Thanks Pete! I've since talked with my uncle. Think I'll refine my search to a 4'er, and go check out TS & Northern Tool first...maybe a "new" King Kutter (delivered to the property and save some hassles) ;)???

I was thinking about this thread yesterday. I spent two hours with my rotary cutter in the pasture yesterday, then my son did the neighbors for another two hours. The pastures are both fenced.

My MF tractor (35hp) handles the 5' cutter very well. It is just about 6" wider on each side of the rear tires. I have mowed with it enough that I can mow along side the fence line without issue.

Just a couple of additional thoughts. Make sure you have the right shear pin. My son broke the main gearbox shaft a few years ago...I had put the wrong pin in and it was stronger than the rotary mower:eek:. Luckily, none of the internals were compromised and I rebuild it with a new shaft.

Go slow and keep the turns up on the mower.

Have fun!

Random tractor parts link:

Farm Machinery Implements

This place is like "tractor supply" on steriods. It's got some cheap stuff, but also heavy duty stuff that will last.

Another tip from a previous thread that I liked was to confirm your PTO's rated power output, not just the motors.

KC - you're in Greensboro, so also check out Agri-Supply (which is like a tractor supply store).

I have a 60" NorTrac rotary cutter. I also have a 60" finish mower that I got from Agri Supply.
My tractor is an old Ford 8N, which they claim is 27hp at the PTO.
The 8N powers both of them with NO PROBLEM

Thanks again guys...the PTO is rated at 30, so we should be fine on any 4-5' cutter. Paul, I hear you regarding the "extra 6 inches" on each side....no fence lines for us, but I'd suspect that helps cutting around stuff too so I'll rethink this with my uncle.

Cash....never heard of AgrSupply before (thanks!), is your finish a Kodiak, and is AS local to you or did you have it shipped. Easier to ask here than "pretend" to order one ;)

Go with a 5' since your tractor can handle it. It's 25% bigger than a 4'. That adds up to a lot of saved hours over time.

i should have been more clear...no worries on the extra width. Go with the 5'.

I have made every stupid mistake possible, first growing up on a small ranch in Cali and now here on the farm with equipment. The 5'er won't be a mistake.

Agri Supply will gladly ship via motor freight to your door. This is the option I chose. I purchased their AgMate 5' rear discharge mower, #65058 LINK - AND had it shipped to my door, and still came out cheaper than buying locally at Northern. And after comparing the two brands, I think it is made in the same Chinese factory as the NorTrac brand, just with a different paint job.

Yes, it's Chinese, but I have used it all last season, and am using it this season, with no regret so far.


If you want USA made, look at King Kutter. I *think* all their units are still made in Alabama. And if you decide you want a King Kutter, look at the County Line brand mowers sold by Tractor Supply. They are just a rebranded item made for them by the King Kutter company - so If you want a King Kutter, save yourself a few hundred dollars and buy the TSC branded unit.

Thanks Cash, good info to know when I start looking for a 5'er (after I talk to my uncle again :cool:)...thanks to all!

If your PTO is rated at 30hp, and especially if you are powered by a diesel engine (which has more low end torque than my gas engine) then I would be *very* tempted to step up to a 6' mower for finish work. I sure would not go any smaller than the 5' mower.

If we are still talking about a rotary mower for brush, then 5' is probably as big as you want. IMO, it's harder to keep the blades spinning at optimum speed for efficient cutting when you get into dense growth or woody materials. You should also make sure your blades stay sharp. At a minimum, check them at the start of every season. Trust me, it makes the work go a lot smoother/faster/easier.

This is the rotary cutter I purchased; a NorTrac 60" from Northern Tool
NorTrac 3-Pt. Roughcut Mower — 60in. Cutting Width, Model# 1104S082 | Category 1 Mowers| Northern Tool + Equipment

Even though it is also a less expensive Chinese item, it still comes standard with the center "stump jumper" disc - which is supposed to reduce the chances of pranging your center drive spindle.

Thank you all once again! After talking it over, we're going to be opting for a 4'er which just makes more sense for our property and the smaller areas we want to clear. Just to clarify Cash, yep he's using a Woods 6' finish and it is indeed a diesel. We want to go "American made"....just because, so it appears that NT has a 4' King Kutter for 899 (sounds good go me), but I'm certainly going to check out TS as you suggest for their version. And believe me guys....I've already learned to be safer from this thread!

I caught at least an 8-9 lb bass in my pond this morning ;)

Hey guys...I think this is the one I've decided on (with the optional chain guards). Before I squeeze the trigger in the next day or so, anyone see any issues with this one that I've missed?

King Kutter 4' Flex Hitch Rotary Kutter L-48-40-P-FH by King Kutter for $859.99 : Rural King

Well, sounds like you already have the expensive thing as in the tractor. I would otherwise suggest looking at something like a Hustler X-ONEi with a rear discharge for doing 17 acres if you did not need the tractor.

30HP at the PTO is OK. A 5' could feel a bit large at times but if you have a pull behind it might work easier for the tractor just a bit harder to manuever than the 3pt style. I would NOT suggest bigger than 5' but would steer closer to 4' with that size of tractor. For comparison my 60HP can get feeling a bit out of whack with an 8' cutter but the 6' is bang on.

King Kutter is low grade but would likely last you 50 plus years of just cutting a small area several times a year. Keep in maintained, oiled, greased, safe from rusting out. Clean it after each use.

If buying used (my path) make sure the blades spin by hand. If the box does not easily turn there might be an issue which could run up in money. Same with new. But you will need to look under the unit to make sure the blades are not sitting on the ground or otherwise blocked by debris.

Good for smaller units is that the newer units are lighter, less steel. This makes them easier on the smaller tractors to use. My old 5' blade is HEAVY!!! But it is 20 plus years old.

When cutting be cognizant that the blades WILL swing debri out the FRONT of the cutter at YOUR head. It happens! Sometimes it is just fire ants, sometimes branches or rocks. Some cutters have "shields" of chain to help stop the bigger items, most do not. I do not know of anyone who has had to get stiches but I know people (me as well) who have received a small bruise or two.

Wear a good cowboy style straw hat to block the sun unless you have a sunshade. Wear plenty of sunscreen. This is not an hour long job.

Wow Cash, did not realize I had pi$$ed in your Wheaties yesterday morning.

King Kutter is lighter grade metal, read that as less thick. Quite adequate for the stated use and as I stated will last for decades if properly cared for. No need to spend big money on a Brush Hog or other higher grade cutter. Note I did not have to edit my post...

No one had noted what the shielding chains were for, I was providing information. Guess I was wrong there too?

So the total of 17 acres means nothing to you? Maintaining 1 to 2 acres, more often to 4 to 5 acres. Of course, in my mind, 1 to 5 acres are better served with the zero turn mowers as they will provide a better and faster cut. A shredder, the type of mower we seem to be discussing, does not provide a finished cut but rather a shredded cut. And so I understand the advise to take care of himself with protection for which he may or may not have thought of is poor form.

Lovely.

Thank you ALL for posting on this thread...great input/advice from everyone! For now, the 6' Woods is doing this task for the 5 (or so) finished areas....I have a Skag Z-turn (that I might use later)....commercial grade that is a serious machine too ;)

^^ good stuff. Play safe.


Cool. Those Fords just keep working and working. When I was in high school, restored a '39 (ally dash / steering box, etc.). Hi / lo Sherman box. Used a mid-mount finish mower, believe 60". Drive over it, connect the links to the 3 point lift arms. Universal shaft ran to a pulley on the back connected to the PTO. Because of clearance wasn't much of a lift height but was nice mowing machine.


More:
For those without live PTO, 3 point rotary cutters, they do make a one way clutch for the input shaft. Not a bad idea if you zig / zag around in heavy tree area brush.