worst product I ever bought from Northern,October 19, 2009
By Gator99from Missouri
"This is easily the worst product I have ever purchased from Northern. The welds came apart at that junction in the middle of the tongue. Then they started coming apart where the tongue attaches to the mower. But that's minor. I've made darn sure the blades always swing free (I have *never* found them locked up), yet the wimpy frame metal where the spindle goes through to the blades almost completely cracked off, and I had to really reinforce it with strong steel. Then the lower bearing on the spindle just broke off while I was mowing. I have to go so slow with this unit that it's overly hard to get my 4-wheeler to pull it that slow. I use a lawn tractor to pull it. Seriously!! What an embarrassment. And this is a TRAIL mower? I complained to Swisher and they gave me half off a BIG bill for repair parts, but pretty much implied that I abused the machine or let the blades get out of balance for a long time. Wrong. This would be great if you just want to mow tall weeds on a flat, even lawn but don't kid yourself into believing that this is any sort of a "brush" cutter or that you should take it over a rough "trail."."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
Money Hog, not bush hog,September 30, 2009
By Stonedcifrom Greenville, SC
"I bought this 13 months ago, I wish it was 12 months and I would try to return it. I used the mower on a 3 acre field that is usually cut for hay the first day. Both tires went flat. I patched the tires and went out the next day to cut some roads on my hunting land, the tires went flat again. It has sat in the barn for a year now, and I have patched the tires a few times and they will not hold air. Looking to replace them if I can find a place that has something better (will not use a Swisher Tire) I got it out yesterday and spent about an hour and never could get it to start. I'd love to just sell it for scrap at this point. Unless you can fix small engines yourself, and enjoy doing it, or use it on a regular basis, I would not buy this product. And if there are any briars where you plan to cut, plan to have the tires go flat that day."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Great for brush,July 22, 2009
By insurecalhfrom Dover, AR
"I have a Swisher I bought five years ago. It will cut anything I can pull the ATV over . The Briggs & Stratton engine always starts-hot or cold. Had to replace the fuel line 2 years ago (rotted). Had no problems with the belts for the first 4 years, but it has started eating belts. Haven't figured out the problem yet. Great for cutting brush. Doesn't like tall thick grass. Have to slow way down and sometimes go back to mow over-especially thick fescue.
I would purchase again. Overall, it is a great item for the price."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Excellent mower,July 20, 2009
By Brantleyfrom Central Wisconsin
"Recomend buy, I bought this mowing deck about 2 months ago, it was very easy to assemble took me 30 minutes to get mowing. I mow a 2 acre parcel with a significant grade. I pull this with my 4 wheeler with no trouble at all. I was able to clear out 4 and 5 ft tall weeds with no problem. The mowing deck is easy to clean and mower has plenty enough power. The break away blades are nice to for the unepected stump or rock. 5 stars"
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
trailcutter,March 23, 2009
By gramps300from webster ny
"i have hunting land, have many trails to keep cut, this machine fits the bill. wish it had a bigger gas tank. over all its a great machine, and the price is right."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Swisher Trailcutter,March 8, 2009
By colonelKfrom Vidor, TX
"I have been so disapointed with the trailcutter. the first thing that went bad was the drive belt, It lasted about 8 hours. Had to buy belt from Swisher and it didnt last three hours. Now the trailcutter sits in the barn not used due to drive belt problems, also have had problems with hitch and control unit."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
Swisher 44 Trail Cutter,September 25, 2008
By Bypassfrom Thomaston, Georgia
"I bought the mower about 3 years ago to mow the roads and food plots on the 900 acres we lease. I also maintain the roads and power lines on 44 acres I own. The mower works as good as I could expect for one towed with an ATV. Anything my 400 can run over or push down up to a point will be cut, 2" soft or less diameter trees, including rough grass and other things grown in the South. I could not expect it to do more unless I used a large Tractor and large Bush Hog to cut the property. I noticed some had problems so I will list the things I encountered. Out of the crate my electrical was shorted and would not crank but it wasn't a problem to fix, the wire was shorted when the plates were bolted in front of the motor. Sometimes I have hard cranking if it sets up for several weeks so now I just squirt some starting fluid in before I crank it up, no problem. I have changed 2 belts in the 3 years, the first when I locked the drive up by getting a large limb hung under the deck. The other also melted when an unseen stump locked up the drive. As far as the hitch goes, I took it off after the pin broke and added a 1 7/8 inch regular trailer hitch, works great. The pin breaking also pulled the cable and wiring out of the shifter mounted on the back rack. This problem was fixed by making a 12 inch t-bracket and mounting the start and shifter on the deck, works great. I grease the tire rims each time I use it and have not had any problems with the sleeve bearings. I would prefer to have a more substancial roller bearing wheel assembly for long life. In the future I plan to get a finishing mower to keep the roads cleaner and mowed lower than I can now. This is a very good product if it can withstand the torture that I put it through."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
brush mower,August 19, 2008
By medicchipfrom Vienna,GA
"I bought this product to use on cutting heavy brush. When i bought it was in a crate and it was a little agravating putting it together. This product didnt cut as low to the ground as it advertised and the two blades didn't work as well as the one I have seen that had only one blade. But for someone who is just looking for a mower to just cut a path through some woods or something in that nature this product would be a good buy. But I was wanting to something that cut a lot lower to the gound."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Excellent performance,August 18, 2008
By wjraefrom Louisiana
"My husband and I purchased the Swisher Trailmower a few years ago. It has definitely been put through the test and passed with a A+. The terrain in which it has been used is quiet rough, but it has gotten the job done beyond our expectations."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Disapointed,July 29, 2008
By CJ1968from Andover, MN
"I bought the Swisher Trailcutter with hopes to maintain about 5 acres. I only use it to cut weeds and clover. When the weeds get about knee to waist high, I will mow it. I have only used this machine twice. The problems that I have had were with the height adjustment coming completely apart when twisting the knob to adjust it. The machine is very heavy, and it was not easy to put back together again. After using this for about 16 to 20 hours or 2 days worth of use total, the belt already needs to be replaced, because it is so badly worn that the blade won't even engage any longer. It just smokes when I try to engage it. I tow the machine slow and stop occasionally to let the blade digest the material that it is cutting. It is set as high as it will go, and the blade never hits dirt, rock, or wood. So there shouldn't be any reason for a belt to go bad after just a couple times out. I guess I had higher expectations and thought that it was a good running machine up until the belt went out prematurely. It is supposed to have a 1/2" x 50" V-belt. I am going to try a smaller belt to see if that works better, and maybe even belt dressing to prevent it from wearing out so quickly. I couldn't imagine cutting wood or brush with it like they claim that you can, I would expect a belt to last about 4 hours cutting saplings or small tree's with it.... The belt drive seems to be the "weak" link in this machine."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Swisher trailcutter 44 in.,July 16, 2008
By logger1from Shipman, VA
"Have had this product for one year. Overall, it has been good, but has the following design issues that company should address: 1) point of connection between tow tongue and mover easily deforms. I attached angle iron to top and bottom to cure deformation and prevent in future (Saw same problem noted in an earlier review). 2) Metal at at this connection point is too soft. Holes deformed quickly. 3) Tongue does not adjust high enough to level mower when attached to my ATV. 4) Belt breakage bent mount on tension pulley on belt. I had to bend mount back, but broke two more belts before diagnosing the promlem. 5) Tires are not thick/durable enough. Got flat first time I used it.
On the plus side: Motor starts very easily and mower handles everything I have thrown at it."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
TOUGH ROUGH CUT,July 6, 2008
By CBR34from SUSQUEHANNA, PA
"BOUGHT THIS MOWER TO CUT HIGH GRASS AND DENSE WOODY BRUSH AROUND OLD APPLE TREES. I USED IT BEHIND MY ATV WHICH AT TIMES HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER TOP OF THE BRUSH WHICH STOOD 5 TO 6 FT. THIS MOWER HANDLED IT WELL AS LONG AS I WENT SLOW AND GAVE IT TIME TO DO ITS JOB. RUN TIME WAS AT LEAST 1.5 HOURS, STARTS VERY EASY HOT OR COLD AND BACKS UP FINE ON A STRAIGHT TOW NOT OFFSET. STUMP JUMPER FEATURE WORKED WELL ON A COUPLE LARGE ROCKS I DID NOT SEE. I HAD NO BELT BREAKAGE AS THE MANUAL TELLS YOU HOW TO AVOID IT BY BREAKING IN THE BELT FIRST. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THE MANUAL FOR SETUP AND YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS. A GOOD MACHINE FOR THE PRICE."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
one happy customer,April 21, 2008
By Anonymousfrom Vancleave, MS
"I purchased the swisher rough cut trailmower to clear a spot on some property I just bought for my home. I have used it everyday for the last two weeks with only one problem, the belts wear out, not due to a defect but to my own use. I cut brush up to 2 inches with no problem, but when I get in a hurry I try and cut more than I am suppose to. The engine has enough hp to do the job and the deck is rugged enough. I would recommend this to anyone who is a do it yourselfer and doesn't want to pay someone else to do work that you can do yourself. love this mower and am going to buy the finishing mower once I get my house built on this property."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
needs a honda,January 29, 2008
By renohiofrom Ohio
"Mower does fine w/ brush saplings and heavy grass. Not a finish mower but great for field use. My biggest gripe is the stubborn B&S engine. Its tough to start. Wish it had a honda option."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Swisher Trailmower,January 24, 2008
By Maxx83from North Carolina
"I purchased the trailmower about seven months ago and have used it to clear about 10 acres of heavily overgrown land. I was quite impressed with it's ability to cut through some really heavy weeds and grass as well as small pine tree saplings up to about 2". Some of the weeded areas were as much as 6' high and the mower handled them with no problems. Weak points are size of the fuel tank, tires and pull arm attachment. I resolved the tire issue after getting 3 flats by the second day of use by filling them with Slime flat repair. I also welded upper and lower bracing plates at the point where the pull arm attaches to the mower to prevent bending. No solution yet for the small fuel tank."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
"I have used the 44 inch trailmower for about a year to mow my citrus orchard. Although it has good power and cuts well I have had to replace the mower belt 3 times out of 5 uses due to wear and tear!! The belt snaps and I have to remove 4 bolts off the engine plate and lift the engine to replace it. The mower needs better design so the mower belt doesn't fray and snap."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
SWISHER MOWER,October 29, 2007
By NEALfrom GARNER, NC
"I BOUGHT THIS MOWER TO CLEAR BRUSH AND MOW FIELDS. HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH IT SO FAR. HAVE OWNED ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW. ONLY PROBLEM I SEE WITH IT SO FAR IS THE SIZE OF THE GAS TANK. HAVE TO REFUEL IT ABOUT EVERY 30 MINUTES."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
Weak hitch!,October 8, 2007
By Markjfrom Houston, TX
"This mower does a great job through heavy brush and 1.5 dia wood. The hitch bar is rather light and the adjustment holes are starting to deform. This is after only 2 days of use. The Fuel tank needs to be larger, I have to stop and refuel every 30 to 45 minutes of use. Make sure you have grade 8 bolts holding your tow hitch on. A gopher mound stoped the mower and sheered the bolts pulling the blade engaugement cable apart and the kill switch. I have now mounted the blade engaugement assy to the tow bar."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Home Handyman
"I bought this item in hopes of using it for at least 2 - 3 years without too many problems. In the first month, both wheel bearing went out, one almost completely disintegrated. They were under warranty and were replaced. However, in Feb. of '07 the blade belt completely fell apart and I had to replace it at my cost ( wear item ). In Mar. '07 the pull rope also fell apart and I had to have it replaced ( another wear item ). In June I had to replace both tires, these are only 2 ply, and not much on wear. Please keep in mind I keep my equipment under cover and they are NOT weather exposed. As far as the blade drive belt, there was no visible reason why it tore apart. At this point it looks like the hitch point is about to go."
What is your level of technical expertise?:
Professional
