Chain mulcher CM-1600 vs CM-1700 – which one suits your work?
Alvar Kallaste, Sales Manager at SAMI Machinery
A chain mulcher is a tractor-mounted implement for cutting brush, branches and tall grass along field edges, roadsides and ditch banks. SAMI currently offers two PTO-driven chain mulchers – the CM-1600 and the CM-1700.
CM-1600 is the lighter model (~770 kg) with mechanical head tilt – a simpler machine for tractors from 3.5 t and 90 hp.
CM-1700 is heavier (~1111 kg), with hydraulic head tilt and accumulators that keep the boom floating. The CM-1700 needs a heavier tractor – over 4 t and more than 100 hp.
In short: choose the CM-1600 for lighter maintenance work, and the CM-1700 when the mowing hours start to add up.
I have tested both mulchers plenty in the field and along ditches, so the difference is not theoretical for me. The question customers ask me most often is exactly this: “What is the real difference between the two, and do I still need to go for the bigger, stronger one?” In this article I break down the difference the same way I explain it to customers.
What is a chain mulcher and when do you need one?
A chain mulcher (also known as a brush mulcher or verge mower) is a mowing implement driven by the tractor’s PTO, built to cut coarser material than a ride-on mower or trimmer can handle. It keeps field margins, both sides of ditch banks and forest road verges in order. Where a tree shear takes out individual trees, a chain mulcher clears the whole surface in one go.
What sets the SAMI chain mulcher apart from many machines on the market is that the cutting head uses chains, not rigid blades – a chain gives way when it hits an obstacle, so the machine copes better with stones and stumps. The CM-1600 and CM-1700 share the same principle, and the comparison below shows which one suits you.
Chain mulcher comparison: CM-1600 vs CM-1700
| Specification | CM-1600 | CM-1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Working width | 1600 mm | 1700 mm |
| Reach from tractor centre (min–max) | 3000–4400 mm | 3000–4500 mm |
| Side shift | 1400 mm | 1500 mm |
| Cutting head movement | ±7° floating (mechanical) | Hydraulic tilt |
| Weight | approx. 770 kg | approx. 1111 kg |
| PTO | 540 rpm | 540 rpm |
| Chain | 13 mm | 13 mm |
| Max oil pressure | 200 bar | 200 bar |
| ½” hydraulic connections | 2 pairs + 1 pair for optional equipment | Fully equipped: 4 pairs + free return |
| Hatch | Manual (hydraulic as an option) | Hydraulic |
| Recommended tractor weight | from 3.5 t | from 4 t |
| Recommended tractor power | over 90 hp | over 100 hp |
| Mounting | 3-point (Cat. 2) | 3-point (Cat. 2) |
| Material | SSAB steel | SSAB steel |
You will find the product sheet on the CM chain mulcher product page – both models are on separate tabs there.
Where the real differences are
1. Weight class and build
The biggest number in the table is the weight: ~770 kg vs ~1111 kg. The CM-1700 is not simply “heavier” – the weight reflects how strongly it is built. The CM-1700 is made for heavier and more continuous loads: thicker brush, longer working days and less worry about whether the machine will hold up. The CM-1600 is a serious chain mulcher too, but it is aimed at the customer who doesn’t run it day in, day out.
2. Head tilt: mechanical vs hydraulic
In practice, this is the difference you notice most. The CM-1600 has a ±7° floating head that follows the ground mechanically, without any adjustment. The CM-1700 has hydraulic head tilt: you change the angle of the head from the cab. If you mow a lot of ditch banks and constantly need to change the angle – inner side of the bank one moment, outer side the next – hydraulic tilt saves you real time and nerves. For mowing flat roadsides, the mechanical float is enough.
3. Ground following: accumulators
In addition to the spring breakaway, the CM-1700 has hydraulic accumulators that let the head follow uneven ground much more softly. In practice this means fewer shocks to the machine, a more even cut on rough ground and less wear. Erik Sandberg from Sweden described the same thing in his own words – the SAMI chain mulcher “follows the ground much more smoothly than other brands I have tried”. The CM-1600 relies on the spring breakaway, which protects the machine when it hits an obstacle.
4. Reach and side shift
The difference is small, but it is there: the CM-1700 reaches 4500 mm and shifts 1500 mm to the side, the CM-1600 4400 mm and 1400 mm respectively. Over hundreds of metres of ditch, those centimetres add up – the far bank of a wider ditch is more reliably within reach with the CM-1700.
5. Hydraulics and hatch
To operate the CM-1600 you need 2 pairs of ½” hydraulic couplings, plus one more pair if you choose the optional hydraulic hatch.
The fully equipped CM-1700 has 4 pairs + free return and a hydraulic hatch. More hydraulic functions mean more comfort from the cab, but your tractor also needs the matching outlets. Count your tractor’s hydraulic outlets before you buy – it is one of the first things I always ask a customer.
6. Tractor requirements
Recommended tractor weight and horsepower:
CM-1600: from 3.5 t and over 90 hp.
CM-1700: from 4 t and over 100 hp.
This is often the deciding practical limit. If your tractor has 95 hp and weighs 3.7 t, the CM-1600 is the right choice even if you would like the bigger one – with a heavier chain mulcher the tractor has to be balanced and heavy enough, otherwise both the work and safety suffer.
What both chain mulchers have in common
Important: with the CM-1600 you are not buying “cheaper quality”. The core construction is the same:
- Bondioli & Pavesi gearboxes and shafts with an overload clutch that protects both the tractor and the mulcher.
- Hardox® 500 TUF wear-resistant working surfaces and skids.
- SSAB steel for a long service life and high durability.
- Spring breakaway that protects the machine when it hits an obstacle.
- 13 mm chain as standard; both can be fitted with 10 mm chains (code 439.015) and cutting blades with holder (497.700).
The difference lies mainly in the class and the hydraulics, not in the materials or build quality.
How I recommend a chain mulcher to customers
Choose the CM-1600 if:
- your tractor is in the 90–110 hp class (from 3.5 t);
- you mow regularly, but not every day;
- you prefer simplicity – fewer hydraulic functions, less setting up;
- you want a lighter machine that puts less load on the tractor.
Choose the CM-1700 if:
- your tractor has 100+ hp and weighs at least 4 t;
- you mow a lot of ditch banks and constantly need to change the cutting head angle (hydraulic tilt);
- the work is daily and the sites are tough, and you want the soft ground following of the accumulators;
- you want maximum comfort from the cab without climbing out of the tractor.
A simple rule of thumb: the tractor and the workload decide, not the price. Buying a bigger chain mulcher for a smaller tractor is not a saving.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chain mulcher?
A chain mulcher is a PTO-driven mowing implement for cutting brush, branches and grass along field edges, roadsides and ditch banks. The SAMI CM-1600 and CM-1700 use chains in the cutting head, which withstand stones and stumps better than rigid blades.
What is the main difference between the CM-1600 and the CM-1700?
Weight class and hydraulics. The CM-1600 (~770 kg) is lighter, with a mechanical ±7° floating cutting head. The CM-1700 (~1111 kg) is a heavy-duty chain mulcher with hydraulic tilt and accumulators. The CM-1700 suits heavier, daily work; the CM-1600 suits a lighter tractor and regular maintenance mowing.
How powerful a tractor does a chain mulcher need?
The CM-1600 needs a tractor with over 90 hp and at least 3.5 t. The CM-1700 needs over 100 hp and at least 4 t. With a heavier machine the tractor must be heavy enough to stay balanced, otherwise work quality and safety suffer. Check your tractor’s weight and hydraulic outlets before you buy.
Does the CM-1600 cut thick brush just as well?
The CM-1600 handles thick brush well, but the CM-1700 is built for continuous heavy loads. If you regularly work in the thickest brush every day, the CM-1700’s stronger build and accumulators give a better result and less wear. For occasional work, the CM-1600 is enough.
Can the head angle be adjusted from the cab?
On the CM-1700, yes – it has hydraulic tilt that you control from the cab. The CM-1600 has a ±7° floating mechanical head that follows the ground by itself. If you mow many ditch banks with different angles, the hydraulic head tilt of the CM-1700 is a clear advantage.
Summary
The CM-1600 and CM-1700 are not “good and better” but two chain mulchers in different weight classes for the same job. Match the machine to your tractor and workload: the lighter CM-1600 for 90+ hp tractors and regular maintenance, the heavy-duty CM-1700 for 100+ hp tractors, hydraulic comfort and daily heavy work. If in doubt, send me your tractor’s details and I will tell you exactly which chain mulcher fits your machine.
See both chain mulchers and download the product sheet: SAMI chain mulcher CM product page
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