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Rotary Mower Size

R

RAMacGregor

Member
Does anyone have any advice on mower width for a Farmall 544 with 55 drawbar HP. I'm looking at medium duty Land Pride, cutting capacity
up to 2.5". I never cut that big, but would rather have a little more than I need. (2.5 verses 1" or 3") I'm looking at the pull-type, in
either the 8' or 10', and there is very little difference in price. I have mostly grass, but some brush, small saplings, rolling hills in
upstate NY. The engine has recently been rebuilt, and has new carb, and runs strong. I have about 100 acres to mow, and try to do 2x per
season. I was set on the 10', but am 2nd guessing myself. Thanks!
 
I made a posting error, I was looking at 2 different 10' models where there is not a big price difference. The 8' model is a couple thousand less.
 
I always use 1 foot per 5hp PTO minimum. Your tractor is around 50hp PTO (maybe a bit more) when it was new. The 10 foot would be ok for light work and be able to roll along at a decent speed. I personally wouldn't want more than an 8' on your tractor. That's just my opinion.
 
If you are ever going to take the cutter down the highway you'd be better off with the 8ft,also a 8ft cutter is way easier to sell for the reason it'll transport easier.
 

I show 52 pto hp, so an 8 foot will be ok for most shredding jobs. However an 8 foot will not clear heavy brush. 10 foot only if its a yard where you just cutting light grass and doing it often.

I run an 8 foot on a 52 pto hp tractor with good results and feel its a great match for the tractor... Its a 3 pt shredder so the front end is a bit light when you pick up the rotary cutter.
 
Just another opinion. I run a heavy 7 foot single motor cutter with a Kubota 60+ hp tractor and it's a perfect match. Unless you have ideal conditions an 8 footer may load your tractor down to where your ground speed will suffer.
 
Just another opinion: I'm thinking along the line of what Tom in Mo stated. A 55 - 60 hp (pto) powered tractor in my opinion would perform better under load with a 7 foot bush hog as compaired to an 8' and especially a 10'. That's with a new or rebuilt power plant. Wingnut
 
Bingo.

I much prefer a twin spindle 8' to a single spindle 7' for multiple reasons.

BTDT.

Dean
 
OK, I'm confused: you say you only want to cut 2.5 inches at a time, you have 100 acres that you plan to cut 2 times/year. Either you have very poor land that won't grow grass or else your going to mow 100 acres 2 times and only cut 5inches total off of the growth? If that's all your going to cut, why bother?I would think that you would be cutting at least a foot to 18" of grass every time you mow, in that case, 8' would be plenty. What am I misunderstanding in your question???
 
Are you looking at single spindle or twin spindle mowers? I would prefer twin, it takes up less space.
If twin spindle, gear drive or belt drive? I would prefer gear drive, uses less BHP.
If the mower is too wide for what you are trying to mow, take a smaller cut.
Why a pull type? Three point hitch is easier to back into tight spots.
 
No I think he was just talking about the rating of the cutter he was looking at and what rating he wants in a cutter. Kinda like... light duty, medium duty and heavy duty.
 
Ten feet of cutting width is too much for your tractor. A good rule of thumb that Dad used was to cover your wheel tracks. That means a 7 footer for your tractor. Maybe go up one size to the 8 footer but no more. Mowing twice per year translates into some heavy material being cut and your performance, ground speed, and productivity will suffer accordingly. Storing, maneuverability, safety while transporting down the road may all factor into your final decision. I have a 55 HP tractor too but would not even consider a 10 foot mower behind it.
 
Thank you to everyone for your input, I was thinking that the 10' was too big, especially since it requires a minimum of 50HP. I never cut 2.5" diameter, what I meant was I would rather cut 1" diameter with a mower that is rated for 2-2.5", than one that is rated for 1". I have mostly rolling hills and currently have a 5' 3 Point model, but it just does not follow the terrain well enough. It is mostly grass, but small saplings and these Thornapple trees that quickly grow to 3/4-1" diameter, and small pine saplings. The pull-type also requires less HP, so I am thinking the twin spindle 8' pull type.
 
I'll 2nd the pull type,never use the 3pt hogs any more, good thing about a pull type is when you hook up with the same tractor there is nothing to adjust.And of course
with any width cutter you can always adjust the HP requirements by taking a narrower swarth.
 
I?m using a 7? LandPtide on a 48 HP tractor. Good match. Don?t think I?d like a 10pm unless perfect conditions. Also it you have uneven ground the 7- would be better.
 
I would recommend no larger than 8? , and trailer type as opposed to three point hitch mounted, If you are mowing hilly ground. I am also in upstate NY. If you mow 2x a season and get the first time done early enough you should do fine. Timing is everything, try to get ahead of the dandelion going to seed. Your tractor will thank you.
 
Try looking at a brushhog brand squealer it's a 7 foot but its only about 5 ft long and offset to the right by a foot it weighs about the same as a 5 foot mower they are designed for smaller hp tractors for mowing orchards or areas you want to keep mowed a few times a month I have one on a 35 hp kubota it handles it with ease but the grass never gets over a foot tall before I mow it again.
 
Your tractor is NOT rated at 55 drawbar horsepower but about 44 drawbar horsepower. That 55 horsepower is pto horsepower and that is always higher than drawbar horsepower. And 7 foot is too big for a single spindal mower but that is what most 7 foot ones are. And I like a pulltype better than a 3 point as well. Get the 8 foot and plan on a couple more mowings so things do not get so big.
 
Here is a pic of it.the one thing I don't like about it is it wont make a pretty cut like most single spindle brushhogs I put new blades on it but I still can't make a nice pretty cut with it seems to always leave a few stragglers but I put up with it just because it's a 7 foot cut and saves me Time it is a dual spindle mower with 2 blades per spindle that is why I think it doesn't cut as pretty but maybe I'm just to picky
cvphoto4127.jpg


cvphoto4128.jpg


cvphoto4129.jpg
 
Another thing I have noticed about brushhogs is the difference in a 6 foot single cutter to a 7 foot single cutter is the difference in size and weight the 7 footers seem to take a big jump in size and weight.
 
Makes them stick out way too far in back of tractor and all that weight in back makes front end light in weight. Mower sticks out 2/3 as far as total tractor length.
 
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