10' Pull-type mower

[Richard]

We've got a 10' HD Rhino and a 15' Woods batwing. The 10 is pull type.

This was my first experience after using a traditional 5' sized.

One thing I do NOT like about them is you've got to be aware of your turning angles.

If your setup isn't adjusted properly for each other, I've been told that you can turn too sharp and essentially, force the U-joint beyond its design and maybe damage it.

Second, I was cutting with it, backing into some stuff, hit a stump and before I knew it, the mower took on a VERY contorted position as it was essentially, jacking up on me.

Turns out that little oops, screwed up something on the part that attaches to the PTO (which we already replaced)

Seems I could convert this 10' to a 3-point unit with some hardware (using on a 85 HP or so, Internatinal...I think an 899 or 988?)

Personally, I'd like to do that so I can use my turning brakes every now & then to tighten up a turn and not fear folding the U-joint into too tight of an angle.

I might be worried about nothing but on the 15' batwing, if I get too tight, the shaft will hit a piece of the protective cover and gently go "whump whump whump" until I straighten out.

Never had any of those issues with a 3-pt mower.

That said...would I prefer to cut the 100+ acres with the 5' 3-pt mower or deal with the angles & whumps of a 10' or 15' mower?

(easy question!!!!)

pull mowers all the way baby!

 

[hdbikercouple]

maybe he means a real type mower

 

[Soundguy]

I would think cleaning would be difficult since the 3pt may not be able to lift it up.

What other differences are there?

why would a person even considder buying a 10' 3pt mower if their tractors 3pt couldn't lift it? Youd have a 10' pasture drag then?!?

A 3pt mower swings with your tractor when you turn.. IE.. you turn left.. mower swings out right.. On a pull type, you turn left.. mower starts turning left.

backing up.. 3pt mower back up straight.. and can even hang out over a bit of a grade on the back or side. If you have to back-up alot.. 3pt is easier..

I use both a 10' 3pt mower and a 15' batwing (drag) mower.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

'Big enough' is all you need.

here's my 1975 ford 5000 and a 10' 3pt mower. She mows like a dream. i have (4) 80# pillow weights on her and (2) 50' suitcase weights as well.

soundguy

Man you would need a BIG-A tractor to pull a 10-foot lift cutter! I have a Rhino Turbo 120 (10-footer) pull-type. The lift-type calls for a minimum of a 60-hp tractor. But I think that would be pushing it! That thing weighs over 1800 lbs.! So you'd better have some good front-end ballast and a 3-pt hitch with a very large lifting capacity. The one big advantage to a lift type mower is that you can lift it. This would make it easier for tight maneuvering, backing up, and such. Think of a pull-type as pulling a trailer. I love my pull-type 10-footer. Not to say that I wouldn't like a lift type cutter too. I would love to have a 7-foot lift cutter but I wouldn't personally go any larger than that for a lift type. My ideal mowing set-up would be a 15-foot pull type batwing and a 7-foot lift type mower. But I haven't won the lottery. . . .yet!

 

[LoneCowboy]

One more thought for ya.
a pull type throws a lot less crap on you/your tractor than a 3 point.
Mostly because it's further back.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

One more thought for ya.
a pull type throws a lot less crap on you/your tractor than a 3 point.
Mostly because it's further back.

That one sorta puzzles me. None of my mowers, be it the 3-point OR the pull-types, throw anything forward on the tractor or operator. Both types will stir up dust in dry conditions, with the amount of that dust relative to conditions and size of mower.

 

[Builder]

'Big enough' is all you need.

here's my 1975 ford 5000 and a 10' 3pt mower. She mows like a dream. i have (4) 80# pillow weights on her and (2) 50' suitcase weights as well.

soundguy

When you're on a schedule like mine (2 younger kids in 4 sports of which 2 I coach, 2 businesses, and now possibly 15-20 acres of pasture to cut and a small farm to maintain) "big enough" is too small.

I want to get the mowing done fast. I have other things to do than sit on a tractor all weekend pulling a "big enough" mower.

 

[LoneCowboy]

That one sorta puzzles me. None of my mowers, be it the 3-point OR the pull-types, throw anything forward on the tractor or operator. Both types will stir up dust in dry conditions, with the amount of that dust relative to conditions and size of mower.

so, when you are cutting on an open platform, are you covered in dust/grass/weeds/seeds/bugs/etc after a full day or not?

certainly
and with a pull type, that stuff is further behind you, so less of it gets on you/the tractor.

That's all i was saying.

 

[Builder]

I think the pull types that fold are the ticket. You can pull a bigger mower with less HP and you can fold it for transportation. Blade maintenance, cleaning & servicing must be eaasier, too.

Problem is the $$, they're spendy.

 

[North Dakota]

Advantages to pull type

I would think that a pull type mower would let you mow closer to obstacles such as trees since the pull type tends to follow the tractor around the obstacle instead of swinging away from the obstacle like a three point mower would. Know matter how you turn with a three point mower you can not mow in one complete circle around a tree and stay close to that tree with the mower.

Follows ground contours better if you have alot of uneven ground with small swales.

Disadvantages:

Moving them from lot to lot unless the tires are rated or big enough for tractor road speed.

Backing is not as easy but still can be done with out much problem. This is assuming the back wheels on a pull type mower do not swivel.