rotary cutters.

[gravelman]

Any suggestions as to what manufacturer has the best rotary cutter?? I have a Kodiak 5' heavy duty cutter and no matter what i do, i cannot get a full width clean low cut. One have looks good, the other half looks all stringy and leaves hay standing. I have changed blades, made sure only sharp ones. Drive very slow, does not matter whether it is thick or thin grass. I have passed other fields that have been cut with a rotary and they look much better than mine. I know one was done with a Woods. I hate to buy another but i can't get this to perform well. thanks Maybe im still doing something wrong so if you have a suggestion please pass it on. If i go too low with the cutter it digs in the sod, go to high and the situation gets even worse

 

[EddieWalker]

My first thought is to check to see if the deck is adjusted so it's flat and level.

 

[gravelman]

Yes sir...i did that when i mounted the mower to the tractor on a nice flat surface.... it lifts and drops down perfectly even.

 

[EddieWalker]

What about while you are mowing? To me, it sounds like the deck isn't level. Could one of your lift arms be rising up while the mower is being used? Or the other side dropping?

 

[arto98607]

I have not used my JD brush hog at all ever since I bought a used flail mower just over 4 years ago.

My experience:
Cuts lot nicer, uses little less power (with side slicer flails) and no scalping when set up right.
Little more maintenance, and does not cut well when trying to cut in reverse.


Lot of info here:

Let's Talk Flail Mowers

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

The front of the deck should be slightly lower than the rear for a better cut.
It’s never going to be pristine.

 

[gravelman]

deck is level and not flucuating.... i think im expecting too much out of it. I was thinking flail mower as i know they do a cleaner cut. THANKS FOR ALL of this

 

[dadohead]

Gravel... I too have a 5' cutter and get similar results. The weak cutting side is where the forward sweep of the blade (RH side on my CCW cutter) tries to lift the tire track (also mashed forward)... almost uncut. The worst is mowing spring pasture grass when it's juiced up, wimpy, and fast growing.

The only solution I've found is to run WOT and minimize the overlap of the cut. I have to keep the RH tractor tires OUT of the region I'm cutting. It's not the cutter (well, it is) but the tough conditions to get good cut quality. Stalky materials cut well. BTW- raking the deck 3/4" just prevents double cutting and saves power.... won't help cut quality though. Hope this helps!

 

[gravelman]

Id say you hit the nail on the head... you said it all. THANK YOU that is exactly what is happening.

 

[Torvy]

My first thought is you are using the wrong tool for a clean cut.

Rotary cutters are designed to bash brush into submission.

Depending on what you are trying to cut, you may be better off with a finish mower (lawn-like grass) or a flail mower (hammers for brush, knives for grass).

 

[gravelman]

Im basically cutting a hay field, lots of thick weeds etc...no brush I think it is way too heavy for a finish mower... how about the old fashioned sickle bar

 

[dadohead]

I think it is way too heavy for a finish mower... how about the old fashioned sickle bar

Agreed. Sickle bars have an advantage of requiring VERY little power but have several big disadvantages: they require lots of maintenance and dont tolerate hitting things very well (rocks, wire,, etc).

I would love to have a flail but dont have enough tractor.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

To the OP there are a couple of different styles of bush hog blades, straight that are better suited for brush and or a rough finish on grass, and then there are curved or lift type blades which help create a vacuum or lift the grass for a much better finish and appearance and there is a big difference, I have also seen mowers that were open front and rear that just didn't create much vacuum to lift the grass leaving a poor quality cut, usually on these mowers something simple like installing a piece of old conveyor belt across the front of the mower will help it create enough vacuum to increase the looks of the finish, lastly is blade tip speed, the faster it is the better the cut. Good luck.

 

[aesanders]

Yes sir...i did that when i mounted the mower to the tractor on a nice flat surface.... it lifts and drops down perfectly even.

If it is perfectly even when cutting, then you do not have it adjusted properly. It should slope upwards front to rear, at least 2-3 inches.