Faster Way to Mow with a Brush Hog / Brush Cutter and a Compact Tractor

How to operate a King Kutter rotary cutter / bush hog / brush hog. Kubota L3901 L3902 Compact Tractor. Episode 97
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[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Mowing is a way of life in the country! Here's a video explaining brush hog setup for mowing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYm5Znadh9hmpM0 Products in our Amazon store used in this video (costs nothing extra to use these links!). You don't have to buy these specific items to support our channel....just use a link below to get to Amazon then make any purchase: HUK Wicking Fishing Shirt: amzn.to/3QgtvMk Columbia Neck Gaiter: amzn.to/3aY33Hh Peltor 30db Hearing Protection: amzn.to/3aSziYa Solomon Quest Hiking boots: amzn.to/3mFeW7x Rode Wireless GO II microphones: amzn.to/3trABE3 Ubeesize Camera Tripod: amzn.to/3xl6uiN

[@nathanhatcher7096]

Great infor! That style is excellect for botb level and sloped properties. I maintain a couple my fields using a 45hp jd with a 7' cutter though this year i need something easy on my knees and back so i went shopping for new cab tractor with better suspenion seat. Well long story short i accepted a dealer challenge that a 72' hyperdrive rear-discharged zero turn hustler with a 36hp engine would out cut and out ride my setup now, man was i wrong! It mowed 12" mixed johnson and rye with ease and in 1/2 the fuel and time! At least i can say im proud owner of a hustler

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I've found that a zero turn in tall grass is not a good mix. It leaves lots of stalks if you try to cut it high and if you cut it 2-3", there's too much thatch to move. And the tractor is just more comfortable over the bumps. Here's a video we did on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmTJq4xnjbucf6M

[@nathanhatcher7096]

@@PineyGroveHomestead yes a zero turn with side discharge will leave stems and doesn't like tall anything due to the fact it is passing the cuttings from one blade to the next! That why I haven't attempted it in the past though a rear diischarge deck is a different beast! It certainly can handle tall and short stuff with a better cut than my bush hog. The rear discharge is designed to cut such materials for road side right away maintenances for county and state use. Plus it able to cut at near full speed because it not passing the cutting from one blade to the next it very capable of -5-6 acre an hour in rough stuff and 7-8 acres in gud stuff Thanks Nate

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

@@nathanhatcher7096We wanted rear discharge for our Kubota diesel ZTR but they are pretty rare in the used market!

[@TheRadRingo]

The only informative video of this nature I have found on KZbin, I'm keen to give it a go.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Here's a bunch more of our tractor videos! kzbin.info/aero/PLG5yS75HLzo3RVqEuA0f6IioXV6FtFhHW

[@TheHomeDesigner123]

I had acreage to mow and I found by starting in the centre of my field an mowing in a circle saved me a ton of time and made the job quicker.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

The key is to always have the mower cutting grass and moving forward! Backing up is time killer. Thanks for watching.

[@scottwaynewootton731]

A sidenote from a circle mower someday I hope Google Earth will show my patterns in my field

[@markusc.7544]

Great video! I have a big John Deere with s 90" land pride and thought today that there has to be a more efficient way of doing this. I have roughly 120 acres. Thank you for showing and explaining this.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I think the goal is to keep the mower cutting in as full width as you can and minimize the back and forth over little strips and slivers! Thanks for watching.

[@bradwilliams4921]

I've got a few acres to mow and I use my late father's Massey-Ferguson 240 and a 6 foot brush hog. It takes me 3 hours or so to cut. I would really like a new Farmall to cut with but for now I am blessed to have the dependable MF. Thanks for the video.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottwaynewootton731]

I’ve got one for you. In my pasture that’s couple acres or so I make three or four passes around the perimeter and overtime. I’ve learned where the center is. I mow the center and I start making a left-hand turn concentric circles like a spiral get all the way out to the end I club off the corners and you’re done Mower is always mowing.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Awesome!

[@picsaregreat]

I use a 5 foot bush hog as well but when I make the 20 or 30 foot parallel pass in the other direction I go to the first pass and cut parallel to first pass then back parallel to second pass. So I travel the same distance on the end, every time, and when I finish the block it is twice as big as the part left between the first two parallel passes. My end pass is always the same 20 or 30 feet but I've now cut a 40 or 60 wide patch of the field. then I just move another 20 to 30 feet over and do it again. I didn't come up with this method but it's how I do it every time. And like you, I just sight something on the other side and mow straight to it. The field just looks pretty after mowing this way.

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I run in straight lines as much as possible. With a hydrostatic drive turning around and going straight back again is very fast. Like the zero turn mower guys do. Make a 3 point turn around instead of a wide U turn. Now with manual gears and clutch tractor it’s much more time consuming but with hydro a 3pt turn around is very quick

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Here's the way Deb mows: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX6wn6eJeteoj7s

[@patrickcreath217]

I have a kubota 45hp tractor 4wd and front end loader with a 6' woods bushhog. My biggest field is 10 acres, and is in my backyard. I try to keep it mown close, as it used for a golf driving range and plinking. I set the bushhog 1" lower in the front for best efficiency, and the discharge is on the left side, dictating a clockwise pattern. I will sharpen those blades this year. Thanks for that pointer.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for watching! We tried a finish mower last year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqq7mWCdn8t5Zqc

[@markricketts6957]

You can mow across a gentle hill,if you mow across a steep hill you will tip your tractor over. Only ever drive syraight up or down steep hills.

[@TheHomeDesigner123]

The way you cut is the same way Zamboni clean ice at hockey rinks.

[@slaphands7703]

Exactly what I was thinking. Zamboni technique.

[@Gregc63]

Was thinking the exact same thing

[@richardsmith6317]

I have '56 Farmall 200 3-wheeler , I pull a 5' Woods sling-blade. My fields are long and narrow, so I do pivots on the ends.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Sounds like a cool rig. Thanks for watching.

[@_istudywater]

Awesome

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Brush hogging is fun. Here is Mrs Piney Grove mowing this field: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHPNZJmJl7Kjeck

[@jeromehope5823]

i like any tractor with fat tires and running well. maint, maint, maint. like anything else. thank you for the well done vids.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinjensen7465]

As a contract mower, I use a mower that is open at the back. That way I do a few laps to open up the paddock, and then instead of doing sections, I go backwards and forwards working my way across the paddock. My tractor is Kubota hyd shuttle, so same speed forwards and backwards. You should try it, cause I didnt beleive how fast it was until I tried it. I did like your video by the way.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Not sure my neck could handle that! Thanks for watching.

[@kevinjensen7465]

@@PineyGroveHomestead yep, but it will only hurt for a _________ time👍

[@matthewbeaver5026]

Without hydrostatic it would make for a lot of clutch use and gear changes. Shuttle shift wouldnt be awful. Though I can see doing it that way with hydro

[@normhowes2975]

1 of our pastures is about 300' X 1/8 mile long. I split it in 2 then each I split in 2. I mow the outside of patch 1 back up patch 2 back to outside patch 1 this way I finish up the 2 patches at about the same time.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

It's fun to mow in different ways to see which way is better. Thanks for watching!

[@whspioneer89]

I do the segments like you started except I keep cutting both segments until the first segment is gone. Then cut off another segment. It keeps the distance of my turn around at the ends the same all the time

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

That's a good system.

[@freidrichnietzsche6643]

Good video. What height do you have the deck set to?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We adjust height with the tailwheel settings. You can put it in 3 different holes, then lower the brush hog so it's level and riding on the tailwheel. I'd say 4" cut height....maybe a little shorter.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Great information! I’ve never used that method, but it makes sense. 👍 …and trust me, if they prefer a green tractor, they will tell you. 😂

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes, folks tend to be protective of their tractor brand! 🚜 Thanks for watching Lucas. 👍

[@Crossfireranch1]

When you're mowing the really thick stuff have you ever had your pto kick out of gear? I've been having that problem lately.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

If you have a Kubota, the PTO selector and cable can stick. I haven't had your issue, but sometimes mine won't disengage right away when I turn the PTO off.

[@HardwayRanch]

I like to mow in a circle from the center of the field outwards. This way I can keep moving forward until the mowed circle reaches the sides. Then I knock out the corners in a back & forth pattern. There is a limit to the efficiency in this pattern. A very large area like 10+ acres I doubt it saves much time over mowing in parallel lines.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Many ways to mow. I'd get dizzy mowing in a circle. Thanks for watching.

[@HardwayRanch]

@@PineyGroveHomestead When I can I alternate the direction I mow in circles just to unwind my brain. 😉

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

@@HardwayRanch Tractor Hard! 🚜💪!

[@shanebiggers8437]

I bushgog really similar way I’ll have four or five sections going. I tried just about ever way possible. I dislike going in squares around the whole field cuz my corners always get so wacky snd I don’t like the foot break cuz it tears the ground up so bad

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Agreed. Many ways to mow, but this is the way I tend to do all our pastures and food plots. Thanks for watching.

[@patrickcreath217]

Just one more thing...I will rarely use 4wd because of the added resistance to the tight turns.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

You can mow in 2WD but it will turn much tighter in 4WD. I try to stay in 2WD but if I start slipping too much on turns or backing up, I will put it in 4WD. Here's a video we did on sharpening: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX7YaZmoiM6DbtE

[@Crossfireranch1]

Since you ran the video quite fast I wasn't able to get a good look of the back of the brush hog. I "think" that I saw that the brush hog had the back open, no covering to stop the grass from being pushed out. Am I right? If so, can you tell me why you have that open. I'm actually thinking about removing the back of my brush hog as I have some very tall weeds that when cutting I seem to get quite a large amount of cuttings that cause to brush hog and tractor to bog down.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

It's funneled....that's the way King Kutter makes them. I've seen the round ones that don't have an exit chute. And some with the whole back open. Never thought about why they do it different ways?? More tractor videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLG5yS75HLzo3RVqEuA0f6IioXV6FtFhHW

[@gregharper7075]

When you shred, do you use Low range and if so, which gear? My neighbor said to use 4th gear Low. I have a Mahindra 4540 for my 8.5 acres in Bellmead, TX. Thank you.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We have hydrostatic drive, so we can vary the speed. I would say go as fast as you can to achieve the cut you desire and not bog down the tractor!

[@matthewbeaver5026]

Depending how thick it is. How pretty you want it. You may get away with high 2nd. Depends a lot on terrain too. I know my uncles tractor will do it high 2nd but most the area won't allow for it anyway.

[@morrismonet3554]

I use a flail mower. More maneuverable and leaves the field much nicer looking than the brush hog.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We don't have one.

[@talonpilot]

Some good information! Going around the field and giving yourself some edges to turn in is what we call “opening a field”. Get all of the edges and hard to maneuver areas cleaned up; give yourself and the machine enough area to turn around without needing it to do work. Spend a little time here, the rest of the field goes smooth. As you said, spending the most time going in straight lines gives the mower the most time doing its job, cutting. If it’s swinging back and forth, maneuvering, the blades arent always in contact with the material, making it less efficient. I think sectioning off the field into smaller sections is a good idea also as it allows you to maintain your speed (not slowing to back up, make a tight turn, or getting lined up correctly); the small amount of time spent driving over previously cut material is offset by never having to stop. Sectioning also gives you a sense of accomplishment because when you look at it, the cut sections get bigger and bigger as you go…. Some fields may take hours/days before you see the other side for that feeling. Also, making your driving direction match with the discharge direction of the mower is also more efficient, as you said. If the mower is cutting previously cut material, it’s slowing blades down, bogging down the tractor, or clogging up the uncut material, leaving a poor cut. Always discharge to the cut side if possible. Great video, thanks for sharing your experience…… but really, end the end, do you want to be so efficient that you dont get enough tractor time? I think the answer is no!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for the comment. We are weekend warriors so our tractor work is endless. Here's our tractor playlist showing all we do! kzbin.info/aero/PLG5yS75HLzo3RVqEuA0f6IioXV6FtFhHW

[@RockwithJesus]

Is there a Pine Grove in every County in the south 🙂

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Maybe a Pine Grove....but there's only one Piney Grove Homestead in the world!!!

[@sladeoriginal]

Im gonna try a fat figure 8 next weekend. 8 acres spread over 4 fields.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

That would look cool for a drone shot!

[@jeromehope5823]

nice polished field. i got gofers to the hundredth power.

[@xsnrg]

The direction of the winrows of cut grasss are doing very little if anything to prevent erosion. On the other hand, if the slope is significant, I've always heard and experienced it to be safer mowing up and down the slope vs across it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for watching. You may enjoy this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHrQdnSGrMiGp8U

[@xsnrg]

That looks like the right tool for that job unless you have a big tractor with a brush hog on an arm. My setup is much like the other fellow with the Kubota and 5' but my pond bank is even steeper so I'll likely be attacking it with walk behind equipment or a weed eater. Thankfully my pond is only 1/2 ac.

[@randomridesthoughts3616]

Or just simply hog the fence row and clean the corners then lap it. Same time and fuel usage either way.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

thanks for watching.

[@jamor2549]

I have goats they mow for me

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

That's smart!

[@rc6882]

All good except you are creating slivers by constantly making the mowed patch smaller. Use a constant radius turn moving the cut line outward each pass. Think of it as leapfrogging.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes, the key is to always have the blades cutting new grass!

[@Submanca]

If you have so much to mow why don't you use a 12' Sickle mower??

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We've used one before in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnXQh6umedp7d68

[@diytwoincollege7079]

Best way is to let the wife mow it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHWxeZyop9CHhZo

[@daletesson4630]

Dude, it's a pasture, not the 15th fairway at Augusta. Just mow it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Right