What's the next mower to buy?

[biffo]

Hello

I have a Kubota B7100HST with a 60" mmm fitted, both were in used condition when bought. Bought a holiday home with 5 acres and mow around 1.5 acres with this belly mower when we are there (about every 3 to 5 weeks and stay about 10 days). But if it's the growing season it can be a very long slow process to make sure the mower and tractor are not overloaded as in places the grass is both tall and dense.

The remaining 3.5 acres have had the hay taken by a local farmer since we have owned this cottage but he's losing interest in continuing so I am searching for the correct next mower to buy.

My best idea so far is to buy a flail mower that this tractor can just cope with (next year I'll buy a more power full tractor) which will? give me a reasonable cut on the bits around the house and cope with cutting maybe 2 or 3 times each year the remaining 3.5 acres to keep it in check. This will also allow me the time to overhaul the mmm back to good condition.

Any comments if this is the best way to go or are there better options??

Thank you

 

[jbrumberg]

biffo:

Welcome to TBN ! Have you considered a 60" PTO driven rotary cutter? Jay

 

[medicshawn]

I agree you'd probably have better luck finding a used bush hog and can probably unload that easier if you get something different in the future. If you buy a flail now for your smaller tractor and the get a bigger tractor later you'll still be looking for another flail for the bigger mower so you have as much cutting width as possible.

 

[teg]

biffo, If I have this right... B7100 is 16 (gross) HP... I'm not sure that it will handle much and if you upgrade next year, you might end up with a mower that is too small for the new tractor. I would wait and save your money now.

As for cutting your grass - I would just visit your property more often during the growing season!!! You can let the hay field grow for the whole season and when it dries out in the fall; cut it. This might help with the purchase of a new tractor... "but honey, I can't do it with this tractor - I HAVE to have a BIGGER one..."


.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I think the 400# lift capacity might be the constraint. You can go slow or take a partial cut to conserve power. If your land is smooth, it will let you drive faster to use the power of a bigger tractor with a not-so-big e.g. 60" flail mower.

 

[sandman2234]

This looks like a really good place for a Swisher mower to come into play. Pull behind it straight with your MMM raised a little high and let the Swisher put the finishing touches on the grass, or leave your MMM in the same place and offset the Swisher to optimise the widest cutting swath. Used they aren't too bad, new won't kill the budget, but you will have something to sell to pay for the new tractor next year. If the MMM gives up the ghost, you can still mow while it is in the shop, pulling the Swisher with the tractor without a MMM.
David from jax

 

[biffo]

I have considered a rotary cutter but have just come down on the side of the flail as it has more options for our situation Jay, plus a bit shorter to get into some of the tight spots around the house.

A Kubota flail I have been offered is designed for 18 to 30hp, so even after upgrading the tractor next year it will be suitable. Although the width of cut is quite narrow, I have to say that sitting on the tractor for an extra half hour is not a hardship as we have a pretty view. Thanks medicshawn

Think you have me taped teg... and we would love to spend a whole lot more time at our cottage than we do, but most of our work is in the UK and it's about 550 miles away in another country, on top of which we have to drive through central Paris to get there and back, so once a month is the best we can do!

Thanks Brad, I've taken that on board.

sandman2234 , don't know what a swisher is but it sounds fantastic

Thanks everyone for some very good points and taking the time to write, if any of you need to know something about the UK or France I'll be happy to try and find an answer.

Jamie