[pintopkp]

Hello all. I have A LOT of blackberry, old forsythia, and brambles to cut; the thickest of which is probably 1.5". I wanted to purchase a brush mower but mowers such as DR's, Billy Goats, and Simplicity are pretty steep; even a used Billy Goat is around $900 in my area (which is Westchester County, NY). I've seen a bunch of Jari sickle bar mowers for sale anywehre from $150 to $275, mostly the 3 HP version. I have two questions about these mowers:

1. Do they still manufacture/make parts for these? If I bought one, am I buying something that is going to be a pain in the arse to find parts for if/when I have to fix it?

2. Will it be strong enough to cut the above mentioned brush?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[lt230s]

I don't think it would handle the larger stuff, especially 1" diameter and larger. That would stress any type mower, except for maybe a bushhog PTO-driven type.

Never heard or seen a Jari, but they seem similar, after looking at website) to the Gravely type sickle bar mowers.

Maybe someone else has a better solution or better answer. Myself, I would cut the larger brush by hand if not too much and then go in with a mower to clean up the rest.

 

[okieduc104]

other than an axe, bow saw, and a long handled limb lopper and a cythe about the best choice is a DR Brush and field mower or a tractor and a shredder like a Bush hog or a Kingkutter or simular rotary brush cutter. Maybe you could find someone with a tractor and shredder to work by the hour. From my experiance a sickle mower isn't what you need. First it won't cut saplings or brush, and if it did it just lays it over and you have to rake it up and haul it off, a shredder will chop it up and scatter it around.

 

[pintopkp]

Thanks all. That's exactly the advice I needed. I'll just keep looking for an actual brush mower. They're hard to find used!

 

[coldone]

Try looking for a gravely walk behind with the 30 in brush hog attachment. I picked one up for $250, cleaned the points, added gas and started clearing my brush. Blackberries and saplings fall and get mulched. I am very impressed with the gravely, especially since it is a 1947 model.

 

[diamondlfarm]

I am battling a stand of invasive Japanese Knotweed and I bought a 3 HP Jari Chief last year. I use it every week to keep the knotweed under control. The knotweed appears like bamboo and can be an inch or larger at the base. The jari does not have any problems with knotweed but something denser would probably stop it. I certainly does not like fence wire.

There is a gravely with a brushhog and other attachements listed on CL in western MA right now. That should not be all that far from you.

________________________________
Prime-Mover L-812 forklift
Cooper Klipper ACA-20
Jari Chief
National Triplex Mower
assorted 1960's CJ's

 

[LoveLearn]

"I have A LOT of blackberry, old forsythia, and brambles to cut; the thickest of which is probably 1.5". I wanted to purchase a brush mower but mowers such as DR's, Billy Goats, and Simplicity are pretty steep; even a used Billy Goat is around $900 in my area."

Look for an old Moz-All. If you take off the side skirt it converts from a mulcher into a VERY aggressive brush cutter. The engine is immune form blade impact damage decelerations because, like the DR, it is belt driven. I've used one to cut off ridiculously thick plants.

The DR brush cutters appear to me to be inspired by Moz-All's earlier design, but the DR can't convert into a mulcher as Moz-All did.
John

 

[BigChevy80]

A friend of mine has a couple old Bachtold brush mowers from the 60's that he uses to mow trails on his hunting land. You know, the kind with the spinning blade in the front and NO guards whatsoever? lol

That thing will cut through 1.5" trees like nothing at all. They sure are fun to use...

 

[BigChevy80]

"Look for an old Moz-All. If you take off the side skirt it converts from a mulcher into a VERY aggressive brush cutter. The engine is immune form blade impact damage decelerations because, like the DR, it is belt driven. I've used one to cut off ridiculously thick plants.

Speak of the devil...

http://peoria.craigslist.org/grd/1274568134.html