Rotary Cutter What 6-ft Rotary Cutter?

[wolc123]

My experience has been that in a light duty cutter, Bush Hog will give the best quality cut. I dont know how they do it, but there is really no comparison to any other brand I have used, including Woods and Rhino. A Bush Hog Squealer, even with dull blades, will leave a field cut so neat that you would think it was done with a finish mower. It will lay the cuttings down nice and even with no "windrowing", leaving a field in much better shape than those cutters that leave clumps, killing the grass below. Any other brand I have used has done a shabby job in comparison with streaks left uncut, etc.. I will never again buy anything but Bush Hog. I could care less how a cutter looks on the showroom floor, and even structural strength does not concern me much because I know how to weld. My biggest concerns are cut quality and a strong drive train and no other that I have used has matched Bush Hog in these areas.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

After further review, I don't care for the rear wheel framing compared to the Wood's design.

Guess I will go with the new Woods.

I have a Woods MD172 sitting in the weeds right now as the gearbox seal has died again (third or fourth time it has happened (its pathetic when it happens so often I can't keep track), I am currently using a 5' King Kutter to cut the vineyards but the KK will cut all the orchard and pastures also that I would have used the Woods on before. I have a new seal to put in it and as soon as it is repaired I am selling it and buying a Bush Hog. Very few people around here use Woods anymore, it is mainly Bush Hog with John Deere second.

Hopefully you have better luck with Woods then I did

 

[Dargo]

I personally like the Brown 672 for the best performing and strongest rotary cutter. The 6' cutter weighs in at a full 1600 pounds. Here is a link to the 6' and the 7' Brown Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201 They are a bit more expensive than the other brands mentioned, but they are considerably stronger. They do have a lighter 400 series shown here Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201

I missed out by stopping just short of getting a great deal on their 8' model at an auction. It was almost like new and I stopped at $1500 thinking it would go out of sight on price and walked away to see other items. It ended up going for $1600. Ah, I could have kicked myself!! Here is what I'm talking about Brown Mfg Corp -  Brush Shredder 8200

 

[Rara Avis]

I personally like the Brown 672 for the best performing and strongest rotary cutter. The 6' cutter weighs in at a full 1600 pounds. Here is a link to the 6' and the 7' Brown Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201 They are a bit more expensive than the other brands mentioned, but they are considerably stronger. They do have a lighter 400 series shown here Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201

I missed out by stopping just short of getting a great deal on their 8' model at an auction. It was almost like new and I stopped at $1500 thinking it would go out of sight on price and walked away to see other items. It ended up going for $1600. Ah, I could have kicked myself!! Here is what I'm talking about Brown Mfg Corp -* Brush Shredder 8200

Based on these prices you should have bid higher...

Brown 672HD 6 Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 540 RPM - 1720# Weight - 50 HP Minimum
$ 5,670.00
Brown 672HD-1 6Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 1000 RPM - 1720# Weight - 50 HP Minimum
$ 5,935.00
Brown 672HD-D 6Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 540 RPM - 1720# Weight - 50 HP Min. - Dual Tail Wheel
$ 6,135.00

Brown 672HD-D-1 6Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 1000 RPM - 1720# Weight - 50 HP Min. - Dual Tail Wheel
$ 6,400.00
Brown 684 7 Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 540 RPM - 2240# Weight - 60 HP Minimum
$ 6,670.00
Brown 684-1 7 Ft. Extra Heavy Duty Brush Cutter - 4" Capacity
145 HP Gear Box @ 1000 RPM - 2240# Weight - 60 HP Minimum
$ 6,935.00

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I personally like the Brown 672 for the best performing and strongest rotary cutter. The 6' cutter weighs in at a full 1600 pounds. Here is a link to the 6' and the 7' Brown Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201 They are a bit more expensive than the other brands mentioned, but they are considerably stronger. They do have a lighter 400 series shown here Brown Mfg Corp - Trench Master F-1201

I missed out by stopping just short of getting a great deal on their 8' model at an auction. It was almost like new and I stopped at $1500 thinking it would go out of sight on price and walked away to see other items. It ended up going for $1600. Ah, I could have kicked myself!! Here is what I'm talking about Brown Mfg Corp -* Brush Shredder 8200

The Brown mower line is a niche market product. Unless you NEED that super heavy duty mower, the weight is a liability for general use. They're especially popular with land clearing/extreme rough mowing conditions commercial mowing operators, but the average run-of-the-mill end user just doesn't need that sort of mower. On a "per foot width" basis, it takes a LOT more tractor to handle one of these mowers than say a Bush Hog 200 or 300 series. I have a Bush Hog 406, which is their answer to the Brown mowers. At 6', it takes an 8000 lb (+) tractor to handle it (safely) on rough ground. When you consider the cost vs. job requirements, 99.9% of the time, a mower of that duty rating wouldn't be the "right mower for the job".

All depends on what you'll be doing and which tractor you'll be hanging the mower on.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Interesting reading. I have the 5' Woods, and generally pleased with it, but I wouldn't say the cut is great. It does handle heavy brush surprisingly well - I really push it mowing forest.

Running it off a 30hp kubota has not been an issue, so I'd guess 6' is small for a 60 unless its a brown type?

Thought I'd throw my 2 cents of experience in, but obviously farm with Junk's opinion is much more useful than mine - when and if my woods dies I'll probably buy a bush hog based on the postings above.

 

[SEEDSNTREES]

Seems as if Bush Hog is a favorite and does a better job of mowing. Are the chains in the rear better than the band to evenly drop the clippings?

Seems as if the new SQ172 can handle up to 2" brush.

Anyone use a Landpride?

Thanks,

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Chain gaurds allow better air flow. (as opposed to metal or rubber bands) That, combined with the use of high lift blades helps to lift the grass/weeds for more even cutting. When you hit something buried in the weeds and turn it into a flying object, the chains deaden the objects momentum, but still allow it to exit safely from under the mower so the blades don't continue to hit it over and over. Bands CAN tend to trap items under the mower in some instances. Down side.... the chains add more weight than a simple metal band or a rubber strip.

Personally, and considering the price differential, I tend to favor the 285/286/287-295/296/297 line of Bush Hog mowers (over the SQ series) . Just a tick heavier built deck, higher HP rated gearbox, a little heavier duty blades as standard, and standard slip clutch. But, should you buy an SQ series mower, spend the extra bucks and get the (part #) 7556 heavy duty high lift blades. They're listed as replacement parts for the 200 series mowers but also fit the SQ line. MUCH better blades than standard SQ series. (New sets sell for around $60 at your Bush Hog dealer)

 

[Glowplug]

Chain gaurds allow better air movement. (as opposed to metal or rubber bands) That, combined with the use of high lift blades helps to lift the grass/weeds for more even cutting. When you hit something buried in the weeds and turn it into a flying object, the chains deaden the objects momentum, but still allow it to exit safely from under the mower so the blades don't continue to hit it over and over. Bands CAN tend to trap items under the mower in some instances. Down side.... the chains add more weight than a simple metal band or a rubber strip.

All good points on the chains. I have chains on my 10' Rhino cutter. Had to have them added post-production though. I have never thought about the airflow quality of cut issue though. Intriguing.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

All good points on the chains. I have chains on my 10' Rhino cutter. Had to have them added post-production though. I have never thought about the airflow quality of cut issue though. Intriguing.

I bought a model 286 mower near 3 years ago. My son bought one at the same time. Mine came equipped chains. His came without. He put a rubber flap on the front and back until the dealer got a set of chains for him. We put both mowers to the test, side-by-side. Mine left a MUCH cleaner cut. When the chains came in, we swapped them for the rubber flaps on Jonathons mower. Cutting quality matched mine at that point. Bush Hog rep explained the air flow issue to me at the National Farm Machinery Show. Not a doubt in my mind that it made a difference, on these 2 mowers anyway.