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Read articles →This isn't a walkaround or hands-on test of the Bad Boy 5055; it's Mike answering a viewer's letter about pairing that 55hp tractor with a 12ft batwing cutter. He explains engine vs PTO horsepower, parasitic losses from cab/AC and hydrostat drives, hill-mowing demands, stopping power, and stump/sprout cutting capacity, then advises the viewer to track down real owners before buying. Best for shoppers sizing a tractor to a heavy cutter, not for spec sheets or footage.
Tractor Mike is a longtime tractor-industry insider with decades of hands-on experience in the equipment business. He built his channel to help first-time and rural buyers make confident decisions, and his guidance comes from that deep, long-term background rather than a sales pitch.
Parasitic losses from things like the hydraulic pump and power steering reduce power between the engine and PTO shaft, so PTO horsepower, not engine horsepower, must be matched to the cutter's horsepower requirement.
Mike is nervous about it. Hills require more horsepower than flat ground, and cab, AC, and hydrostat drive all add parasitic losses, so he recommends contacting real owners before buying.
Yes, running the air conditioner full blast on a hot day can cost a minimum of 6 up to 10 horsepower, which adds to the load when pulling a cutter up and down hills.
Ask if you're getting cab and air, gear drive or hydrostat, how steep your hills are, whether you need strong stopping power, and what size material you're cutting, like grass versus thick sprouts.
