3000 ford bush hog width

[drastic dave]

Signed up my ground for ten year program and will be bush
hogging 10 or 15 acres each year. Will a 3000 gas tractor
handle a 7 pull type bush hog ok.

 

[TomD62]

The rule of thumb I was told is 5 HP per foot, so a 7 foot brush hog would need 35 HP at the PTO. Others may know better.

 

[Dean]

Not well, especially if a 4 speed, which is too fast for even a 6' cutter in anything but light cover.

Both too heavy and too wide.

I've used 7' cutters with both 60 and 90 PTO HP tractors and they pull considerably harder than do 6' cutters of same design.

Dean

 

[MJMJ]

Not sure where the 5hp per foot rule got started, but no way would I use a 7 cutter on a 35 hp tractor. Some of them wouldnt even lift it safely.
The max I would want on my 3000 would be a 6, and in really heavy grass you may need to overlap quite a bit. I have a 5 and heavy grass will bog it down.

 

[johnofnewhaven]

I think the 5hp per foot is just
a minimum. I agree that 7' would
be a bit much for a Ford 3000 (I
have 2 Ford 3000s) and a 6' is a
much better match up. You really
do want a rotary cutter that will
be as wide as your tire tracks.
It really does depend on what you
are cutting as to how much HP per
foot. I have a 8' I use with my
Ford 5000 diesel. It handles it
fine but I only mow a 10 acre
grass field 4-5 times a year so
it is never cutting much.

 

[Destroked 450]

A 3000 should handle a 7 ft pull type mower if you cutting pasture height and dont let the grass get real tall and thick between cuttings
If your wanting to cut it low like a manicured lawn or let it get thick were you barely can walk through it then a 3000 would struggle with a 6 footer
Ive mowed pasture heigh in fairly heavy grass and light brush pulling a 10 ft pull type mower with my 4000

 

[Destroked 450]

A 3000 should handle a 7 ft pull type mower if you cutting pasture height and dont let the grass get real tall and thick between cuttings
If your wanting to cut it low like a manicured lawn or let it get thick were you barely can walk through it then a 3000 would struggle with a 6 footer
Ive mowed pasture heigh in fairly heavy grass and light brush pulling a 10 ft pull type mower with my 4000

 

[johnofnewhaven]

Dean did 3000s even come with a 4spd option?

 

[drastic dave]

My tractor has hi low range. Just bought this tractor but from the comments Ive read I will sell my 5ft and get a 6 ft. Thanks for the input

 

[Dean]

Yes.

Geared very fast. Even faster than 8N.

Dean

 

[Dean]

With a 4X2 transmission you have enough gears to select speeds suitable for a 6' cutter in just about any conditions.

Dean

 

[Ultradog MN]

Here is an 8 speed 3000 with a 6' rotary.
I think in 2nd gear.
Tractor had its tongue hanging out.
Small clearing about 500' in diameter that I only mow every other year.

 

[GreenAcre]

Agree with the 6' being optimal for a 3000 but also keep in mind while you're mowing you don't have to take a full bite all of the time. Swing out and let it mow what it can handle in heavy spots, lighter spots put more back in.

 

[Sean in PA]

My '73 4000 came with a 5' heavy duty Woods mower on it when I bought it. I always felt that it could easily handle another couple of feet, but with the 5 foot heavy duty mower I can drive over a field of young saplings up to 1.5" or 2" in diameter and pretty much have a field full of wood chips in one pass.

 

[jchewie]

My 3000 gas handles 6 foot in second gear
with ease. Heavy tall brush or very heavy
tall grass like reed canary will stall in
second, bog in first, so I take a partial
width.

If I needed a brush hog and a 7 came
available at a fair price I wouldn't
hesitate.

 

[Texasmark]

Not in heavy brush. My 3000 runs a 6' medium duty with ease. Consider the area of a 7' circle vs a 6' circle and you have a lot more area besides the moment arm you need to drive with the longer reach. Also a 7' will make the front tires light...too many feet to go with the extra pounds hanging off the rear of the 3 pt.

 

[Destroked 450]

7 ft pull type wont make the front end light, if the grass is heavy cut it high the first pass then lower the mower, after that move over and take a partial 5-6 ft cut
In lighter grass take a full cut and get done quicker

 

[Sean in PA]

(quoted from post at 23:36:26 12/26/21)
7 ft pull type wont make the front end light, if the grass is heavy cut it high the first pass then lower the mower, after that move over and take a partial 5-6 ft cut
In lighter grass take a full cut and get done quicker

I've only used 3 point mowers. How do you raise and lower the cut on a pull type?

 

[Jim.ME]

(quoted from post at 07:37:06 12/27/21)

(quoted from post at 23:36:26 12/26/21)
7 ft pull type wont make the front end light, if the grass is heavy cut it high the first pass then lower the mower, after that move over and take a partial 5-6 ft cut
In lighter grass take a full cut and get done quicker

I've only used 3 point mowers. How do you raise and lower the cut on a pull type?

Some can be adjusted with a mechanical screw jack, similar to a top link or a ratcheting type with a handle. Some have hydraulic cylinders which can be used during operation.

 

[Destroked 450]

Hydraulic cylinder with cylinder stops to set the mowing height
Hydraulic cylinder allows you to raise the mower up quickly to clear objects like rocks
Older tractors like JD or IH with 3 point have to use pull type mowers
We had a 3 point for our 800 Ford and a pull type for the WD Allis

Today I have a 10 ft Howse pull type I pull with my 4000 Ford and a 15 ft Rhino bat wing I pull with the 6610

 

[steve in ok]

yes, it will do fine with it. IMHO