[scwatkin7]

Hi there,

Currently in the market for a used tractor, my first, and im curious to know what size tractor I would need to run a 4' bush hog...minimum pto speed/engine hp?

I'd also be using the tractor to move sections of fallen trees, moving lighter loads of stone/dirt.

I have my eye on a john deere 420 eith the 20hp onan engine and a cub cadet 5254 with the 25hp kawasaki... will either of these two suffice?

Thanks,
Shaun

 

[BinVa]

Normal rule of thumb is min. 5hp(@PTO)per foot width of rotary cutter. A Cat.1 3pt. hitch on tractor and enough weight at the front of tractor to safety lift the weight of mower. Subcompact tractors can sometimes present a problem with implement attachment and lift range. Cannot help with those specific tractors. B.

 

[LouNY]

I don't believe either of those are good candidates for running a brush hog. Both of them are lawn tractors that may have some "tractor" features.

 

[unsquidly]

By using either one of the "lawn mowers" you mentioned you are, pretty much, bring a knife to a gunfight.......Lawn mowers will not hold up to what you are going to put them through......They are not made for this......You need a tractor....

 

[bmaverick]

Hi there,

Currently in the market for a used tractor, my first, and im curious to know what size tractor I would need to run a 4' bush hog...minimum pto speed/engine hp?

I'd also be using the tractor to move sections of fallen trees, moving lighter loads of stone/dirt.

I have my eye on a john deere 420 eith the 20hp onan engine and a cub cadet 5254 with the 25hp kawasaki... will either of these two suffice?

Thanks,
Shaun

Welcome Shaun to the forum.
Your JD420 has a rear PTO output of 2000 RPMs. It's 3X more than the required 540 RPMs max to run a 4-ft brush mower.
You could locate a gearbox reducer to take the 2000 down to the 540 requirement.

Cub Cadet 5254 has a rear PTO output of 540 RPMs. This is PERFECT. You would need to remove the mid-mower deck. The Cub's difficulty is this,

Rear lift (at 24"/610mm):

680 lbs

The KK brush mower would work. Neighbor has a 2-cly SCUT using this model and his machine is only 15Hp.

King Kutter. 4 FOOT KUTTER 40HP GB XB

4 FOOT KUTTER 40HP GB XB

www.kingkutter.com

Your Cub can operate a loader, so the frame is beefed up, unlike the JD420. Plus the 5254 is on the same stout frame as the 4WD model 5234D.

Should the rear lift be an issue, there are SCUT PTO Flail or Topper mowers to consider as well.

Woods use to make a CAT-0 brush mower for the Cub Cadets.

What Cat 0 implements used 1000/2000 rpm?

Hey guys, recently picked up a garden tractor with 1000/2000 rpm rear PTO, I know a lot of manufacturers made kind of proprietary implements like tillers and finish mowers, can you guys name any brands that made generic cat 0 ones? So far In my googling I have seen John Deere finish mowers, I...

www.mytractorforum.com

It runs at 2000 RPMs and ideal for the JD420.

 

[drclean]

Normal rule of thumb is min. 5hp(@PTO)per foot width of rotary cutter. A Cat.1 3pt. hitch on tractor and enough weight at the front of tractor to safety lift the weight of mower. Subcompact tractors can sometimes present a problem with implement attachment and lift range. Cannot help with those specific tractors. B.

I have a 25 hp ford 1720 with front end loader,,,does fine with 4 or 5 ft brush hog, tried a 6 ft one and had to go with a 35 hp tractor

 

[Lodgepole]

My personal experience is that you won't go wrong getting a bigger tractor than you think is "just adequate." At some point you will have a need for something a bit bigger.

 

[bmaverick]

I have a 25 hp ford 1720 with front end loader,,,does fine with 4 or 5 ft brush hog, tried a 6 ft one and had to go with a 35 hp tractor

I'm running a 6FT King Kutter brush mower with the stump jumper with 3-cly 31Hp diesel engine with 26Hp out the PTO @ 2600 engine rpms. Yet, It runs just fine at 1800 to 2100 engine rpms. It's not just the Hp, it's the tractor frame too making the different. SCUT tractors should keep to the 4FT mower decks. Full CUTs are mainly fine with 6FT mower decks.

 

[theduke]

You need a real tractor.

Budget..??

2wd or is 4x4 a must..?

Whats your land like?
Flat ,Hills ,both , ?
Is snow clearing a duty of tractor.?
Is a FEL a must have?
Is hay handling a duty?
Is mowing the lawn one of its tasks?

The more yes answers...the fatter wallet your going to need.
Buy once cry once.

 

[Happy Acres]

Hi there,

Currently in the market for a used tractor, my first, and im curious to know what size tractor I would need to run a 4' bush hog...minimum pto speed/engine hp?

I'd also be using the tractor to move sections of fallen trees, moving lighter loads of stone/dirt.

I have my eye on a john deere 420 eith the 20hp onan engine and a cub cadet 5254 with the 25hp kawasaki... will either of these two suffice?

Thanks,
Shaun

I have a Woods and use it on my Ford 1520...I think it's a M-5? I have cut acres and also cut rocks with it. It's best to patrol before cutting. When cutting your tractor will tell you it's too (RPM) low in speed.
May sure no one is behind you as you cut. Make sure to have some shear (bolts) pins in case hit something.

 

[gsuders86]

I have a Kioti CK2610 hydrostat tractor that is rated at 21.5HP PTO. I use a 5' Titan brush hog. When mowing pastures/grass I can mow in Medium range when the weeds are less than 18" or so. Anymore than that I have to use Low range. I haven't tried mowing anything has that saplings or anything along those lines. The 5' is basically as wide as my rear tires so it works out okay, but in a perfect world to me your brush hog would be a little wider than your rear tires.