Hello, I am new to the forum. I purchased a used Kubota B1700 and am looking for a rear mower to do some bushhogging and mowing. This probably won't serve as my primary lawn mower but would be used for tall grass and cutting brush areas. I have 16 acres, 6 of which are wooded. I see many rear mowers for sale, but am unsure of the proper size or what would work best with the tractor. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
Mowing Rear mower guidance for B1700
- Thread starter mtango
- Start date
- Views: 4097
-
- Tags
- kubota b1700
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
With 14 PTO HP, you'd be best served with a 48" rotary cutter. You will want some kind of front ballast (loader, if you have one).
As far as brands...just depends on how much you want to spend.
Since you mentioned you've seen quite a few for sale, I'm guessing you're looking on Craiglist. Nothing wrong with a used cutter (they're pretty tough) but when you go look, ask the seller to have it hooked up to a tractor so you can hear it run.
One more thing...if your B1700 has a manual transmission with a single stage clutch, you'll want an overrunning clutch on the PTO driveline.
As far as brands...just depends on how much you want to spend.
Since you mentioned you've seen quite a few for sale, I'm guessing you're looking on Craiglist. Nothing wrong with a used cutter (they're pretty tough) but when you go look, ask the seller to have it hooked up to a tractor so you can hear it run.
One more thing...if your B1700 has a manual transmission with a single stage clutch, you'll want an overrunning clutch on the PTO driveline.
RoyJackson
Rest in Peace
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2001
- Messages
- 23,144
- Location
- Bethel, Vermont
- Tractor
- John Deere 4052R Cab,, Deere 855D UTV, Z920A Zero Turn Mower and assorted implements
Better you do a web search for a more detailed explanation...
Basically, it's a one way clutch which allows input (rotation) from the tractor's PTO shaft, but freewheels if the input is from the implement side.
Rotary cutters ("bush hogs") have large, comparatively heavy blades. They can take a while (more then a minute) to spin down when the PTO is disengaged.
With a "non-live PTO" as you would have with a single stage clutch, the inertia of the blades can actually drive the tractor...when you least expect it. A tractor like the B1700 weighs less then 1500 lbs. Wouldn't take a big rotary cutter to "drive" it.
There are a number of websites that will explain it in more detail and better then I can...so, do that search.
