Off Brand "bush hog" Type Mowers

[Lord_Helpus]

I have looked at a lot of 5’ name brand rotary mowers. And, in that search, I have come across a number of off brand mowers. The ones that seem interesting are J Bar, Titan, Rhino and Howse (?). I am assuming that these depend heavily on Chineste parts, but don’t most of the better known names also have parts from other parts of the world?

There is a big difference in price, but probably part of the reason has to do with lack of advertising and lack of having a huge production line (like Bush Hog).

Does anyone have an off brand mower? Or know of one? I would love to hear the good and the bad of these cheaper mowers.

[ToTheNines]

I had a John Deere grooming mower, which I beat up badly over the years. I replaced it, with much skepticism, with a County Line grooming mower from Tractor Supply. Turns out the Tractor Supply one is as good or better than the John Deere.

[Hilary]

Mine is so off brand it doesn’t even have a label! It’s painted to look like New Hollands red machines but it cost $700vs the $2000 that bush hog wanted and it has worked very well. Overall it is made of thinner metals than the name brand and the drive train is straightforward with one shear bolt at the mower end of the PTO. I do break that on a regular basis when I misjudge where the rocks are but it mows the weeds and small brush just fine.

[hosspuller]

Howse and Rhino are well known short line ag machine builders. I have used a Hardee rotary cutter for 20 years. Any of these three makes are well built tough units.

Edit to add… there are several models of cutters in each size. The robustness of the cutters increases with price. Five foot cutters are generally light duty machines.

[Mango20]

I’ve gotten two from Tractor Supply so far (1998-present), and both have worked just fine in an environment where I am pretty rough on them (running over stumps, branches, rocks). The older one was heavier duty than the newer one, but both have lasted many years so far.

[candyappy]

I ( think) one of ours is a “king Kutter”. It has always been fine and my husband can get parts at the local farm store if he needs them.

[horsepoor]

We have a Howse that has to be fairly old (came with our tractor when my dad gave it to me – tractor is ~35 years old and I suspect the brush hog is close to that). It works great. It actually sat here for the last few years unused as we hadn’t needed it, and just got put to use again and I was amazed how well it cut.

[goodhors]

We also have had two king kutter brush hogs that were and are good machines. We got the first one new used probably 15 years. It did well for us, husband fixed it as I learned to use it, improved the fields. We bought a Kubota tractor that came with almost new implements, another king kutter brush hog and a finish mower. We sold the old brush hog and got good money for it. They are a bright blue color, stays blue even stored outside in the sun.

Pastures here are in very good shape, no stumps or rough brush now, so I cut with the finish mower these days. I can set the height, it cuts all the grass the same, leaves no windows with the side chute for cut grass. I really like the job it does, never scalps because of the 4 wheels carrying it. Not made for rough cutting, pastures even cut at 5 inches high, look like a golf course.

I do use the newer brush hog outside the fences, sprouting brush and weeds on neighbors ground don’t bother it. Mowing keeps their woods and fields back away from the fences. They are happy to let me do the work!! The king kutter brand brush hog have both been good machines for use with Ford 8N tractors and the smaller Kubota. I use 5ft wide mowers. The finish mower is a Ford, 930B , and a very nice machine. I like the 4 independent wheels that adjust with only a locking pin to change them, as its best feature. Though the floating arms and floating part for the adjustment piece from seat to 3pt, are great features too, letting mower move to cut independently of tractor rise or fall on small hills.

You might consider a finish mower instead of a brush hog if your pastures are not rough. I have picked up and moved a lot of rocks to get them out of the fields. Love the FEL on Kubota for that! But you always find some new rocks come spring, have to “harvest them” to keep things smooth for mowing.

[hosspuller]

When you look at the cutters… Consider the HP rating of the gearbox. Higher is better. It is stronger to handle the torque and shock loads. Look for a "Stump jumper " that the blades attach to. It allows the blades to ride up and over obstructions in the field instead of hanging on it. The skids on the sides should be replaceable. Merely bolt on a new set, rather than cut and weld the sides. Thickness of the metal housing… again thicker will withstand more abuse than thin. Clutch vs shear pin. A matter of personal preference. Clutches need maintenance, shear pins will require you to stop and replace it when you try to cut the uncuttable. Chain guards are nice too. They allow the air & clipping to exit yet slow the rock missiles aimed at your head and other people. A heavy structure holding the tail wheel /s is good. You will bump stuff and a light holder will buckle and fold easily. A laminated solid rubber tail wheel will last longer than a plain rubber wheel. Lastly, a grease gun and learn to use it. It will keep your equipment working well for a long time.

[jbonifas]

I just purchased a Woods BB72 and it is SO much nicer than the Howse that I had…of course the price was about 4 times more than when I purchased the Howse in 2004.