Rotary Cutters | FC12E Flex Wing Rotary Cutter

Features

What is the best cutter for your job?

NOTE: Only for E, M, and R flex-wing models.

John Deere flex-wing rotary cutters lead the way with innovative design, superior durability, and proven performance. Valuable features are included such as a dome-shaped smooth deck, which prevent water and debris from accumulating on the top of the machine and makes it easy to clean up.

Built with a superior structural design that will satisfy different applications and segment desires, the single deck on the flex-wing cutters adds volume on the cutting chamber, allowing the machine to process more material and translating into an improvement in cut quality. The cutting chamber design allows the material to flow through the area and be discharged evenly throughout the width of the machine.

To help promote safe operation, John Deere rotary cutters are equipped with front and rear safety-chain shields and lighting kits to comply with U.S. regulations. John Deere rotary cutters continue to advance in value with larger, more powerful gearboxes, and updated constant-velocity (CV) drivelines.

Here are situations when a rotary cutter provides value:

Clipping pastures encourages grass growth, optimizing on valuable pasture acreage.
Cutting grass and stalks helps control insects.
Routine cutting keeps weeds from reseeding.
It is the most cost-efficient way to cut roadsides, parks, cemeteries, airport fields, hydro, gas, and telephone easements, and all other types of open properties.
Cutting grass waterways encourages root development and helps prevent erosion.
Knocking down stalks such as cotton, corn, or milo speeds up decomposition. This is essential in no-till and minimum-till fields.
Clearing out brush is easy.
Control undergrowth and grass in orchards, vineyards, and groves.

Decide what model to use based on:

The size of the area to mow versus the size of the machine – the bigger the area to mow, the bigger the mower needs to be to perform efficiently during mowing hours.
The amount of time and frequency it will be used – for longer hours and more frequency, choose a heavier duty machine.
Tractor compatibility – if there is a tractor the operator will be using, look for the tractor compatibility sheet to identify appropriate options.
Choose the right features to satisfy specific needs – check out the value and benefits for each option to determine which one is the best fit for the work

John Deere flex-wing rotary cutters are available in three duty-level categories and four width sizes.

E-Series Flex-Wing Cutters are designed for your utility tractor to increase efficiency in each pass. They are ideal for making short work of grass, weeds, small bushes, and light shrubs.

The E Series is a rotary cutter that targets small farm owners and large homesteads, but with its 5.1-cm (2-in.) diameter cut capacity, it is applicable for all types of livestock pastures, as well as general mid-duty property maintenance applications. Improved pasture maintenance results in better growth of edible plant material. The E Series allows flex-wing operators to use a smaller tractor with a minimum 29.8 power take-off (PTO) kW (40 PTO hp), which means fuel savings. It is available both in 4.6-m (15-ft) and 3.6-m (12-ft) sizes, providing increases productivity and terrain coverage.

The E Series is equipped with a 540-rpm Category 5 driveline, rigid axles with four puncture-proof laminated tires, and round pan-type blade holders. The E Series shares many design features of the M and R Series, such as the easy-clean deck, round blade pans, and a cast self-leveling clevis hitch.

M-Series Flex-Wing Cutters are suited for larger property owners and ag producers.

A flex-wing rotary cutter is the best way to go when dealing with large areas and uneven terrain. Get a lot done on the job and then fold up the wings for easy transport. Choices include 540 PTO rpm or 1000 PTO rpm, laminated or severe-duty ag tires, and round stump jumper or bar-type blade holder. Put these M-Series Rotary Cutters to work reclaiming overgrown pastures, mowing rights-of-way, and chopping row-crop residue. With the redesigned cutting chamber, you are ready with great capacity and better crop flow. That means an unrestricted airflow, which translates into cleaner cutting and more uniform distribution of cut material.

A tractor with a minimum of 41 PTO kW (55 PTO hp) is required. The type and volume of material being cut will affect horsepower requirements.

R-Series Cutters are designed to multi-task in tough conditions, from cleaning roadside ditches to cutting under power line easements, recovering Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, airfield mowing, and road-rail verges. The R-Series range is ideal for contractors and government users requiring an industrial-strength machine with a narrow road transport width.

The R-Series Flex-Wing Rotary Cutter was engineered for the toughest roadside mowing and commercial applications. It comes in the standard 4.6-m (15-ft) and 6.1-m (20-ft) dual-wing configurations and in a right-wing-only weight-box configuration.

The 3.1-m (10-ft) FC10R Weight-Box Rotary Cutter is designed from the FC15R base model and incorporates many of the same features, but it is specifically enhanced for roadside cutting. The left wing of the cutter is removed and replaced with a weight box to provide stability for the unit. This allows the tractor to be operated alongside the road for mowing. Municipalities and commercial mowing operators utilize these units for roadside mowing where a full-sized unit is too wide and where the desired roadside cutting width is less. It is available in 540 rpm only.

The main difference between the R-spec and M-spec models is that the R-spec is a heavier, more durable rotary cutter that can handle more challenging conditions and terrains for longer working times. A thicker deck, standard deck rings, ball hitch, independent wing hydraulics, and larger tires.

The terrain and type and volume of material being cut affect horsepower requirements.

E-spec
- Sizes: 3.7-m (12-ft) and 4.6-m (15-ft)
- E-spec models cut brush up to 50.8 mm (2 in.) in diameter
- Two tire options to choose from
- One selective control valve (SCV) hydraulic connection
- Available in 540 rpm
- Tractor compatibility – see chart
- Great choice for the property owners with light-duty applications
M-spec
- Sizes: 4.6-m (15-ft) and 6.1-m (20-ft)
- M-spec models cut brush up to 76.2 mm (3 in.) in diameter
- Additional options may be included to suit specific needs
- Optional availability to increase drivetrain capacity
- Two SCV hydraulic connections
- Available in 540 or 1000 rpm
- Good match for medium-duty customers and their versatile jobs
R-spec

Sizes: 3.05-m (10-ft), 4.6-m (15-ft), and 6.1-m (20-ft)
Three SCV hydraulic connections
R-spec models cut brush up to 101.6 mm (4 in.) in diameter
Available in 540 or 1000 rpm (FC10R only available in 540 rpm)
Excellent for roadside mowing and more demanding applications

Area cut with John Deere rotary cutters

Acres per hour chart

Rotary cutter width	Acres per hour	Minutes per acre
1.2 m (4 ft)	2	29
1.5 m (5 ft)	2.5	23
1.8 m (6 ft)	3	20
2.1 m (7 ft)	3.5	16
2.4 m (8 ft)	4	14
3.05 m (10 ft)	5	12
3.7 m (12 ft)	6	10
4.3 m (14 ft)	7	8
4.6 m (15 ft)	7.5	8
6.1 m (20 ft)	10	6

NOTE:

Tractor speed of 8 km/h (5 mph) used in calculations.
Values are an approximation, and speeds and time will vary based on terrain, tractor, rotary cutter, vegetation, and weather.
Reduced by 17 percent allowing for overlaps, turns, and stops.

Safety

John Deere flex-wing rotary cutters are equipped with chains and lights as standard in all models.

Front and rear safety chains

Front safety chains

Chain shields offer protection to the operator and the area surrounding the cutter yet allow uncut material to pass into the cutting chamber with minimal restriction.

Optional double-row chains for R-spec models

An extra row of chain shields for the front, back or both sides can be added for increased protection against debris coming from the cutting chamber.

Lighting kit

Lights are required for U.S. regulations on implements wider than 3.05 m (10 ft). All cutters come standard from the factory with lights.

Transport lock

Transport lock on back axle

Transport lock on wings

The center axle can be locked easily for transport or service by flipping the lock over the cylinder rod. Wing locks use a pin that can be conveniently stored when not in use. Additionally, on M and R Series, the wing locks are spring-loaded so they can unfold against gravity on slopes up to 5 degrees. Always use the transport lock on the wings and center axle while transporting or moving the machine.

Warranty

Five-year limited gearbox warranty provided on every John Deere rotary cutter

Five-year warranty on all flex-wing gearboxes

Five-year warranty on all rotary cutter gearboxes

John Deere is so confident in the reliability of the gearbox that rotary cutters come with a 5-year limited gearbox warranty.

There is also 1-year warranty on the complete machine, including drivelines, clutches, and many other components.

Maintenance

Easy-clean deck top

John Deere flex-wing rotary cutters are equipped with an easy-clean, smooth-top single deck that allows material, debris, and water to be easily removed from the top of the machine.

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Specifications

John Deere

FC12E

Flex Wing Rotary Cutter

Cutting width

3.7 m
12 ft

Cutting capacity (diameter)

50.8 mm
2 in.

Tractor PTO HP range

30 kW
40 hp

Transport width

At wing wheels: 2.3 m 7.5 ft

Deck thickness

11 gauge - 3 mm
0.12 in.

Side skirt thickness

3 gauge - 6 mm
0.24 in.

Approx. weight

1623 kg
3580 lb

Drivelines - Size - Main

CV ASAE Category 4, splined telescoping profiles

Blade tip speed - 540 rpm - 1000 rpm

540 rpm: 86.6 m/s
284.1 fps

Gearboxes

5-year warranty

Cutting width

3.7 m
12 ft

Cutting height

25.4-406.4 mm
1-16 in.

Cutting capacity (diameter)

50.8 mm
2 in.

Cutting chamber depth

254 mm
10 in.

Tractor PTO HP range

30 kW
40 hp

Tractor PTO

540 rpm

Static Vert Drawbar Load Rating

Type

Standard self-level hitch clevis with 57.2-cm (22.5-in.) narrow-profile width

Transport width	At wing wheels: 2.3 m 7.5 ft
Overall width	3.8 m 12.4 ft
Overall length	4.8 m 15.7 ft
Deck shape	Easy-clean smooth top deck
Deck type	Single
Deck thickness	11 gauge - 3 mm 0.12 in.
Side skirt thickness	3 gauge - 6 mm 0.24 in.
Hinges	Intermittent cast steel segments - greaseable single 2.5-cm (1-in.) diameter full-length hinge pin
Approx. weight	1623 kg 3580 lb

Size	Main CV ASAE Category 4, splined telescoping profiles Connecting ASAE Category 4, splined telescoping profiles
Protection	Connecting No-seize, slip-clutch driveline

Number	Four
HP rating	Transfer Continuous: 186 kW 250 hp Peak: 224 kW 300 hp Center Continuous: 56 kW 75 hp Peak: 75 kW 100 hp Outer Continuous: 56 kW 75 hp Peak: 75 kW 100 hp

Thickness	13 mm 0.5 in.
Width	102 mm 4 in.
Type	Suction
Overlap	152 mm 6 in.
Blade rotation
Blade tip speed	540 rpm 86.6 m/s 284.1 fps
Material flow system
Blade holder	Type Round stump jumper for maximum protection for blade carrier against obstruction damage: 7 gauge 4.55 mm 0.18 in. Blade bar: 2.5 x 10.1 cm 1 x 4 in.

Wing lift	One SCV connected to the tractor (machine height plus wing lift)
Wing flex	For transport: upward 90 degree (angle) Upward working angle: 45 degree (angle) Downward working angle: 22 degree (angle)

FC12EFlex Wing Rotary Cutter

Features

What is the best cutter for your job?

Safety

Front and rear safety chains

Lighting kit

Transport lock

Warranty

Five-year limited gearbox warranty provided on every John Deere rotary cutter

Maintenance

Specifications

Key Specs

Capacity

Tractor compatibility

Hitch

Dimensions

Drivelines

Gearcases

Blades

Hydraulics

Wheels

Shielding

Warranty

Additional information

Offers and Discounts

Shop and Buy

Maintenance and Support

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Type	Option 1 4-bolt, laminated: 21x5.25x9 Option 2 4-bolt, 16PR severe-duty ag: 21x7x12
Suspension	No suspension - rigid back axle
Row width adjustment	No
Wing-leveling adjustment	Easy adjust turnbuckle with bearing

Front	Single-row chain guard
Rear	Single-row chain guard

FC12EFlex Wing Rotary Cutter

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Features

What is the best cutter for your job?

Safety

Front and rear safety chains

Lighting kit

Transport lock

Warranty

Five-year limited gearbox warranty provided on every John Deere rotary cutter

Maintenance

Specifications

Key Specs

Capacity

Tractor compatibility

Hitch

Dimensions

Drivelines

Gearcases

Blades

Hydraulics

Wheels

Shielding

Warranty

Additional information

Offers and Discounts

Related Products

Shop and Buy

Maintenance and Support

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