Is a 6ft finish mower too big???

   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #1  

chamjoe

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Aug 16, 2008
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I have a Kubota L2550 (non-GST) from early 90's or late 80's. Rated engine HP 29.5 and 23.5@PTO I have been pulling a 5ft rough cut mower (Big OX BX5) since then with no problems. I would like to replace the rough cut mower for a finish mower for the lawn (8ac) should I get a 5ft or a 6ft?

The lawn is cut every once every 7-10 days durring peek growing times here in Central Florida. The lawn consists of about 1/3 st. augustine, 1/3 bahia, and 1/3 weeks. I will keep the rough cut mower for any tall stuff. I currently mow in High-2 gear which is about 6mph. Would I be able to maintain the lawn in the same gear if I mow regularly with the finish mower?

Obviously I would prefer to pull the 6ft and I would be buying used so finding a 6ft is much easier than a 5ft. I feel like I am on the edge of being able to handle the mower I hear from many that you can run a finish mower 1ft wider than rough cut as a rule of thumb. Also, I hope to get a larger tractor with loader within the next few years.

Thanks for opinion.
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #2  
I pull a 6' with a 25HP tractor. Many pull 6' footers with old 8N that were only 24HP. You should be fine.

Now for the mower get rear discharge and as little moving parts as possible. I bought a King Kutter and it had tons of parts which equaled tons of failures. I paid $1000 for the mower new and spent $800 on it in 5 years of repairs. I sold it to some SUCKER and got a Caroni with very few moving parts and have spent $0 in 3 years and even more important I did not have to pay the neighbor to finish mowing my 3 acre yard 2-3 times per year.

Chris
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big???
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I pull a 6' with a 25HP tractor. Many pull 6' footers with old 8N that were only 24HP. You should be fine.

Now for the mower get rear discharge and as little moving parts as possible. I bought a King Kutter and it had tons of parts which equaled tons of failures. I paid $1000 for the mower new and spent $800 on it in 5 years of repairs. I sold it to some SUCKER and got a Caroni with very few moving parts and have spent $0 in 3 years and even more important I did not have to pay the neighbor to finish mowing my 3 acre yard 2-3 times per year.

Chris

Thanks Chris that makes me feel better.

I have only been looking at rear discharge

I didn't realize KK made such a bad product (and were so cheap) . I passed on a like-new Sitrex 72" for $650 a year ago and have been kicking myself since. There is a used woods around here for $850 and seems to be in good condition that I might pick up.

I figured they all had the same number of moving parts just different gauge steel and gearboxes, I will keep an eye out.
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #6  
This is another vote for Caroni. I sold them for several years and NEVER had a warranty repair. I used a 6' behind my 24hp and it did a great job.
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #7  
I use a 6' Woods PRD7200 behind my 3320 (25.5 pto hp) and it has no problem powering or handling it. Just like you, I cut about 7 - 8 acres of grass every 7 - 10 days at the height of the cutting season. The 7200 leaves a very nice cut, even on the one long straight away I have when I'm moving at 5.5 mph (B range, 4th gear). I don't think you'll have a problem what so ever with a 6' and I think you'll be very pleased with the cut quality and discharge (rear is what I have).

:cool:
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #8  
6ft is no problem at all,we pulled a 6ft with out 1910(28.5PTO HP) and you could brush hog with it if you want too,and still not load the engine all the way.
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #9  
Thanks Chris that makes me feel better.


I figured they all had the same number of moving parts just different gauge steel and gearboxes, I will keep an eye out.

For example my Caroni has a gear box with a flywheel attached to it. It then has 3 spindles and has 2 belts. One belt goes over the center spindle then the right one. The other does just the opposite going around the center spindle and the left one. If one belt breaks you now have a 4' mower and continue on then fix it later when the job is done. This has never happened to me, nothing has broke but just shows you how its better engineered. The KK always broke twice a year and usually when I had just 2 hours before it was dark so having parts on hand did me no good.

My KK had one flywheel and a long belt that was $55 to replace versus the Caroni having 2 short belts that can be had at any auto parts store for around $8. The KK had 3 spindles then 4 idler pulleys along with 2 belt tensioners. As you can see about 3 times the moving parts. Every time something broke it ate up the belt so you were looking at a $100 to $150 repair by the time you bought the part and the belt.

One other problem I had with the KK was the tires. Mine were about 10" tall and you had to air them up to 35 psi. If I dropped one in a mole hole or something like that it would spin the wheel and tear the valve stem off. My Caroni has the same size tires but they are solid rubber. They will last for ever.

Chris
 
   / Is a 6ft finish mower too big??? #10  
I have a 5' FM with my 32hp JD but I noticed that after I bought it one of the blades does turn with the other two. It just spins freely by hand. Is the shear bolt broke and if so how hard is it to replace?
 
 
 
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