Which rotary cutter for my M5040

[sgipson]

I have a Kubota M5040 4wd with FEL. Need to replace old 5 ft cutter with a 6 foot.
Looked at Rhino and Bush Hog.
Want something as heavy duty as the tractor will handle.
Very rough cutting needs.
Anyone matched up cutter with M5040?

 

[brentj]

I have an older Rhino M72 6 footer. This is a good match for the M5040 and this is a rough duty cutter.

 

[Bob_Young]

For a 6' 3PH cutter, the Woods BB720 would probably be the upper limit for an M5040. It weighs close to 1200# and is built like a tank. You might want to check your tractor operating manual to see if a cutter this heavy is within allowable limits.

I use a BB720 behind my MX5000. It's definitely a challenge for the MX from a weight standpoint. To keep the fronts down, I have to leave the FEL on or add ballast weight up front. Other than that, the MX seems to run it OK. Your M5040 is more tractor than the MX, so it should have an easier time handling it.
Bob

 

[TripleR]

I don't know how "rough" your cutting will be, but Woods makes good ones, I use this Land Pride with my L5030 and it does a really good job in pretty tough conditions.

 

[rbargeron]

There are many good choices. I'll throw in a plug for the Brown 472, which I've owned for years. It weighs around 1200 and is basically identical to a Bush Hog 286, but possibly a few dollars less depending on your dealer. There are many threads on TBN about picking a rotary cutter for tractors about the size of your M5040. The major manufacturers all make a 6 ft model in the 1200 pound class. Need to compare apples to apples - a 700 pounder isn't going to hold up grinding up trees.

Brown makes heavy-duty tree harvesting equipment too so they are all about beefy design. The 400 is their middle-weight series. They also offer a 600 series that's even heavier (6" blades, 1/4" skirt) - but I think you'd find the 400 series to be plenty. I've used my 472 to open long-neglected fields with 4" pines and 2" hardwoods. It's up to the job. Brown product page here

 

[rjkobbeman]

I own an M8540. The M5040, M6040 and M7040 are the same platform size. The M8540 and M9540 are also the same platform size, slightly larger than the M50/60/7040 tractors.

I run a Land Pride 6' Rotary Cutter (the EXACT same one that TripleR pictured). I also have a friend that owns an MX5100 (slightly smaller platform than the M50/60/7040 tractors) and he runs the same 6' Land Pride cutter.

I think the 6' cutter would do fine on your M5040. I also think you could go larger if you wanted, but would not get a 7' cutter. The 7' cutters are single spindle and are huge. They take a lot of tractor to handle and are "just to dang big" (according to many). If you want to go bigger than 6', get a dual spindle (two blade) cutter. They are wider, but not as long.

As far as manufacturer, I only have experience with Land Pride... but I can say they are extremely well built. Both fit & finish and durability are top-notch. You can get them in Kubota orange if you want.

 

[Soundguy]

if you have a dealer carrying the HD line of howse or KK you might look at them too. a big difference from their regular duty line.

my HD 10' cutter from howse is a tank...

soundguy

 

[sgipson]

thanks for the input everyone. i did not want to overload my tractor and this gives me some good ideas.

 

[LeadPoison]

I have the M4900 and a loader. I use the Woods BB720 without any problems. It's built like a tank and after five years of sitting in the sun the paint is still 90% or better. A quality implement for sure.

 

[McGeesEquip]

I have a Kubota M5040 4wd with FEL. Need to replace old 5 ft cutter with a 6 foot.
Looked at Rhino and Bush Hog.
Want something as heavy duty as the tractor will handle.
Very rough cutting needs.
Anyone matched up cutter with M5040?

After pricing some of the other units mention, come by and see me and I have a 6Ft King Kutter HD unit with 80HP gearbox on the lot. If it's not heavy enough I can order a heavy duty McCormick unit.

Thanks,