Using a midmount mower as a brush cutter- how bad

[dukenyc]

I have a JD 4100 with the 54" mid mount mower (a finishing mower). I am wondering if it will ruin it to use it as a rough cutter on stems up to 1" thick. It definately cuts them, I just wonder if it is ruining the machine.

I was going to buy an Lx4 rear mount brush cutter, but my neighbor sadi to just use the MMM andsharpen or replace the blades as needed.

What do you think? Am I going to ruin the mower if I use it that way?

 

[RoyJackson]

That mower is built for grass...not brush...especially for stuff up to 1" thick.

I ruined a Wheel Horse lawn tractor doing the same thing...a mistake I'll not repeat.

A rear mounted mower costs considerably less then your mid-mount. If I were to experiment...well, I wouldn't.

If you're only going to do this work occasionally, get a King Kutter or other, less costly, rotary cutter.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( JD 4100 with the 54" mid mount mower (a finishing mower )</font>

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( will ruin it to use it as a rough cutter on stems up to 1" thick. )</font>

So how much do you HATE your tractor and mower? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Yes.. 1" material is going to ruin your finish mower...

Soundguy

 

[PineRidge]

It's already been said that you need a rotary cutter for thinning the woods.

MMMs weren't designed to be rotary cutters. Find yourself a used cutter and save the MMM for the grass cutting chores.

 

[RalphVa]

I vote for the KK bush hog. Think you can get one for around $500 at TSC. With a bush hog, you can back it into brush without sacrificing the front end of your tractor and risking a flat front tire in the bargain. If you're not going to be using it around houses or where people are, you can get by without a rear guard. Just put a flexible rubber or chain guard on the front. Go with a shear bolt/pin drive and save the price of a slip clutch.

You can double bush hog duty and grass mowing with a Gravely, with bush hog/mower out front, but I wouldn't do it with a big tractor.

Ralph

 

[sy308]

I have cut down similar things with my JD 430. Afterwards, I found I had to take the blades off and sharpen them with the grinder. I did not see any significant damage to the deck or belts otherwise. Afterwards, I just keep an extra set of blades around and just change them when the cutting gets too hard. But to be honest with you, I also cut down grass when it gets 2-3 ft high too. I am sure that is not too good for the unit either, but it has to be better than brush. Last year, I brought a rotary mower and it is the best thing I ever bought. I have 10-12 ft high brush with at least 2-3" trunks and it goes down quite nicely. Good luck.

 

[normde2001]

You are asking how badly you can abuse your equipment before it fails, and I don't think anyone can really answer that.

 

[Mith]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I ruined a Wheel Horse lawn tractor doing the same thing...a mistake I'll not repeat )</font>
Wow, glad i read this post, i was just going to go out and cut a field of brambles with my wheelhorse...maybe not....

care to expand any, what happened /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

thanks

 

[dummy]

price a gearbox rebuild kit (if available), spindles and bearings for your MMM. Then price a decent rough cut mower. You can decide which would be the best choice then.

 

[dukenyc]

Thank you for the responses. I pretty much figured as much.

The only reason I asked is that a neighbor with similar fields and a similar size mower (a kubota b-something) told me that he has been using his MMM to clear the fields "for years".

He said that If I use a rear mount mower, running over the brush with the tractor w/o the MMM on will cause branches and brush to stick up and grap parts and get caught under the tractor. In fact, he told me if I did get a rear mount mower, I should leave the MMM on the tractor? Does anyone even make a mid-mount rough cutter?

Although it is more convenient, I don't want to ruin the MMM as I do need it for the lawn.

Is the JD lx4 brush cutter any better than the aftermarket ones? The lx4 is $1000 from my local dealer. I will be using it several times a year to maintain trails and once a year to clear about 10 acres of fields.