A brush hog, sometimes referred to as a rough cut mower has large club-like blades that can cut through small threes and brush. They leave the cut on the high side and the resultant finish is not very lawn-like. A finish mower on the other hand has sharp blades just like a mid mount mower deck and provides the same cut quality as a dedicated lawn mower.

 

ok, that's kinda what I thought.. so how much can I use this 1660 for rough cutting.. or can I..

 

It depends on what you are cutting. If it is just high weeds you should be fine but if the property contains thicker material like saplings you will find the blades take a beating. It’s no different than using your normal riding mower for rough cutting.

 

That is a light duty brush hog. So if you are looking for a brush hog, go for it. If you are wanting to mow your yard, maybe not. Not that you cannot do it, but it will not look as good as a RFM (rear finish mower) or mid mount finish mower. I have both. I mow my yard with my 110 inch Befco RFM and I also have a 10ft Rhino brush hog for the heavy duty stuff.

Dave

EDIT:::: I just looked up that number on the internet and found it listed on eBay as a "grooming" mower. That is a laugh. An RFM can be called a grooming mower, but not a brush hog.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the FDR1660 is a finish mower. Their website calls it a grooming mower.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the FDR1660 is a finish mower. Their website calls it a grooming mower.

Finish and grooming are the same thing. Land Pride calls their finish mowers “grooming” mowers.

 

That certainly looks like a finish mower, more so than a brush hog.

Dave

 

For what it's worth, brush cutters (Bush Hog is a brand named one) are designed to rip and tear the stuff they cut, so the plant dies from the "wound" and doesn't grow back as easily.... Exactly the opposite of what you want to do to your lawn. That Landpride you listed will do a fine job mowing the lawn up to 12" tall weeds, but anything more than that and it will tear up the blades, requiring frequent sharpening and/or replacement. Hit something too tough and it might break a shear pin. The gear box in that "finish mower" isn't designed to strike objects or thick saplings, whereas a brush cutter is engineered to do so more safely and without permanent damage.

 

Here is another example of the difference. A brush hog (aka rotary/rough cut mower) will typically have two pivoting blades which will pivot back when they hammer against a tree stump or rock. They also have a guard over the center spindle called a "stump guard" which allows it to glide over rocks and stumps.

A finish/grooming/estate mower looks just like a larger version of your lawn tractor mower deck with fixed blades on spindles. Some are side discharge while others are rear discharge.

 

You are spot on regarding your description for both. However, the reason I bought a Befco RFM was that it also had swinging blades like a brush hog. Recently I also saw another brand RFM that also had swinging blades, but I do not remember the brand.

Dave

 

Yep, what I picked up is a finish mower.. it's really nice... excellent condition, looks like I will be selling or trading it for a brush hog or something else I could use... I already have the mower deck with my 1025r... Thanks for the info and education guys...

 

Another difference - I think this is usually the case - is the way the blades are driven. A rough cut/rotary cutter will have the blades driven directly by a shaft from the gearbox. On a finish mower, the blades will generally be belt driven. This allows the rough cut/rotary cutter to go through some much heavier weeds/grass that would cause the belts to burn out on a finish mower.

 

I've never seen a Finish mower with swinging blades......interesting.

If you do use a Rear mounted finish mower in the wrong terrain..You will bend the Baffles or grass guides
not sure of the proper term but if you look at the pic posted above you will see them surrounding the 3 blades.

Purchased one last year and it cuts extremly well vs the mmm I have been useing.
At times I run both and that eliminates the strips I was getting. Get tired of backing up or mowing the same spot twice.
The one I bought is a rear discharge .....One of my favorite implements thus far.

 

I had a 60" Befco rear mount finish mower for several years and I would say that it was a bit tougher than the average mid mount mower.

As long as there isn't any sticks, saplings, etc over 1/2" or any other kind of debris, it would cut it. Blades were pretty heavy on it, but it was by no means a rotary cutter.

If you got a smokin' deal on it, you should have no problem trading it for a good rotary cutter. Landpride makes some good stuff.

 

I used to have a Land Pride 15-60 finish mower, roughly the same thing you are looking at. You can comfortably cut stuff like blackberry bramble, but nothing heavier, as the blades and spindle bearings will take a beating. I kept my pasture mowed with it and it did a great job, a better cut than a brush hog, but it's not made for rougher stuff than that.

 

Thanks rtgt, I paid for it yesterday... picking it up today... I'll probably post it up for sale or trade this weekend..

 

One thing that I didn't see mentioned is that finish mowers usually have four wheels on them where a brush hog generally only has one wheel at the back. The four wheels allow the finish mower to follow the terrain better - just like a floating deck under a lawn mower.

Good luck moving this mower quickly and getting what you need!

 

Here's an actual picture of it, well maintained, lightly used on about a 3 acre lawn..

 

I have a flail mower which can do what a brush hog does, only better, and also does fairly decently on regular grass.

72" Flail Mower, Cat 1, 3 Point

The 72-inch cutting width Flail Mower from Titan Attachments is compatible with tractors featuring a minimum of 30 HP and a maximum of 65 HP that utilizes a Category 1, 3 Point Hitch. Plus, free shipping.

www.palletforks.com

 

Flails are nice, and they carry a nice price as well.

A flail mower is on the "Want" list, but it is in Volume 2, Chapter 11 - Most likely never gonna happen.

First the Landpride 1260 cutter I have would have to wear out. I think I put 19 hours on it last year...... so at that rate.....