Rotary Cutter Which Rotary Cutter ?

[Welshman]

I'm in the market for a rotary cutter and have just started looking. While I've used a couple before, I've not owned one.

My primary use for one is maintaining about 6 acres of pastures, and some walking trails that I have, which I've been maintaining with my 72" finish mower. I have a 35hp NH T-1520 tractor.

I've looked at a Kioti RC 1060, a Land Pride ( I think it's a RCR 1260), and a County Line 5'. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations on any of these?

What advantages/disadvantages are there between shear pin and slip clutch for driveline protection?

Thanks.

 

[Shaneard]

Shear pin sucks, slip clutch is awesome if maintained properly. If you shear a pin you have to stop and fix it. If you slip a clutch chances are you won't even know it and you continue on.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I've used many different brands of cutters. If you aren't going to mow commercially, mow highway right of ways or use it in heavy use like a few hundred acres of cornstalks go for whatever cutter you can find that fits your budget with a clutch. Most of the lighter duty ones are all built about the same anyway.

 

[skipperbrown]

I'd look for a 6' unit with a slip clutch. Compare the weight of the units and go for the heaviest in your budget range.

 

[BRMyers]

I have a Kubota Grand L3560 (35HP) and use a LP RCR1272. It has the clutch. I have mowed some thick grass with it. I can tell you in thick grass, I pull slow, but now that we have some of the areas mowed back, the second cutting I was able to do in medium gear, without any issues. You can get an idea from the picture that type of area that I've been mowing in.

 

[ruffdog]

When I assemble a shear pin connection, I use marine grease so it doesn't rust together over time. If it does rust, you lose the protection provided by the shear pin. If a clutch sits, it may be "stuck" and will take extra torque to break it free. Sometimes the extra torque is more than other components can handle so those items break. That is why people will loosen a clutch, use it to break it free and spin it some, then re-adjust it to the proper tension. It depends on how often you use the cutter and what you are mowing if a clutch or shear pin fits your needs. I like having the shear pin on my cutter but I'm not using it as much as many people are. I have not sheared a pin yet either. My dad's old Dixie Cutter has a clutch and it was froze up. He blew the pto shaft apart when he hit a stump.

 

[big bubba]

know the limits of your tractor pto hp & rear attachments max weight. didn't mention if you have a fel. makes a difference in rear implements.
so check the pto hp requirements of each of the brush hogs you are looking at. your owners manual should give max weight of various 3ph attachments. assume your pto hp is around 30 hp. then go from there.
in terms of reputation, both mentioned manufacturers have a solid reputation.
personally, since you already have a lighter finish mower, i'd go mid range service duty for the hog

 

[RickB]

I'd look for a 6' unit with a slip clutch. Compare the weight of the units and go for the heaviest in your budget range.

A 6’ cutter that is too heavy will be disadvantageous on a T1520 if the tractor does not have a loader. If he has been mowing the same ground with a finish mower a light duty rotary will be fine. I do agree a slip clutch would be my preference.

 

[Welshman]

Thank you all for the responses.

All of the units that I've looked at fit in the pto hp range of my tractor, and yes, I do have a FEL.

 

[coobie]

I'm in the market for a rotary cutter and have just started looking. While I've used a couple before, I've not owned one.

My primary use for one is maintaining about 6 acres of pastures, and some walking trails that I have, which I've been maintaining with my 72" finish mower. I have a 35hp NH T-1520 tractor.

I've looked at a Kioti RC 1060, a Land Pride ( I think it's a RCR 1260), and a County Line 5'. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations on any of these?

What advantages/disadvantages are there between shear pin and slip clutch for driveline protection?

Thanks.

Brush hog and woods brand medium duty series rotary cutters are pretty hard to beat.Buy once cry once.Medium duty cutters are about $1000 bucks more than light duty.As stated above get the slip clutch in a 5 ft.cutter.I believe a 6ft is to much cutter for your tractor.