Rotary cutter for L3901

mmcneil

New member

Equipment
L3901 HST
Mar 19, 2019
4
0
1
Rome,Ga
Hi first post here. I just purchased a 2014 L3901 hst. I see where most people recommend a 60” cutter for this tractor. I’m looking at purchasing a rihino 260 cutter but rhino recommends a 35hp pto for the cutter. Should I look for something with a lower hp requirement or do you think I will be ok. I will be cutting pasture that’s 16-24” tall grass. I know the rihno is probably overkill for this but it looks to be a good built cutter.
Thanks
 

blperk

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B3200, FEL, Betstco 63" flail mower, B2782b front snowblower
Dec 25, 2018
21
3
3
Canandaigua, NY
Welcome to OTT! I run a Woods 60" rotary cutter on my B3200, and you've got 8-9 more PTO horsepower than I do. Most of what I cut is waist-high weeds and grass, and the tractor literally doesn't even know the mower is there. I've never had it dark down RPM's, and I run at a pretty constant ground speed.
 

russell.still.5

New member
Aug 28, 2017
197
0
0
Lafayette, Alabama
My dad runs a 6’ Bush Hog Squealer SQ720 behind his L3800. The Squealer is a light weight cutter. We have cut some pretty heavy fescue with it and it didn’t know it was back there.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
925
113
SE, IN
Hi first post here. I just purchased a 2014 L3901 hst. I see where most people recommend a 60***8221; cutter for this tractor. I***8217;m looking at purchasing a rihino 260 cutter but rhino recommends a 35hp pto for the cutter. Should I look for something with a lower hp requirement or do you think I will be ok. I will be cutting pasture that***8217;s 16-24***8221; tall grass. I know the rihno is probably overkill for this but it looks to be a good built cutter.
Thanks
Not familiar with the Rhino model that you reference but you need a light weight 60" cutter, not a HD model.

Reference your owners manuel for equipment limitations. You will find both width and weight limitations. Do not ignore either.

SDT
 
Last edited:

dlundblad

Member

Equipment
G5200, L2501, ZD1211
May 16, 2009
503
10
18
IN
A 60 inch Land Pride rotary cutter is recommended for my L2501. Your tractor could handle a 72 inch no problem.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
925
113
SE, IN
A 60 inch Land Pride rotary cutter is recommended for my L2501. Your tractor could handle a 72 inch no problem.
Only in absolutely IDEAL conditions, only a very light one and don't plan on mowing very fast.

SDT
 

Fordtech86

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
Aug 7, 2018
4,790
5,623
113
Pineville,LA
I run a land pride 1860 on my l3200 and with just grass it is no problem. I set the throttle at pto speed and go. When using it to cut brush there’s been times I’ve had to use the foot throttle to keep it up to speed but I also put it through some hell. You shouldn’t have any issue with 60 inch with just grass, maybe could do 72 inch if you kept up with the mowing and not let it get two ft tall.
 

Bulldog

Well-known member

Equipment
M 9000 DTC, L 3000 DT
Mar 30, 2010
5,440
73
48
Rocky Face, Georgia
No matter what brand look at the blade tip speed. That not only controls your cut quality but also how long cut grass stays under the deck which robs your hp. Faster the speed the better.

And in most cases I think you could handle a 72" cutter as long as it's not real thick. I use a 60" behind my L3000 without any trouble except in heavy grass.
 

Shaun643

New member

Equipment
2018 B2650. RCR1860. BB1260. LR1672. RB1672. QH15
Jan 25, 2019
9
0
0
Peck, MI
I use an RCR1860 behind my B2650 I have 19 PTO HP works fine I do have a loader on the front so that gives me ballest. I plan on getting a l3901 and a 72 inch RCR1872 for it or a woods 72"
 

markbxr400

Member

Equipment
L3901, LA525, RC1860, SCR0660, BB1260
May 19, 2018
56
1
8
Magnolia Springs, aL
Any other options for wider cutting capacity on the L3901?

I'm running the RCR1860 currently. My average is 1 acre an hour, just cutting typical grass/weed pasture. Some areas will get 2-3 feet tall (mostly tall weedy plants that cut pretty easy) in lower areas, most grassy areas are usually a 9-12" when I cut. On very rare occasions I have to slow down to let the rpm's catch back up. I'm typically running PTO RPMs and close to as fast as it will go in medium gear (HST).

Going to a 72" probably can't be justified. Would really like to go to 96". Not wanting to/can't justify buying a bigger tractor, just checking whether there may be any other options. Else I'll just keep mowing with the 60", which takes be 21 hours to mow my property.

A bigger cut width, but having to cut more frequently doesn't solve it either as my overall mowing time doesn't decrease. I'm currently mowing for 2-3 days (21 hours) about every 3 weeks, depending on rain.

Many thanks for any possible ideas.
 

Bulldog

Well-known member

Equipment
M 9000 DTC, L 3000 DT
Mar 30, 2010
5,440
73
48
Rocky Face, Georgia
Any other options for wider cutting capacity on the L3901?

I'm running the RCR1860 currently. My average is 1 acre an hour, just cutting typical grass/weed pasture. Some areas will get 2-3 feet tall (mostly tall weedy plants that cut pretty easy) in lower areas, most grassy areas are usually a 9-12" when I cut. On very rare occasions I have to slow down to let the rpm's catch back up. I'm typically running PTO RPMs and close to as fast as it will go in medium gear (HST).

Going to a 72" probably can't be justified. Would really like to go to 96". Not wanting to/can't justify buying a bigger tractor, just checking whether there may be any other options. Else I'll just keep mowing with the 60", which takes be 21 hours to mow my property.

A bigger cut width, but having to cut more frequently doesn't solve it either as my overall mowing time doesn't decrease. I'm currently mowing for 2-3 days (21 hours) about every 3 weeks, depending on rain.

Many thanks for any possible ideas.
On a 3901 the 72" is about as big as it will handle. Just doesn't have the power for a 96" or the lift capacity either.

Look at it this way. With a 6' every 5 laps you'll gain one over your current setup. You could probably shave several hrs off your time.

Without buying a bigger tractor only other thing I see would be to hire it out. Going with the info you gave it sounds like you're cutting 20 or so acres. If it's smooth open ground it could be cut in a few hrs with a batwing.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
925
113
SE, IN
Any other options for wider cutting capacity on the L3901?

I'm running the RCR1860 currently. My average is 1 acre an hour, just cutting typical grass/weed pasture. Some areas will get 2-3 feet tall (mostly tall weedy plants that cut pretty easy) in lower areas, most grassy areas are usually a 9-12" when I cut. On very rare occasions I have to slow down to let the rpm's catch back up. I'm typically running PTO RPMs and close to as fast as it will go in medium gear (HST).

Going to a 72" probably can't be justified. Would really like to go to 96". Not wanting to/can't justify buying a bigger tractor, just checking whether there may be any other options. Else I'll just keep mowing with the 60", which takes be 21 hours to mow my property.

A bigger cut width, but having to cut more frequently doesn't solve it either as my overall mowing time doesn't decrease. I'm currently mowing for 2-3 days (21 hours) about every 3 weeks, depending on rain.

Many thanks for any possible ideas.
Not a chance for the 96" and the 72" is too large in all but ideal conditions.

I operate a Woods BB720X HD 72" cutter with my L6060, and it's all is wants much of the time. Stall guard is regularly reducing ground speed, sometimes to 0 if turned on and in heavy grass. Yes, the mower is properly set up and the blades are lawn mower sharp.

SDT