Recommend a good finishing mower!!

[DonWorrell]

I am looking for a good 6' finishing mower. Ii have a 35 hp Mahindra model 3325 2WD tractor.

Here are some questions. Are all of these mowers belt driven from the gear box to the mower blades?

How thick should the metal be on the deck?

How important are scalping wheels?

Do I really need safety chains?

Do I want a rear discharge or side discharge?

I have never owned a finishing mower and to my knowledge never saw one in operation.

I own 5 acres fairly level. Some slightly rolling hills. All my property is open no fences to deal with except boundry fences.

I have about 3/4 of an acre with my house and lawn proper on this 3/4 acres.

I presently use a 5' bush hog to do all my acreage except the lawn which I use a Craftman riding mower.

Please give me your thoughts.

Oh here is some more question. What should I pay for a decent finishing mower?

Are there any brands I really need to stay away from?

Is a Big Bee or King Cutter any good?

I know I don't want a Middle Mount Mower.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Don

 

[EddieWalker]

Don,

I don't know much about them, but I just bought a used 7 foot Landpride finish mower for $600. I have a 35 HP Century 4x4 tractor and it pulls it easily. In fact, the finish mower is a dream to mow with compared to my 6 foot Landpride bush hog.

The four wheels make all the difference and it just floats over the ground. The look is amazing, but the time to cut is much shorter.

Mine is a side discharge and I like it. I have to make sure to cut close to trees and fence on the other side as the discharge side sticks out a distance.

I can cut grass just about any height, but if it's really tall, I have to cut it twice to get a perfect finish.

The gearbox is about half as big as the one on my bush hog. There is one belt and it connects to all three blades. I haven't sharpened my blades yet, but will have to sometimes this summer. It cuts well, but I think it will do even better with sharp blades.

My mower is very heavy. I can lift it, but on a hill, my front tires will come off the ground. This is rare as there is very little reason to lift it.

Having mowed with both the bush hog and a finish mower, it's not even close. The finish mower is just so much nicer and easier to use.

Hope this helps,
Eddie

 

[RoyJackson]

I am looking for a good 6' finishing mower. Ii have a 35 hp Mahindra model 3325 2WD tractor.

Here are some questions. Are all of these mowers belt driven from the gear box to the mower blades?
yes, all I am familar with (most brands as I was looking for a 72" mower)

How thick should the metal be on the deck?
I've no idea, but .12 to .19 (an eighth to three sixteenths) would be quite adequate on a finishing mower. This implement isn't for rough cut field use.

How important are scalping wheels?
To me, quite important, but my property is uneven (you could almost call it bumpy)

Do I really need safety chains?
Not so much for a finishing mower. There should be fewer stones and other debris on a finished lawn and the blades are recessed enough above the sides to reduce any chance of one flying (if it broke)

Do I want a rear discharge or side discharge?
Your choice. Mine is a rear discharge and leaves no windrows. It distributes the clippings quite evenly

I have never owned a finishing mower and to my knowledge never saw one in operation.

I own 5 acres fairly level. Some slightly rolling hills. All my property is open no fences to deal with except boundry fences.
Then a rear finishing mower should do a great job. You may have to do a little trimming in the corners.

I have about 3/4 of an acre with my house and lawn proper on this 3/4 acres.
I mow an acre around the house with my finishing mower...you may or may not want to continue with the riding mower.

I presently use a 5' bush hog to do all my acreage except the lawn which I use a Craftman riding mower.

Please give me your thoughts.
If your field is as smooth and cleared of rocks and other debris as your lawn, a finishing mower will do a great job in giving it a lawn quality cut. I suggest you make the first few cuts as high as the mower will go until you are sure there's nothing there to damage the mower.

Oh here is some more question. What should I pay for a decent finishing mower?
$1500 gets you a nice 60" unit, but you can pay considerably more for a 72" or 84" unit. I'd say you'll pay $1800 to $2500. Remember, this implement should last you a lifetime with reasonable care.

Are there any brands I really need to stay away from?
Not really, but you get what you pay for. My mower is a Befco (bought used) and has provided me 5 years of good service...I expect many more years out of it.

Is a Big Bee or King Cutter any good?
Never used either, but a friend has a 60" King Kutter he has abused annually for 4 years now with no unscheduled maintenance.

I know I don't want a Middle Mount Mower.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Don

I do suggest you look at an 84 inch mower. Although I have a 60" mower, my tractor could easily handle a 72" unit (considering weight, PTO power and frequency of cutting). If you don't intend to cut frequently, you may want to stay with a 72" mower.
5 acres is a lot to cut. Depending on how big a hurry you're in...I'd go for the 84" mower. Your Mahindra has ~29 PTO HP and quite adequate lifting capacity for an 84" mower.
As Eddie wrote, you may need front weights. You could leave the FEL on (if you have one...your profile doesn't list a FEL), but that is a hassle when cutting close to a fence.
I can recommend a Befco. I've have mine for 5 years (it was 2 or 3 years old when I got it). Other then greasing the wheel and blade spindles, sharpening the blades and replacing the belt (once), it's been trouble free. Befco isn't the cheapest brand...nor the most expensive.

 

[DK35vince]

I have owned a First Choice 84" rear discharge mower for a couple years now that I use on my 35 HP tractor. (7 acre lawn)
Best bang for the $$ that I saw in finish mowers. Nice mower. Real pleased with it.

 

[jand38]

Make sure F/M is as wide as back tires usually at least 6ft. most are rear discharge which I like I bought a mid price F/M and I take very good care of it so I did not need a expense unit but if you are hard on equipment than go for the more expense units Woods. Bush Hog, Land Pride and I know there are many more units to choose from that will give desired results. MD

 

[TrippleT]

I have a 72 in rear discharge finish mower I pull with a TC33D NH with no trouble at all. It is a Maschio and I love it. Have mowed 10 acres for three years now with no trouble at all. About the only drawback I can think of with it is that it is made in Italy. But a lot of people around here have them and can get parts for them.
Personally I prefer the rear discharge mower it does not row the cuttings and in a day they lay down and your can't tell they are there.

 

[Turbys_1700]

All advice here is excellent.

I went through the same decision last year. I upgraded tractors and wanted to upgrade my finish mower. I have previously run a 5' light duty Land Pride for 14 years. Excellent unit. Never replaced a bearing. Paint's not that great but everything else was fine. Unit weighed in at around 440# with a 10 ga. deck.

I purchased a PRD 7200 Woods this spring. This unit cost me $2K. IT has a 60 HP gearbox and I believe an 8 ga. deck. Heavy unit @ over 720#.

I could have purchased a Heritage 72" Woods for $1600. That unit has a 40 HP gearbox and is approximately 100# lighter than the PRD. The PRD also has cast iron sheaves and a 5/8" reinforced rub rail under the deck. It is rear discharge with chains.

I sold my wife on the better unit telling her that it should last 20 years or more and was worth the $400 more. She agreed. I love that woman.

Many excellent brands out there. My personal advice is to go with a rear discharge with chains and get the anti-scalp roller. If you can pull the 7 footer go with it also. I would have but my land is better suited for the 6 footer plus my tractor is only 28 HP with 23.5 at the PTO.

 

[rickmacheske]

So far sounds like you're getting a lot of good advice.... My option.
1. Wheels are needed for a good cut
2. Thicker metal is good
3. I don't know what I would use safety chains for on a newer style finish mower
4. Rear discharge will discharge the clippings much more evenly (I didn't even know you could get a 72" side discharge)
5. I'd stay away from Landpride. I have the 1672. After two seasons I've worn the paint off the sides completely. The belt cover bolts are broken. The belt is now falling off even though it's tightened to spec. The PTO shaft protective sleeve is broken on both ends. I do abuse the mower, sometimes cutting 12" of "grass" with it. I just expected a little better.
Just my opinion

 

[greg_g]

I think you can handle a seven footer too, but recommend rear discharge. Finish mowers were discussed very recently, so reading this thread might help too: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/88073-rear-finish-mower.html?highlight=gm35-84

//greg//

 

[602466]

I have been using a Bush Hog Finish mower (RDTH-72) for the past two years. I have not had any problems with it. I have just under 10 acres that I have to cut. You can't let the grass get too tall or you will not get a good cut. Look for a rear discharge, you will not get any grass clumping up. A little pricey at $2,100.00, but it should last for many years (I hope).

I have not seen that many post for Bush Hog Finish mowers???

Hope this helps!

Wally