Need Rotary Cutter advice

[alligatorob]

I am in the market for a rotary cutter and would appreciate some advice.

I am looking for something at least medium duty, most of my cutting will be grass and brush but I do hit the occasional stump, rock or log. And some of the ground is uneven. I have 5 acres total, about half open field, and half peach orchard.

My tractor is a 40 hp New Holland Boomer.

Locally (northern Utah) I can find a Tractor Supply CountyLine 6 ft for $1,800, and a 6 ft Mahindra for $3,000 and a 5 ft LS at the Ford dealer, no price posted. I don't have to buy locally, but it would sure be easier. I have been scanning the want ads, but have not found anything used I like.

Do y'all have any brand comments or recommendations. I'd like to pay as little as possible, but don't want poor quality, I will pay more for a more reliable tool.

Also I have assumed 6 ft would be best, most of my other implements are 6 ft, that is approximately the tractor tire width. And the 6 ft ones do not seem that much more expensive than smaller. Any reason not to go with the 6 ft?

 

[Roadworthy]

There is no reason not to go six foot. The rule of thumb is five horsepower per foot of cut. That would put you needing thirty horsepower for that cutter. You have power to spare.

 

[2manyrocks]

6' is the way I'd go at 40 hp.

As for brand, I'd probably lean towards the TSC unit at those prices unless you can find something used at auction or FB marketplace. I own two J-Bar rotary cutters which have been fine for me.

 

[aesanders]

The County line cutter is more of a light duty model.

Bush hog and Woods are two that I would look out for. They make excellent medium and heavy duty models.

That rule of thumb for hp per foot is really PTO horse power. I would assume your boomer has plenty to run a 6 foot cutter.

 

[deserteagle71]

Only thing I can add is to make sure whatever you buy has an actual "stump-jumper" under it that the blades attach to. The stump jumper is shaped like a huge dish, with upturned edges that let it slide over obstructions. I've seen some models of rotary cutters that didn't use a stump jumper and they would have major problems when hitting obstructions such as you say you have.

I have been mowing my (virgin) desert acres with a 6' rotary cutter for 25 years now...nothing special, just a clone of a Rhino SE-6 mower. Not heavy duty at all and it has survived multiple rock strikes and badger mounds. Keep it serviced, keep the blades trued up, and it should work just fine and last for years.

 

[2manyrocks]

Also consider parts availability, like seals, blades and blade bolts. I don't know who actually makes the cutter for TSC, but that's what you'd want to look into for parts availability.

 

[tmcj]

Unless something has changed since I bought mine Mahindra doesn't actually make it. It used to be Kodiak, which split and one branch became Titan Implements, which is what mine is. Titan has since rebranded as IronCraft. You'll likely pay more for the Mahindra name for the same cutter compared to being under one of the other names.

Be aware that there is also a Chinese knock off named Titan something or other.

 

[ericm979]

I got a Mahindra branded Kodiak with my Branson. Its price from the dealer was about the same as ordering a Kodiak and having it shipped. It's been a good implement. But $3k seems like a lot. I'd check out the IronCraft units. First price I found from a dealer for the 1206 was $2200. A local dealer should be able to order one.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF you really want a medium duty rotary cutter, I'd stay away from all of the farm store brands.

My choice was, and still is, Woods brand cutter, just the way the blades are held on makes it a better cutter, also the triple lip seal they now have in their gear box is better than the others I've seen.

Yeaa do they cost more, but they are worth more too!

SR

 

[oosik]

I've been "looking" for a long time also. I'm seriously considering the Rhino cutters. Either the TW20 or TW30 series.

I would be mowing heavy grass and light brush. But we all know how that story goes. Hidden objects - not picked up on a field survey.