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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Brush Hog - 5' or 6'

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Steve MO

05-27-2004 07:07:47




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Just bought a Ford 861 and need a brush hog. Obviously I like the price of the 5 footer better than the 6 footer. But.....the 6 footer will have me in the shade admiring my work quicker. I'm pretty sure the 861 will handle the 6 footer but I'd like your thoughts.

Thanks!




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Scrub

05-27-2004 22:46:51




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
I was gonna upgrade to a 6' hog when I went from an N to 3000 ford. I borrowed a buddies to see if the tractor would handle it. The tractor handled it fine in thick tall grass but the cut was not as good as what I get with my 5'. I stayed with the 5', yes it is a few inches short of being as wide as the rear tires but I did not want spend money for a poorer cut. They were both King Kutter hogs, my blades are sharp his may not have been in quite as good of shape. Good luck.

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txblu

05-28-2004 05:59:00




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 Re: Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Scrub, 05-27-2004 22:46:51  
Mine is a modified King Kutter 6' and I use it behind a '65 Ford 3000D. I use it in 4th (of 8 gears) at around 1800 rpm's. Cuts nicely, but if you get the deck too close to the ground, those little ground variations sometimes cause the thing to cut trenchs the grass; course they'll all do that, but the smaller the mower diameter, the less effect variations have for obvious reasons.

I have a 5' mower too but when in a hurry, or when haying, I use the 6'.

Mark

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Bill

05-27-2004 20:40:37




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
I'd go 5ft. which is what I have with my 861 unless you have an awful lot of acres to cover. Much easier on the tractor in many respects. An 861 is on the bottom end of the size tractor one needs with a 6ft. bushhog. There is no way a tractor smaller than an 861 needs a 6ft. bushhog unless you are looking for trouble. My 2c.



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buickanddeere

05-27-2004 11:36:25




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
You want it wider than the tractor so the tracks doen't overlap and double trample the brush/grass/trees. Also saves some scratch/dents/broken parts on the tractor from trees & brush if backing into/through big stuff.



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txblu

05-27-2004 09:16:08




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
6' will work fine. You have the hp and the weight to lift it. It will test your hydraulics more than the 5' however.

If the ground is flat or gently rolling hills I'd go with the larger machine as the 6' cuts much faster than the 5.

But if you have a lot of chop or terraces or anything that is irregular, the larger mowers tend to be bottoming out all the time and not only do they scalp, but it is hard on the whole drive train, including the tractor.

Be sure and get a gear box rated at or above your tractor. Thinking aloud, your 800 series will just squeak by with a 45 hp which is the smallest they put on them as I recall.

Mark

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Charlie

05-27-2004 09:03:45




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
Steve
I do not think you will have any problem pulling a 6' bush hog, your problem may come when you try to lift it off the ground. It will all depend on the weight of the bush hog. The front of your tractor may become light or even lift off the ground when raising the bush hog, Our Jubilee pulls a 5' fine and still makes the front alittle light. If possible before purchase connect to your tractor and see how it feels. Just my opinion. Charlie

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Dan

05-27-2004 07:40:43




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 Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Steve MO, 05-27-2004 07:07:47  
You should have no problems at all with a 6' brushog on that tractor. Heck, you can use a 6 footer on an 8N if the grass isn't too high.

Good luck,
Dan



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steveormary

05-27-2004 09:38:55




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 Re: Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to Dan, 05-27-2004 07:40:43  
Steve MO;

Your 861 will handle a 6 footer just fine. If you dont have live pto(two stage clutch) you will need an over running clutch on your pto drive.

steve



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Old Time Farmer

05-27-2004 10:41:59




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 Re: Re: Re: Brush Hog - 5' or 6' in reply to steveormary, 05-27-2004 09:38:55  
Your 861 will have live PTO; that's what the 6 designation stands for in the model number.

Although the 861 should be OK with most 6' bush hogs, keep in mind that you have to check the minimum HP rating for whatever bush hog you select, and keep in mind that the lift arms on these older Fords aren't as strong as larger, newer tractors.

Without knowing what Bush hog/cutter you are thinking of, none of us can say with certainty that you'll be OK with a 6' for your 861 Powermaster. I have a light-duty 5' bush hog I run on my 861, and a heavy-duty 6' bush hog I run on a JD 4000 diesel. This heavy-duty 6' requires at least 45 HP and weighs over 1500 lbs.

Just my $0.02.

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