Walk Behind Brush Cutter

JDGREEN4ME · Jul 13, 2006

In the next year I am going to be in the market for a walk behind brush cutter to maintain the area we just cleared for building our new home. The area is 150' x 150' so I do not need (or want) a tractor mounted impliment. Due to location it isn't cost effective to pay someone else to maintain it for us. So I am looking for a walk behind brush cutter. I have seen the Billy Goat, DR and I believe a Swisher model at a Tractor Supply. Anyone use any of these brands or know of any other I should consider? Thank you.

aesanders · Jul 14, 2006

One other to consider is a BCS. Stoneham John Deere in Southeast PA (not sure where in Southeast PA you are, but they are in Waynesboro) carries these. They are a do all walk behind tractor. Best known for their tiller attachment, but they also due very well as a brush cutter. You can either get a sickle mower or rotary mower attachemnt for them.

Here is a great site to check them out:

http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/bcs_implements.html

plowrup · Jul 14, 2006

I'm going to get thrown under the Bus on this one, but I would find a used Troy Bilt Sickle Mower. Yes, they have been out of production for 5-8 years anyway, but I bought a new one off of Ebay (new still in the Crate!)last year. I bought it for one of my son's who has a lot clearing business in the Summer. MTD bought out Troy Bilt, so you can buy parts direct from MTD, and properly cared for, these will last in your application (my son has two-he now has one worker and he's only 15! Ya gotta love free enterprise!)

If you have unlimited funds, I agree with aesanders-get a BCS-they are the absolute best made in my book-I sell a lot of them with very little trouble (except price). I think the Billy Goats and such are also good. The question is, do you need to Mulch it all or will direct cut work? My son has put in literally hundreds of hours on his first Troy Bilt, and taking out the cutting parts, and with good maintenance, has had 0 problems-

shvl73 · Jul 14, 2006

I had an old Garden Way sickle mower, 4hp. It would cut impressively thick brush for its size. I ended up e-baying it when I didn't have a use for it. Now I wish I still had it for clearing under fences. The only downside I saw was it cuts and lays the brush, not chopping it up like a rotary mower would.

JackIL · Jul 14, 2006

I have had very good luck with DR Field and Brush Mowers. The deck pivots to allow it to follow contours, the current machines have an easily engaged/disengaged differential lock for slopes or rough areas, and an electric blade clutch. Great company to deal with.

JackIL

JasonL · Jul 14, 2006

I have a Billy Goat brush cutter. I got it before I bought my tractor and bushhog. It works great- particularly in tight/steep areas I can't get my tractor into. I can't compare it to any other brands (haven't tried any other), but no complaints here. Jason

robison · Jul 14, 2006

I have a DR that I've been very happy with. I soldiers along, and it does everything the TV ads claim. If you can push it over, the DR will chop it up. And they have show blower and lawn mower attachments. I have the mower attachment but not the snow blower. It's well made.

JDGREEN4ME · Jul 15, 2006

Thanks guys for all the replies. I found a dealer south of our property who sells DR models, we are going to check them out next weekend.That was a suprise because I thought they only sold direct.

dmccarty · Jul 18, 2006

JDGreen4Me,

You may want to search this forum for BrushMowers. We had a discussion back in January? maybe that was pretty long.

I got a DR Brushcutter and have been using it to clear property lines and mow grass. It works as advertized. I'm really impressed with it. But it will wear you out. Even mowing grass two or so hours is about my limit with the thing. That may be partly the heat we are having lately though. I have cleared a good 3000 feet of property lines with this thing and its much better than using a handheld brush cutter. I can let my grass get 18 inches tall and not have to worry about mowng. The DR will take it down. So far this mowing season all my grass cutting has been with the DR. I have been using the tractor to do other stuff and the DR has allowed me to mow instead of spending lots of time swapping attachements around on the tractor.

If you get the DR get a good pair of padded work gloves. I just found a pair at Lowes for $30, gulp, but worth every penny.

Later,
Dan

marks · Jul 20, 2006

As Dan mentioned there is an extensive thread/s on this topic during the past year, I started one of them. I have rented the Billy Goat, and currently own the DR. IMO the DR is a better machine in that it seems to be balanced better, offers greater traction (locking differential), and wasn't as tiresome to operate. The Swisher brand offers NO support, for their product. I contacted their distributors in CA, and none of their supposed distributors had heard of their product! Go with the DR, sometimes you can find them on Ebay.