metal that the decks are made out of. thickness of the metal is one thing, but also the hardness of the metal. not all metals are made the same. a 1/4" of X type of metal. could be equivalent of 1/2" thickness of Y type of metal. metal has a bunch of extra specifications to it, that are beyond my own knowledge. but *shrugs*.
metal of the decks = rocks putting dents all through the deck, for say a light duty unit, vs a medium duty unit, a heavy duty deck metal going to take more punishment, without getting dents from rocks being picked up and through into the deck.
width of the cut = more width = more HP to spin and cut through material, and to keep the blades spinning.
some folks use rotatory cutters, not to go out into the pasture and around fields to cut that are 1 to 6 plus feet high, but rather sharpen the blades, much like a finishing mower deck, to mow the yard/lawn around the house, mowing the 1" to 6" grass for a yard/lawn, that has very fey if any rocks, or tree limbs = very little HP to run the rotatory cutter. vs cutting the tall weeds.
MPH (how fast you are going), more so geared tractors that have say 3 to 4 gears to choose from, has a great effect on how rotatory cutters do there job in cutting stuff up. if your traveling to fast, tractor bogs down to possibly stalling out, and not cutting weeds. going to slow (low gear), and takes a lot more time to use the rotatory cutter. generally the faster you travel MPH=miles per hour, the more abuse all equipment will take, including tractor, more so on rough terrain, and everything is bouncing, chattering away. in this respect you will more likely want something stronger and/or more flexiable, to be able to handle the abuse.
type of welds used to put stuff together has a difference of how well a deck can handle stuff long term. over all frame work of the deck also plays a roll in it.
location, location, location, i would imagine different areas of the world, and countries, even state to state, to county to county, to property to property is different. as in cutting down small trees, to how many rocks are in the area to be mowed, to finding that unknown tree limb that fell of tree and running over it, to finding unknown junk while using the rotatory cutter (ya don't know till the rotatory cutter hits it), and maybe not even then.
commercial use (use rotatory cutter for 100's of hours per year) vs a home owner that may put on 2 to 40 hours on it a year. does a home owner really need something that can handle running over a tire when mowing ditches along the road like road crews might need? or dealing with running over a stump? and not twisting the frame work, blades, etc...?
by default majority of all rotatory cutters come with a "slip clutch" but that is not always the case, and some come with a "shear pin" in the PTO shaft.
shock loading, "blades hitting a hard object like a large rock", that vibration from hitting, goes right up the gear box, through slip clutch... PTO shafts need to be able to handle that to some degree, or they will flex like a rubber band and bust / crack / come apart.
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The rest of the widgets, frame and wall gauges, etc, has nothing to do with what it takes to drive the blades.
your saying nothing else matters? i would have to disagree. it is a system of parts put together, it is not the individual parts that makes it all up and works it, but the overall system of parts and how they are put together and how they are used.
I agree, it's just a recommendation. If you can carry the heavy duty model and can go slow enough to use it effectively (low enough gears or a hydro) then it doesn't matter what the recommended PTO HP is. Unless of course you have too much HP, which can damage things.
I have just under 40 PTO hp, but my tractor is hydrostatic. As such, I can infinitely vary my ground speed while maintaining 540 PTO RPM. Thus, even with considerably less than recommended HP, I can still do the job without bogging down. It'll just take longer. I wouldn't hesitate to hook up to any medium or heavy duty cutter in the size you're talking about.
Also, boggen, I don't mean to be rude, but you really answered a totally different question than what was asked. The different duty ratings obviously translate to different machines and different uses, but the question asked was if there's any reason one couldn't use a cutter with a higher recommended HP than what the tractor puts out. The cutters he's talking about are all the same width, so the will perform similarly on his tractor, regardless of PTO HP, although, obviously the heavier ones will throw the tractor around more.
Gearbox Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What types of gearboxes do you offer?
We offer a wide range of high-quality gearboxes for rotary cutters or bush hogs (not the brand) and rotary tillers. Our collection includes replacements for RTI-50 rotary tiller top gearboxes, 40HP Omni-style rotary cutter gearboxes, 65HP Frontier rotary cutter gearboxes, HOWSE brand gearboxes, and John Deere MX series gearboxes, among others.
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Choosing the right gearbox depends on factors like horsepower requirements, gear ratio, mounting bolt pattern, input/output shaft splines, and application type. If you’re unsure, our team can assist you in selecting the best gearbox for your specific machinery.
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3. Are your gearboxes compatible with all brands of agricultural equipment?
Our gearboxes are designed to be compatible with various agricultural and industrial equipment brands. However, we recommend checking the specifications of each product or contacting our support team to ensure compatibility with your machinery.
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Yes! If you need a custom gearbox for a unique application, we can provide tailored solutions based on your specific requirements. Contact us with your specifications, and we’ll help design a gearbox that meets your needs.
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Regular maintenance is essential for extending the lifespan of your gearbox. We recommend periodic lubrication, checking for wear and tear, ensuring proper alignment, and replacing seals or bearings as needed. Always follow the maintenance guidelines provided in the product manual.
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Yes, all our gearboxes come with a one-year warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty period varies by product, so please check the product details or contact us for specific warranty information.
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