When they wear down from a square point to an arrow or a needle point, the blade is worn out. Replace the cutting blades every two years. “If you are moving from farm to farm and going up and down the road, you need a severe-duty tire.”
“If you are not going down a highway, laminated tires are fine,” says Elliott.
Once again, foam-filling severe-duty ag tires makes them virtually indestructible. They were developed because rotary cutter manufacturers were at the mercy of the aircraft industry. Severe-duty ag tires were designed to be just like airplane tires, but without the 200-mph speed rating. “You can even have them foam-filled so they last even longer.” The 18-ply used aircraft tires are almost puncture-proof, says Dewey. Today, used aircraft tires and severe-duty ag tires are standard issue. However, when tractors pulled the cutters on blacktop at 30 mph, the tires would shred apart on the road. Solid laminated tires used to be popular because they were puncture-proof. Most companies offer a crop shredding kit with twin swinging flat blades for handling cornstalks or wheat stubble. Clean off the cutter deck after every use so weed juices don’t corrode it.Ī deep deck chamber and tall side frames “will allow you to handle more cut material and drive through deeper grass with less horsepower,” says Dewey. Most units have a smooth-slope deck so water and material won’t pocket on the top causing the deck to rust. “If you get in an environment with small stumps, the pan skims over the stump and doesn’t damage the cutter.” Most producers will want a stump jumper pan that holds the blades, says Elliott. If you get into dirt on a bank or terrace, you don’t want to just power through the PTO shaft can be damaged.” “You need the ability to release the clutches, shedding rust and condensation that might stick the clutches together. The ease of slipping power shaft clutches is important, says Elliott. Make sure the gearbox is serviceable and it’s easy to check the oil. “If you are only going to use it for 20 hours, a lighter cutter should work fine.”Įase of maintenance is a key buying point. “Larger farmers use them for 200 hours or more per year,” says Dewey. “If it has ditches, waterways, and obstructions, choose a heavier cutter.”Īlso, consider the number of hours you will use the cutter per season. To handle a 4-inch limb, you need a heavier model. Lighter-duty rotary cutters can handle tree saplings with 2-inch-diameter limbs. If you are mowing CRP land, you may need a heavier model for small tree saplings. If you are shredding cornstalks or wheat stubble, you need a heavier-duty cutter.” If you are cutting pastures and brush, you can use a lighter-duty mower. When choosing a flex-wing rotary cutter, match it to your chores and terrain, says Rob Dewey, vice president of engineering for Woods, based in Oregon, Illinois. By clipping the weeds and tall grass, it leaves more forage for the livestock to eat and reduces insect issues such as flies that cause pinkeye.” “Livestock folks use them to clip pastures. “Most farmers buy them for roadside maintenance or to clean up around row crops before harvest,” says Tom Elliott, product marketing manager for John Deere Small Ag.