Off-set Brush Cutting

[JeffroL]

I have a Kubota M7060 tractor with a 5' bushhog that I use for clearing brush. It works very well, but there are many areas of my property where I need something offset from the tractor that can clear the brush. Example, fence lines where there is a lot of overhanging brush. I also have buried creeks, in the fields, which are a major hazard. Huge sinkholes can open up so I just can't drive a tractor in those areas. I'm considering a sickle bar, but wanted to see if more experienced folks had any recommendations. Help!

 

[ericm979]

Ditch bank flails are made for that sort of thing.

 

[CMV]

That's a crap ton of tractor for a 5' bush hog

I like your sickle bar idea to really reach out for the areas you don't want to be driving on.

 

[Lowcountry Rebel]

Hardee makes a good side brush hog, our hunting club has one for cutting canal banks and cutting back limbs

 

[3Lfarms]

Ditch bank flails are made for that sort of thing.

The OPs tractor would be an excellent match for a ditch/bank flail.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Kind of an odd picture in the winter, but I had just got this and wanted to try it.

It has heavy hammers and will pulverize 3" brush but also cut grass amazingly well. Stones lay a real hurtin on the knives

It's a PERFECT by Van Wammel in Holland, but there is an almost identical machine out there

A hydro would be much nicer to maneuver it.

Oh, then there's this hydraulic sickle, I got last year. First time out, fifteen minutes later all the knives were badly damaged!

 

[ddbackhoe]

View attachment 558124 Kind of an odd picture in the winter, but I had just got this and wanted to try it.

I've heard cabin fever is a horrible thing.

 

[kthompson]

View attachment 558124

Kind of an odd picture in the winter, but I had just got this and wanted to try it.

It has heavy hammers and will pulverize 3" brush but also cut grass amazingly well. Stones lay a real hurtin on the knives

It's a PERFECT by Van Wammel in Holland, but there is an almost identical machine out there

A hydro would be much nicer to maneuver it.

Oh, then there's this hydraulic sickle, I got last year. First time out, fifteen minutes later all the knives were badly damaged!

View attachment 558125

Okay, what damaged the knives? I am in the market for small tractor ditch bank cutter and this is one I thought on. Have about same size and heavier tractor then the OP is using to use full size boom mower but need small tractor for use in normal trim type work. Too old for hand held trimmer.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a 3pt sickle bar belt drive mower. I had big visions of it's use. It beats nothing. But as I.T. mentioned maintenance is an issue. If mowing a "clean" area it wouldn't be. Problem being you'll want to mow all those areas you couldn't reach before.

 

[deserteagle71]

Okay, what damaged the knives? I am in the market for small tractor ditch bank cutter and this is one I thought on. Have about same size and heavier tractor then the OP is using to use full size boom mower but need small tractor for use in normal trim type work. Too old for hand held trimmer.

I grew up in the '50s mowing hayfields with a sickle bar mower in Pennsylvania. Any rocks/pebbles/dirt mounds will tear up or damage the knives. The knives are riveted on the bar so it takes time to change them once they are messed up, and constantly need to be sharpened anyway. They will not cut brush of any size without damage to the knives.

Now I live out in the Nevada desert and I'd dearly love to have a mower that mows my desert acres cleanly and not leave a ragged mess like the brush hog does. But when the ground is covered with ground squirrel mounds and the rocks they push up, a brush hog - heavy-duty brush hog at that - is the only option. In Pennsylvania I had to deal with the mounds that woodchucks left in the fields - but they were a minor problem compared to the mess ground squirrels leave.