MMM-> Rear Finish

[Buck]

I am getting tired of spending the 15-20 minutes needed to take off or put on my MMM. I know some of you can do this in 5 minutes -- but I can't. Invariably, I mess up my clothes and get grease all over. A major deal for someone trying to cut the grass after work.

I really like running the tractor without the MMM. I can easily get over creeks, hills, and other obstacles.

Has any one here gone from a MMM to a rear finish? Were you happy?

I figure I could sell my 60" MMM and get a 50" bush hog and a 60" rear finish for the sell price. Any advise? Has anyone done made this move?

Buck

 

[chim]

Buck, the last two tractors I bought had RFM's. The first had a MMM, and was the reason the last two did not. To be fair, the first was not a modern tractor, mebbe a later model has a more user-friendly mower than mine. I had to remove the mower to install the front scraper blade. The swap took a half a day. At the time, our driveway was gravel and needed attention occasionally.

I have a 5' Caroni and a 5' Landpride. The Caroni is a good mower in the lower end of the price range, while the Landpride is a really nice unit that goes for nearly twice as much. I like side discharge, but side / rear is almost like Ford / Chevy debates. Main reason I like side is for "raking" leaves in the Fall.................chim

 

[buckeye]

I am looking at purchasing a RFM and I was wondering, since the RFM is attached via the 3-point hitch, how level will the mower perform? What I'm asking is, will the mower perform uneven over uneven ground? Also, does the mower cut pretty even on a hill? I would assume so with the number of wheels on these things. I guess my biggest question is how even these things will cut given they are attached to a short wheelbase tractor? Thanks for any input you may have.

Jim

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>Has any one here gone from a MMM to a rear finish?</font color=blue>

I went from a Deere 316 garden tractor with 48" MMM to the NH with 60" RFM (landpride). The RFM is temporary untill the 60" NH MMM comes in.

<font color=blue>Were you happy?</font color=blue>

Yes & No.

Pros:
It is very easy to take on & off. It is quicker to mow the lawn than the 48" garden tractor which I also attribute to the TC18 having power steering & a treadle pedal vs. the horrible manual steering on the 316 & having to use one hand to change direction. Excellent cut quality. Love the Rear discharge.

Cons,
Manuverability. This thing adds 5' to the overall length of the tractor -- that's more than 50% extra length. I have dozens of obstacles to go around (trees fences, house etc) and a couple of small areas of grass to cut.

If you have wide open spaces to mow, you will be thrilled with the RFM. If you have relatively few obstacles, you will be happy with the RFM. If you have lots of obstacles, you will not be happy with the RFM.

Did you get my email regarding the Ballast box?

 

[hazmat]

buckeye,

I've been very happy with the cut quality of my landpride 60" RFM. It has 4 casters (two front & two back). The connection to the three point has extra slop built into it (via hinged connections) so it floats along behind the tractor. If you have uneven terrain, several of the manufacturers sell extra anti scalp rollers.

 

[RoyJackson]

"...how level will the mower perform? What I'm asking is, will the mower perform uneven over uneven ground? Also, does the mower cut pretty even on a hill? I would assume so with the number of wheels on these things. I guess my biggest question is how even these things will cut given they are attached to a short wheelbase tractor? Thanks for any input you may have."

As other's have mentioned, the anti-scalping roller helps a lot.
I also leave the attachment point at the upper link fairly slack. If I don't, I'll miss grass at the point a slope levels out (the aft end of the mower will lift off the ground if it's an acute transition). Also, it gives a bit more slack when the bottom of the slope levels. This is mostly when I'm going straight up and backing down sloped areas. The downside is that when the mower is raised on the 3PH, it won't be level. Not an issue for short travel, but if I was going to transport it more then a few hundred yards, I'd adjust the upper link.
As far as being a hassle if you've a lot of obstacles...that's very true. When you turn, the RFM does move in the opposite direstion of the turn (your rear wheels would be the pivot point. I have to be careful when I'm in close proximaty to the house or fence (even more fun if the FEL is on...but I take that off in Spring, summer and fall unless I need it and put it back on for the winter).
All in all, I prefer the RFM over the MMM in my circumstances.

 

[jtn]

Hazmat,

I have a RFM and a lot of trees to mow around. I actually prefer the RFM as I can back under the trees instead of having to drive right next to them as I would have to do with a MMM. This saves me from getting smacked in the face a lot and makes trimming easier. Of course it would be preferable to have nothing to mow around but I try and make the best of it.

JT

 

[hazmat]

JT,

<font color=blue> can back under the trees</font color=blue>

You bring up a good point. If you have low branches, this is another advantage of the rear mower. Most of my trees are trimmed high enough for me to get under (with the ROPS folded) w/o getting smacked in the head.

 

[ncengr]

Several good points. I recently changed over from many years of mowing with garden tractors and MMM to a B2710 with 60" RFM. Thought it would take good deal of time to adapt to new style of mowing - no problems. I can manuever the RFM fairly close to trees and as others have said you can always back under low branches. Quality of cut is good or better than with my garden tractors (JD and Cub Cadets) which had very good cuts. I have been very pleased as it allows me to do the mowing (which accounts for majority of my tractor use) with ability to change over from RFM to other 3ph attachments very quickly.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color=blue>"Most of my trees are trimmed high enough for me to get under (with the ROPS folded) w/o getting smacked in the head."</font color=blue>

I trim anything I might have occasion to walk even near up to the level of my ROPS. Why? Because my ROPS is about as far off the ground as my head when I'm standing next to my tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif