OK, I have done my shoppin and still haven't pulled the trigger on one. My old MD160 is exactly 10 years old. I got all the white gear oil out of it. Still can't figure out why it was white as I don't have any leaks in seals. Must have just been condensation over the years is all I know. Anyway, after putting new gear lube in, the gear case looks pretty good. I did find about 4 places on the outside rim of the upper gear that was starting to rust. I got all that scrapped off and shined up and it really looks good. Now, I am kind of thinkin maybe I don't need a new mower that bad but at the same time know that nothing last forever. I have found a 5 foot Bush Hog Squealer for 1,000.00 bucks but would have to travel about 8 hours to get it. Still cheaper than they are going around here for. About the cheapest around here is 1500.00 and that is without a slip clutch. I read on another site that the Squealer wasn't really made that tough and wasn't for ag. use. I don't know that that is true. What is your thoughts regarding the Squealer model? Would I be stepping down a notch going from the MD160 Woods to a Squealer? In looking at the specs. I see the squealer is 636 pounds with a 14,335 feet per minute blade speed and has a deck thickness of 11 gauge along with a 65 HP gearbox. Says it can cut up to 2 inch diameter. In looking in my MD160 manual it says it is 685 pounds with a blade speed of 11,476 feet per minute and 10 ga. Cutter frame thickness along with saying it has a horsepower rating of 20-60. Manual doesn't say what it will cut but I am sure I have cut 2 inch stuff with it before.
Seems the newer cutters have faster blade speeds and I think this might make for a better cut. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.