Walk Behind Brush Cutter

[JDGREEN4ME]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Solo]

Look on e-bay for Gravely. You can find them with sickle bar mowers. Even though they no longer make them new you can still find parts for them. I use mine to clear fence lines creek banks and tree lines.

Solo

 

[Believer]

Is there a way to get something or make something to lock the differential on older DR brush mowers?

 

[marks]

I've used the Billy Goat and wound up purchasing a DR off Ebay. It is a much better machine, I've beaten it up as much as it has abused me, but it is an awesome machine. And their tech support is fantastic.

 

[gibbsb]

I have now used both the Billy Goat Outback and the DR Field and Brush Mower and can compare the two. I have a little over an acre that I just purchased and it was covered with cactus, mesquite trees and every kind of thorny bush known to man. It is also very rocky. I rented a Billy Goat and cleared the first half. The Billy Goat did a pretty amazing job, but there were a lot of the mesquite that I had to cut down with a chainsaw. The Billy Goat would try, but it was a no go. The narrow tires and lack of differential lock got me stuck a few times.

The DR is a monster. I purchased the 30" with the 17hp Kawasaki and it never broke a sweat. I only had a couple of mesquite that it wouldn't handle and the wider tires and locking differential prevented me from getting stuck. The DR is heavier than the Billy Goat, which is good and bad. The DR is harder to turn, but the extra weight allows it to bend over more brush. The gearshift on the Billy Goat is down by the engine and you have to bend over to get to it. Sometimes, that area is obstructed by thorny branches. The DR shift lever is up by the other controls. The shift on both of them could be smoother to operate. The only thing I really missed on the Billy Goat were the handguards. You have to keep your left hand on the presence lever or it will stall if the blade is engaged. If you are in a bunch of thorns, you will get scratched.

Sure, I could have continued to rent the Billy Goat and come out money ahead. But now I can go mow on a whim, don't have to reserve the Billy Goat and don't have to return it to the rental yard early Monday. Convenience is worth a lot.

I am 64 and mowed most of the day Friday. In most cases the DR is no more work than any walk behind mower. I don't understand the comments I have read saying that it will really beat you up. So far I am very happy with the DR.

Barry

 

[two_bit_score]

I was thinking about buying a Billy Goat and after renting one I was not impressed. Glad I didn't waste the money on it.

 

[JakeBrake]

I have now used both the Billy Goat Outback and the DR Field and Brush Mower and can compare the two. I have a little over an acre that I just purchased and it was covered with cactus, mesquite trees and every kind of thorny bush known to man. It is also very rocky. I rented a Billy Goat and cleared the first half. The Billy Goat did a pretty amazing job, but there were a lot of the mesquite that I had to cut down with a chainsaw. The Billy Goat would try, but it was a no go. The narrow tires and lack of differential lock got me stuck a few times.

The DR is a monster. I purchased the 30" with the 17hp Kawasaki and it never broke a sweat. I only had a couple of mesquite that it wouldn't handle and the wider tires and locking differential prevented me from getting stuck. The DR is heavier than the Billy Goat, which is good and bad. The DR is harder to turn, but the extra weight allows it to bend over more brush. The gearshift on the Billy Goat is down by the engine and you have to bend over to get to it. Sometimes, that area is obstructed by thorny branches. The DR shift lever is up by the other controls. The shift on both of them could be smoother to operate. The only thing I really missed on the Billy Goat were the handguards. You have to keep your left hand on the presence lever or it will stall if the blade is engaged. If you are in a bunch of thorns, you will get scratched.

Sure, I could have continued to rent the Billy Goat and come out money ahead. But now I can go mow on a whim, don't have to reserve the Billy Goat and don't have to return it to the rental yard early Monday. Convenience is worth a lot.

I am 64 and mowed most of the day Friday. In most cases the DR is no more work than any walk behind mower. I don't understand the comments I have read saying that it will really beat you up. So far I am very happy with the DR.

Barry

Congratulations on your new DR. I am also 64. I have a 2002 DR with the 15 HP Kawasaki and the 26" brushcutter. In 2002 this was the top of the line. I now have about 650 hours on it. Personally, I can do much more mowing in December than in July when it's 95 degrees in the shade and there is no shade. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I don't need to do much mowing in December.

I also have the 42" mower attachment which cuts much faster and neater, with less effort, just like any quality walk behind mower. You might want to consider purchasing one of these after you get your property into shape with the brushcutter.

I also have the 6KW generator attachment. The 15HP engine is ample to operate the generator. Plus with the mower's powered wheels, the generator will easily roll up the ramp into your truck or trailer or out to the back 40.

 

[FlaDon]

Look on e-bay for Gravely. You can find them with sickle bar mowers. Even though they no longer make them new you can still find parts for them. I use mine to clear fence lines creek banks and tree lines.

Solo

And if they had, they could be using it to throw snow too. A 30" Rotary mower on a Gravely doesn't need more than 7.6 HP to show the others how it's done.