I have a Grand L6060 and looking to purchase a 12ft flex wing cutter. I am considering the Bush-Whacker MD-144 which weighs about 3,300lbs. Will be using it to maintain pastures which are pretty hilly. I have the tires filled with beat juice which brings total weight of my tractor to about 7,200lbs. I am concerned that the weight of the cutter will be too much for my tractor and may push me around a bit too much. Rhino Ag and Land Pride make 12ft cutters that are lighter duty and weigh around 600lbs less than the Bush-Whacker. Should I go with one of the lighter cutters?
Flex wing cutter weight
- Thread starter Fatboy2005
- Start date
10,000 Lbs. is a lot of weight for your 148 CI engine to be moving around even in very light cover. You will not be moving very fast unless your land is level.
Another thing to consider when purchasing a BW mower for your L6060 is PTO-drawbar spacing. Not familiar with the Bush-Whacker but neither Woods, BH and LP BW mowers with the optional self leveling hitch cannot be used with a GL6060 due to inadequate PTO-drawbar spacing. All will work with the standard swivel hitch.
Finally, LP makes a HD 12" BW, the 3712, IIRC, which is available with optional galvanized finish and/or built-in ORC and 6, rather than 4, wheels/tires. This is the model that I preferred when shopping for a BW for use with either my L6060 or M9960 due to the available built-in ORC. I ended up buying a Woods BW 15.50, 15' model because, even with 8 aircraft tire, it was nearly $3,000 less expensive than the 3712 with ORC and 6 tires. No, I do not use it with my L6060.
SDT
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
Do not own one but this might work to lighten the load on your tractor yet give you a good sized cut. https://www.rhinoag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/TS10_Single_Sheet_1018R.pdf
I looked at this one but have the HP to pull a 12ft cutter. Do you think the TS12 would be too much weight on my tractor?
BigG
Well-known member
Equipment
l2501, FEL, BB, Rotary cutter, rake,spreader, roller, etc. New Holland TL80 A
The TS 10 weights 2190 pounds 4.364 acres per hour at 4 mph. The TS 12 weights 2750 pounds 5.236 acres per hour at 4 mph. .872 acres difference per hour. 3300 minus 2190 equals 1110 pounds. So you do not say how many acres you need to mow but the 1110 pounds would be a lot safer. This would only cost ,872 acres per hour. If your fields are hilly this seams like a good compromise. Plus the cost of the cutter is lower.
HP required to pull a rotary cutter depends upon many things but most importantly, what you plan to cut and how fast you wish to travel when cutting. At 53 PTO HP, your L6060 is a bit below the rule of thumb HP recommendation for a rotary cutter even ignoring weight, e.g., cab, liquid ballast, FEL, cutter, etc. Yes, it will pull a 12' BW in most conditions but hills and, especially, heavy cover will result in slow going.
SDT
ORC is shorthand for over running clutch.
Though operating a PTO driven implement with a heavy inertial load without an ORC is not the safety issue that it is if the tractor has live or independent rather than transmission driven PTO, the ORC will save the very expensive to replace PTO brake, which will not last long if one operates a rotary cutter as do most, i.e., turning the PTO off before first nearly stopping the blades.
SDT
I'm assuming this is a rotary cutter? I just bought a 15 ft Befco finish mower for my MX 5400; the dealer said it was more than enough tractor as the finish mowers don't pull the same pto HP.
I run the Bushhog brand 1812 Flexwing cutter behind my M7060. The PTO requirement is 50-70 hp. It is a light duty cutter (up to 1 1/2" thick material). 3,278 lbs with 1,086 lb tongue wt. Pull behind, I believe will be easier on the tractor then 3pt in this weight category. That's a 1,000 lbs extra weight on the rear wheels. I have AG R-1 tires, which of course provide maximum grip while mowing fields. This combo works pretty well for me. Your results may vary.
I use both BW and three point mounted (up to 10 1/2') rotary cutters.
Properly sized and operated, neither will damage the tractor.
The advantage of a BW type cutter is the ability to cut a wide swath even when the ground is unlevel, often without scalping.
The disadvantage is the inconvenience and loss of maneuverability associated with a trailer type device.
Another disadvantage is the absolute plethora of lubrication points. I find it takes nearly a full tube of grease and the best part of an hour to properly lubricate my Woods BW15.50.
SDT