Rear Finish mower?

   / Rear Finish mower? #21  
My King Kutter RFM has worked very well for over 10 yrs. Parts have been easy to get, either direct from KK or via TSC store.
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #22  
Here is my experience. I bought a TSC mower in 2003 for $899. In 4 years of use I had to spend $800 in parts. The wheels fell apart and replaced with a heavier wheel that was airless at a cost of $250. Also had welds brake, gear box leak, multiple belt breaks @ $50 each and idler pulley failures @ $25 each. They had sealed bearings and were junk. I sold it in the spring of 2007 on CL for $450. It was a happy day.

I replaced it with a $1200 Caroni built just like the one Sweet is showing you. I have spent about $.15 on repairs. Thats it, just one bolt fell out and needed replacing. It has 1/3 the moving parts and is bullet proof.

When looking at a RFM look for as few moving parts as possible and make sure the ones that do have the ability to be greased. My Caroni has just a gear box with a pulley and 3 spindles. 2 belts drive them with each belt driving the center blade and one outer. So even if you have a belt failure you would still have 2 still turning and allow you to finish the job and then you can fix it when done.

Chris
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #23  
I have made a video of the Phoenix (Sicma) Finishing mower in action as well as going over all the right features you will find in a quality finish mower.

Check it out. Hope it helps!
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #24  
Do rear discharge mowers handle tall grass as well as a side discharge?
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #26  
I have a new Chinese RFM with maybe 20 hours. It does a good job of cutting but for how long? One weld has broken, a wheel fel off, and the gearbox is so loud I have to wear earphones. I got it cheap and cheap is what I got. Next time I'll buy a good one even if it's used.
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #27  
what oil ya got inthe gearbox. if it's what came in it.. I'd drain it and run some 85-140 in there if it howls good. and if real bad.. put in a 50-50 mix of 85/140 and ep 0 or 00 ggrease. I have a 10' mower that calls for 140 or 0/00 grease... big heavy duty noisy sucker..
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #28  
It is original oil. I am going to put in the thick Lucas synthetic. Hope it quiets down. It really screams.
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #29  
I have a buehler farm king 84 inch that does a good job on both short and tall grass. It is rear discharge. Paid 1400 this spring on cl for it. Great shape and seems to be very well built.
 
   / Rear Finish mower? #30  
I just picked up a Woods RDC 54 to run behind my Bolens G152. Local dealer was a BIT high at $2400!!!! Next day found a very clean lightly used one in a CL ad for $1000, only 15 miles from my home too. Pretty easy to figure which way I went! Works excellent, quiet, effecient, nice cut. It has the solid wheels, anti-scalp roller and rear chain options. I also have an RD 72 which I bought about 10 years ago when I was mowing 5 acres a week but it and the JD 4700 are too big for the area I am now doing. The RD 72 NEVER gave me a lick of trouble so it was easy for me to want another Woods. I also had a 6 ft Caroni for a while, gave a beautiful cut. Had to replace a seal in the gearbox and it was a bit noisy but overall a very good mower.
 
 
 
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