416 [see my bottom line comments below; sorry for the ill-organized comments...]but the BH416 is spec for 4" material. Have you directly seen what Bush Hog calls heavy duty? They ARE heavy built as hell. That does not mean you can't cut lighter stuff with it. The mfrs are making the assumption that if you buy that heavy a hog you really mean it and may try to cut 4" saplings. UNLESS you are planning on cutting trees and thorn bushes thicker than 2" in diameter and clusters of them do not worry about that " 60 HP minimum."

Note: See

https://bushhog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BH-Single-Spindle-Lit-2021_6-1.pdf

Strictly talking 72" models The BH216 says min. 30 hp at the PTO (for cutting up to 2" material) and the BH316 says min. 45 hp. (for 3" material) so you can see the mfr is going mainly by material thickness being cut when they spec "minimum tractor HP."

By the way, if you have anything going slightly against you here it is that your MX5800 is an HST transmission rather than a stick. That sucks a couple of rated HP off your output but I am suspecting the HST is way more handy in your situation than a sick. Not to worry. Buy that BH416.

That BH416 is tougher than anything in your shop or mine. If you don't want it, tell me where you live and I will come buy it just to use on heavy stuff !!
I'm serious.