Rotary Mower Question

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 16:19:21 04/29/23) I'm looking to upgrade and upsize my current mower to save some time while maintaining our property. I currently have an ancient Bush Hog
brand 5' that I use with my 45 PTO HP Kubota. I've done some reading online and talked to the local Kubota dealer and most people seem to
think I should be able to use up to a 7' mower. I wont be doing much heavy mowing, but do have about 30 acres of grass/hay that I'd like to
continue to cut at least once per year. Around 20 acres is currently cut for hay in early summer, and I usually mow those fields once again
in late fall/early winter. The remaining 10 acres is either in food plots or pasture type fields that were cleaned out with a skidsteer and
forestry mulcher last summer. Do you all think that a 7' mower is sized right for the HP I have and the mowing I'll be doing? I looked at a
Woods BB840X at a dealer this morning and am comfortable with the price he is asking. The only drawback I can see with the mower is that is
has a single tail wheel. Any thoughts on a 7' mower with single tail wheel? There's another Woods 7' mower listed close by that is a dual
tail wheel unit and I'm wondering if that would be the better option. Just looking for advice from those that have more experience than
myself. Thanks.

have run an 8 foot dual spindle,, dual rear wheels on a 1950's 44HP tractor for many, many years. Just pasture, not rough brush.

 

[rick n ohio]

You need a brushhog brand brushhog called the sqealler it's seven foot wide but only about four foot long and doesn't weigh anymore than a five foot it is offset to the right by a foot it is designed for 35hp tractors for mowing orchards I have one I use on a Kubota L4310 43hp hydro.a regular 7 foot brushhog is very big and bulky compared to a 6 footer.i have a 64 hp newholland cab tractor that couldn't handle a typical 7 ft 3 point brushhog way to heavy.you can Google the sqealler brushhog to get the specs good luck.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My point is not horsepower as much as it is the speed.

Are you saying speed doesn't matter when it comes to a lawn mower or brush hog?

 

[WNYBill]

Man, you got answers all over the place! You don't have tractor enough for a 7 footer rotary mower, they are too heavy and you will be front end light. 6 foot is all our 50 hp will handle. 3 point will let you get into tighter places than pull type, we have both and the 8 ft HD pull type will make the 70HP Kubota snort. Never looked at the Squealer, Brush Hog used to be a good brand.

 

[johnofnewhaven]

You are twisting the post George. It's about matching the right size implement to the tractor. I have an 8 foot 3pt Bushhog I use with my 1974 Ford 5000 diesel and it handels it great. Sure I could go to a much larger pull type and creep along at a snails pace but what's the point? Get the right size implement for the tractor and move along at a decent speed.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

WHAT EVER!

 

[johnofnewhaven]

Ya George what ever. Keep posting all your goofy crap.

 

[Mike Groom]

I had a 7 foot John Deere rotary mower for a couple of years behind my 1520 JD which is around 47 hp. I didn't like the overall width compared to the six foot so I went back to a six foot, it is easier on the driveline and is easier for me to judge the mowing width without having to look back to make sure I clear an object like a tree or post etc. Just something to think about in purchasing, both had single tail wheels which I prefer.

 

[Dean]

Your 45 PTO HP tractor can handle a 6' rough cut mower in most conditions if the mower is not too heavy.

It is not adequate for a 7' cutter in anything but absolutely ideal conditions, then only if the mower is very light, you have front weights (or FEL) and no steep ground.

Your tractor cannot begin to handle a Woods BB840X, which is a heavy 7' cutter. I once owned one of these and it is a heavy cutter, around 1,400 Lbs., IIRC. I used mine with a heavy MF 60 PTO HP tractor and later a 90 PTO HP Kubota. The hitch components of your Kubota will not hold up even if it will lift it.

I currently use a Woods BB720X, 6' cutter (same series as the BB840X and also heavy) with my 53 PTO HP Kubota. My L6060 has sufficient power for most of my work but I have broken hitch components three times.

The BB840X is too big and too heavy for your tractor.

 

[Dean]

I wouldn't.

See above.

 

[Dean]

Confused about Rick's comment below.

Squealer is a BH trademark used on it's low cost line of cutters.

Do not understand how a 7' cutter can be only 4' long.

 

[Dean]

Agreed.

Seven foot rough cut mowers are not ideal. They are heavy, long, and have considerable weight far from the lift arms. The also usually require more HP than do 8' twin spindle cutters.

Bought a new one once but never again.

 

[knightstead]

Thanks, after reading more and thinking about it I'll think I'll just narrow my search down to a good used 6 footer.

 

[Indiana Ken]

I have two bush hog mowers, one is 5 ft with a single tail wheel and the other is 6 ft with two tail wheels. I have a lane that goes back to my woods which I keep mowed. The single wheel mower is fine when I mow the center of the lane; tractor wheels are in the lane tracks and the mower tail wheel is in the center between the lane tracks. The tracks in the lane are approximately 3" deep; when I mow the sides of the lane I must keep the tail wheel out of the lane tracks. I prefer two tail wheels. Also, two tail wheels work better, for me, when mowing the road sides along the farm.

 

[Destroked 450]

A multi spindle 8 ft mower pulls easier than a 7 ft single due to the shorter blades cut taking as big of a cut

I ve been mowing with a 10 ft behind my 52 hp 4000 Ford for many years, a neighbor pulls a 12" bat wing with his 4630

You already have a small mower that you can fall back on for the heavy stuff, get something a good bit wider for the light clipping
As for u-joint issues on the pull type I ve only had to replace one in nearly 20 years
My 96 model 15 ft bat wing I pull with my 72 hp tractor still has the original u-joints in all but the right side wing that a yoke broke on last year

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

in that squealer line bush hog made the 7' a twin spindle. I only looked at literature but always wanted one because it was offset. It was not a heavy mower. The squealer line was all light duty. It was by appearance rather short due to the dual spindle

 

[rusty6]

I can only comment on the pull type, non three point type. Six foot is no problem at all on the Cockshutt 40. The Case 730 at 57 hp hardly knows theres anything behind it. Its pretty simple to just gear down if the cutting gets tough. Taller and thicker material is going to take more power. I usually cut in third gear, maybe 3 mph at most. Yes, it does not like sharp turns so if you have many obstacles and tight corners to cut around a mounted model would be better. Sharp turns will make mine rattle the joints a little but in 30 years of use I have yet to replace a u joint.

 

[charlie n]

When we had the sod farm in latter years the maintainer mowers were 72in finish decks on 2 Ford 25hp compacts. Had a Kubota ZD28 30hp finish mower with a 72in deck. I have a F3060 30hp with 72in deck. All handle and handled 6 foot decks in lawn applications. I have a BB72 on a MX5800 and it's all it wants in heavy grass and light brush.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Whatever you say.

 

[johnofnewhaven]

Lol your just ridiculous.