$ on used bush hog batwing

[Soundguy]

Our local tractor dealer has a batwing by bush hog I believe.. 15'.. has the hyd hoese and pto shaft ( 1000 rpm ), A few dents.. very minor rust.. nothing structural.. just rust in the dents wher ethe paint got scratched. Tail wheels good.. bushing good.. boxes bont leak.

Any idea of value?

Soundguy

 

[gabby]

Hey Soundguy,

What's the model number? I had a BH 315 bat wing and I can tell you all about that model.

After owning a bat wing and later owning 10 foot solid deck mowers I can tell you that bat wings aren't worth the extra money and maintenance, imo, and they need at least a 100 hp tractor. I miss that danged old batwing as much as a hemorrhoid. I got $1000 trade-in on it and was happy to see it leave.

I'm now running a Deere HX-10 pull type mower behind a Ford 7610 tractor to clip pastures. I run in 7th gear at half throttle and I cover a lot of ground fast, at 8 or 9 mph.
gabby

 

[Soundguy]

I think it may be a 315.. tag was damaged.

I think the estimate of 100hp is a bit too high. Our county mows with 6610s and 7610s.. I see the 7610s with 15' batwings.

I will be powering it with a 7610s.

I currently have a fixed 10' deck.. I mow in 5th and high.. probably similar speed you are mowing. about 10ac in 2.5 hrs or so.

Are they really that much of a pain?

Soundguy

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

I'm running a Bush Hog "Legend" behind a 130 HP Deere 4440. It's about 2 years old now (the mower) Under certain conditions, they aren't too bad, maintanence wise... Since you'll be using it yourself, it PROBABLY won't go through the torture test like some will. (I'm speaking of units used by employee's) Also, you will most likely "un-fold" it, use it for a mowing job, then fold it back up. It's the constant fold/unfold that takes the biggest tole on them.

Bush Hog and Rhino/Alamo/Shulte brand batwings aren't the nightmare that a Woods batwing seems to be either....

75 to 80 HP will handle a 15' er with little trouble for upkeep of pastures. You wouldn't want to tackle heavy brush with that combo, but it sounds like you're going to be doing "light duty".

IF and WHEN a batwing starts needing parts/repairs, get a firm grip on the wallet.... They can suck your bank account dry. Most batwing owners who use them heavy will just replace when the trouble starts. It's cheaper in the long run. Make certain you don't get someone elses worn out mower and you should do OK.

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> Are they really that much of a pain? </font>

No they are not a pain at all. My old Rhino has about 7000 hours on it and still cuts and runs great. I changed the hydraulic hoses last summer for the first time.

My 85 HP PTO has more than enough power to operate it. Why someone would need 100 HP I'm not sure. With the flexwings, changing blades on the side decks are a piece of cake. The middle one gives much more of a challenge.

If you grease your spindles regularly and keep the gear oil levels correct, that mower should give you no troubles. You will love the flexwing if you end up getting it.

 

[have_blue]

Sorry I can't answer your main question (price). I guess most of us have CUT's and "settled" land that uses the lighter stuff.

I see a lot of batwings around here, but they are being run by the Parish road maintenance crews. I bet you could buttonhole one of the guys in your area and he could tell you a lot about the equipment from years of experience. I also bet there is a lot of batwings on auctions and the used market because I am seeing a lot of boom style mowers replacing pull-behind when possible in my area.

 

[MMM]

15' batwings in good shape average $3k around here.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I think most manufacturers recommend a minimum of 50 hp for a 15' batwing and 70/75 hp for a 20'. It always seemed a little low to me but that's from about 2 years ago when I was doing some serious research into batwing mowers. I never did get one so I can't comment on their reliabilty. Most used units I've seen advertised around here seem to go in the range of $3,000 to $7,000 but again, I don't know the hours or the condition.

The few people I've talked to that have used a bat wing either love them or hate them. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot in between. I suppose it boils down to their particular experience with their particular model. I don't think they would be so popular with the county mowers if maintenance was a major problem but it's maybe as the other poster said, at the first sign of trouble ... trade it.

 

[gabby]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think most manufacturers recommend a minimum of 50 hp for a 15' batwing and 70/75 hp for a 20'. It always seemed a little low to me but that's from about 2 years ago when I was doing some serious research into batwing mowers. )</font>

That's too low by nearly half. When you're cruising along and hit a patch of thick stuff you will choke down the engine in a big hurry if you believe those specs.

The whole reason for a big mower is to cover ground fast. You won't accomplish that if it's underpowered. You need horsepower and beef to properly handle a big mower. Big tractors also ride better and they will pull a big mower out of a bog much better.

If I ever run a 15' batwing again, it will be with 100hp or more. It's just not worth the strain on the tractor and the operator to use less.
gabby

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> If I ever run a 15' batwing again, it will be with 100hp or more </font>

My dad's mowing business (of 18 years) runs 20' Rhino Super-Heavy Duty mowers 8 hours/day with John Deere 7210's (w/Air Cab) which I believe is 90-95 HP PTO. I'm sure if they needed more HP, they would have bought larger tractors.

My 85 HP PTO Kubota has power to spare running my 15' Rhino, and it would also handle a 20' model -- for it has pulled 20' ones in the past.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

It's all relative to what you're cutting. Mowing a right-of-way that gets maintained on a regular basis won't require the same power as a field that gets cut once ever couple years. I've been at it for 33 years now. (Contract mowing) I have a 105 HP and a 130 HP machine that BOTH get used on a 15' mower as the need dictates. I've been in conditions that tax the 130 HP tractor, and others that don't even kick in the governor on the 105 HP unit. Under MOST conditions, 85 HP will be more than adaquate for a 15'er. Never hurts to have more power than is needed.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If I ever run a 15' batwing again, it will be with 100hp or more. It's just not worth the strain on the tractor and the operator to use less.
)</font>

Of course.. you can do what you want.. but that just sounds like overkill. I calledmy dealer today and asked him in plain real terms what my 7610s with 89? pto hp will do.. he said he sold those with 20' schulte finish / sod mowers, or 15' rough rotary cutters.. either bush hog or rhino. This is the NH dealer that sold me the tractor.. etc. I've bought other tractors / implements from him before, and don't believe he'd lie... seems like an honest fellow.. gave me top dollar on my trade in i feel.

Soundguy

 

[MMM]

I think it's all relative to use. If you're custom mowing, you'll need enough tractor to get through the worst possible scenarios. Many farmers here pull 15' with less than 50ptohp 4000s, JD2020s etc.. This is mainly springtime clipping of pastures and they know that's all they'll ever use it for.

 

[gabby]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I calledmy dealer today and asked him in plain real terms what my 7610s with 89? pto hp will do.. he said he sold those with 20' schulte finish / sod mowers, or 15' rough rotary cutters.. either bush hog or rhino. This is the NH dealer that sold me the tractor.. etc. I've bought other tractors / implements from him before, and don't believe he'd lie... seems like an honest fellow.. gave me top dollar on my trade in i feel.

Soundguy )</font>

I used to run the BH 315 bat wing with my Ford 7600 that dyno'd at 91 pto hp when it was new. Yes, it did fine 80-90% of the time with the bat wing, but in thick grass you either have to creep along slowly or raise the mower. You can take that to the bank.
gabby

 

[slowrev]

Soundguy,
My friend runs a 15" batwing on his 5000 Ford, works great. His 5000 has an add on turbo though so it is like a 6000. Probably about 70 some HP. Good tractors, lots of hours on his and still does great. Uses virtually no oil.

Ben

 

[Soundguy]

If I recall.. the 5000 was 63 hp, and turbocharged to 72. The tractor mechanic in town also sells a 5000 now and then and will sell them with 15' mowers.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Here's an update. I went and looked at the tractor.. Last time I had looked thru a fence at it. Also talked to the salesman. The info I was given earlier was for a different mower thaey had already sold.

This one is an older rhino.. perhaps an old flex15.

Here is the info, I want honest opinions.

Hoses good, rear wheel rocker has been replaced.. wheel bearing good.. the 4 boxes don't have any 'drip' leaks.. though there is a small residue around the shaft seals. I tried jiggling the shafts and detect no discernable movement.

The center blade gearbox has been apart at one time as there is old gasket goop extruded out of the rear cover surface. Looks to be an old repair as the good has some of hte old mower paint on it.

Pto shafts still have shields.. they are aged, but intact. 1000rpm pto hookup collar moves smoothly.

The drawbar hitch is beaten up pretty good.. has mushroomed the metal in a few places.. but overall is still structurally intact.. very beefy metal.

I found -0- welds on it. A minor dent or two.. No blade grooves ont eh decks.. stump jumpers were solid.. no sign of lower shaft leaks.. and no play in stump jumpers to output shafts.

the metal on each wing, right at the fold is rusted thru right at the place where the flat of the deck hits the square that makes the 'hinge'...say.. about 18" on each side., Metal 1/2" fromt he rust thru is solid again. All the world looks like you could buy a 3' piece of 1.5" angle iron.. cut it in half.. lay it in place and burn a rod up and down each side and call it 'done'.

No evidence ov leaks at the wheel lift cyl, or the batwing cyls.

Price is 2700$.. plus I'd have to get the 1000rpt conversion shaft for my tractor pto for another 330$

I looked it up and down for an hour. The rust outs didn't thrill me.. then again.. they look like a 1 hour fix. The drawbar hitch is beat.. but doesn't show any sign of giving up before any else of the tractor does due to the thickness of the metal used.

Real and honest Opinions.

Financially.. I've determined that I can throw it on a credit card, and I won't have to eat hot water and ketchup or anything... Wife could go either way.. left it up to me ( great... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ). I already have a 10' mower.. so time savings on mowing will be 33% or less.

My mind tells me this is not a 'deal'.. but not a ripoff either.

I'd prefer to have this in 6spline 540rpm pto.. but have been told that 1000 is actually better for the big stuff.. so I guess i will defer to that info.. as I have -0- experience ont he big mowers and 1000rpm pto.

Ok guys. Do I pick it up.. or pass it by?

Soundguy

 

[hudr]

Soundguy, that sounds like a fair price for what you are getting... But.... I have never run a 1000sp tool behind a 540 tractor. I have gone the other (540 tool behind a 1000sp tractor w/ an adapter) and we had to just creep along so as not to break the thing. Will you be able to spin the shredder fast enough to cut? Or am I looking at this from the wrong angle? I will admit I have little experience with 1000sp equipment. Seems I remember a neighbor having to "turn" one of the gear boxes around to make something like this work.

OOPS... sorry, didn't read the whole post... I see now where you will be getting an 'adapt-a-kit" for your tractor. How much modification will that require on the tractor or shredder?

 

[EastTexFrank]

gabby,

I checked some literature I had left over from 2 years ago, for Rhino and Landpride, and they both state that 50 hp is the minimum for their 15' mowers. Now, I agree, that is probably under ideal, non-testing conditions and a few extra horsepower wouldn't be amiss. I think they both come with gearboxes rated up to 180/200 hp so they obviously think that they will used on tractors with a lot more power than the minimum.

 

[gabby]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Price is 2700$.. plus I'd have to get the 1000rpt conversion shaft for my tractor pto for another 330$

I'd prefer to have this in 6spline 540rpm pto.. but have been told that 1000 is actually better for the big stuff.. so I guess i will defer to that info.. as I have -0- experience ont he big mowers and 1000rpm pto.

)</font>

Hey Soundguy,
I have a 1000 ropm shaft for my 7600 that I bought online for less than $100 including shipping. It's just a stub shaft that pops into the rear of the tractor. What are they quoting you $330 for?
gabby