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Read articles →Recorded at the National Farm Machinery Show, this video features Tractor Mike interviewing Woods Equipment's VP of Engineering about how rotary cutter horsepower ratings actually work. It covers PTO vs. engine HP, the effect of hydrostatic transmissions, ballast concerns, material size and density, mowing speed, and aging tractor power loss. No hands-on demo, it's a short interview format, best for buyers confused by minimum HP ratings on cutter spec sheets.
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.
No. PTO horsepower is generally 3 to 8 horsepower lower than engine horsepower, and that is the figure manufacturers use for minimum cutter ratings.
Yes. A hydrostatic transmission in a compact tractor takes more of the horsepower, which can affect whether the tractor can handle a given cutter's rating.
It means one or two inch trees taken one at a time at a slower speed, not a dense field of that size material. Bigger trees are possible if you take your time.
As tractors age they develop less horsepower, so a 20, 30, or 40 year old tractor maxed out on cutter size could run into trouble.
