What to attach?

stevewilli · Feb 27, 2008

I am considering buying a BX2350. I have about 3/4 of an acre of lawns which I would like to close cut plus about 1 1/2 acres of rough pasture and about another 5 of woodland in which the trees area fairly close and I want to keep down the undergrowth around and under the trees. Will a 48inch mulch deck with rear discharge be my best bet? Also, have a fair length of drive mostly beneath trees which I want to keep swept. Can I fit a front mounted rotating brush to the BX? Any advice much appreciated.

skidoo · Feb 27, 2008

Hello Steve,

I recently purchased a JD X749 for my slopes and tight turn radius. I haven't yet mowed, but I have tried its climbing and stability performance. So far, I am quite impressed. I put it sideways (near the bottom of a slope), and it felt very stable even when pulling on it in an attempt to raise a wheel. This is in a same spot where a taller tractor feels very uncomfortable. The BX and JD cut/scuts are real work horses, but for just mowing the slopes, the X is great! It has all wheel drive (+ diff lock) and 4 wheel steer for a 6" uncut radius.

Shantycoke · Feb 29, 2008

stevewilli said:
I am considering buying a BX2350. I have about 3/4 of an acre of lawns which I would like to close cut plus about 1 1/2 acres of rough pasture and about another 5 of woodland in which the trees area fairly close and I want to keep down the undergrowth around and under the trees. Will a 48inch mulch deck with rear discharge be my best bet? Also, have a fair length of drive mostly beneath trees which I want to keep swept. Can I fit a front mounted rotating brush to the BX? Any advice much appreciated.

In my opinion, which doesn't really account for much, I would get a 54 or 60" finish mower for the lawn, which will make it look well kept and manicured. Then I would get maybe a 48" brush cutter for the pasture and tree area. I think using a finish type mower in the pasture and tree area would work for a while, but eventually that type of use would destroy it, and a rough cut mower will leave a little to be desired on the lawn. A 2350 will handle a 48" brush cutter and a 60" finish mower with no problems. Hope this helps.
Pat

stevewilli · Mar 1, 2008

Skidoo, I wish you hadn't mentioned the X749. I think its definitely more suitable for my property being both 4WD and 4 wheel steer. Only problem is that I don't think its available in the UK so would have to do a personal import.

Also Shantycoke. What's a 48in. brushcutter? Is that what I'd call a flail? Does it go on the rear pto?

RonR · Mar 1, 2008

I'm probably a contrarian, but unless I was going to cut brush forever, I would not buy a 48" brush hog for your BX. Yes, that's the size recommended. But if you have it mowed down once and then can keep after it regularly, I don't see any reason not to buy a 5 or 6 foot tow behind cutter. The 3PH might not be able to lift a 6ft 3PH mower, I don't know, but powerwise, I'm sure it can handle it in "reasonable mowing".

As a kid, I mowed with a ford tractor and 5ft mower in pastures. It took FOREVER!

Hope this helps.
ron

Shantycoke · Mar 3, 2008

RonR said:
I'm probably a contrarian, but unless I was going to cut brush forever, I would not buy a 48" brush hog for your BX. Yes, that's the size recommended. But if you have it mowed down once and then can keep after it regularly, I don't see any reason not to buy a 5 or 6 foot tow behind cutter. The 3PH might not be able to lift a 6ft 3PH mower, I don't know, but powerwise, I'm sure it can handle it in "reasonable mowing".

As a kid, I mowed with a ford tractor and 5ft mower in pastures. It took FOREVER!

Hope this helps.
ron

I had a BX 2230 with a 60 inch finish mower. I cut about 4 acres of lawn regularly, and have a 2.5 acre field I mow a couple times a month in the warmer weather. I didn't have a brush hog with the 2230, so I used the finish mower to do it all, and that 2.5 acre field did a number on the mower deck and blades, and the lawn showed it. I ended up getting a brand new 5' International brush cutter for 750.00 when I got my new B7800 last year. The finish mower on the 7800 is for the lawn only. I figure by spending $750.00 on that brush cutter, it saved me from tearing up a couple thousand dollar finish mower. I also use the brush cutter for keeping logging roads clear.
The original poster shouldn't have too much trouble keeping a 1 1/2 acre pasture looking good with a 48" cutter, and his BX would have no trouble handling it.
Pat