Do I have the right mower?

[GlueGuy]

Here's another one for the collective well of wisdom here at TBN./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

When I purchased my B7500, I discussed with the dealer which type of mower would be best for my particular situation. It's difficult to describe to someone, but I did my best, and he thought that a rear-mounted brush-hog-style of mower would be the best. The model that I ended up with is a Woods XT148.

The mower actually does a relatively good job of mowing. However, I have two problems.

First, our property is very uneven. In fact, in retrospect, I now know that a BX tractor, although somewhat more maneuverable would not be able to negotiate many of the dips and mounds (many of which exceed the 6" or so clearance of a BX). The B7500 does fine. However, the brush cutter many times would bottom out; either at the bottom of a deep rut, or at the top of a high mound. I quickly learned to keep a close eye on the front of the mower, and one hand on the 3PH control to alternately raise/lower the front of the mower as required to stay clear. Clearly, some sort of gauge wheels (or something) would help a lot.

Secondly, the way that the brush cutter sticks out the back is a serious liability. I did manage to get it (mostly) into all the various tight places that I have, but a couple of times I wasn't sure I was going to make it. This is one of the reasons that I removed the FEL when I mowed. With the FEL, many of the spots would have been impossible. In fact, a larger tractor (even a B2410) would have been way too big.

So I am thinking that a mid-mount mower might actually work better. It would make the entire rig at least 5' shorter, and make it a lot easier to get into most of the tight places. It also has gauge wheels (or idlers?) that would allow the mower to float up and down.

The only down side is that the land is pretty rough. I would say that 95% of the mowing is in grass and other "light weight" vegetation. However, I do have an occasional bacharus (AKA "coyote bush" for those familiar with California vegetation) that pops up (they grow real quick). Also, there are a LOT of rocks. Would this tear up a mid-mount mower?

All suggestions gratefully received. I bow to your collective wisdom!

The GlueGuy

 

[Bird]

GlueGuy, I'm guessing a little bit without seeing the property, but sounds to me like you have the right mower. That situation would be very hard on a finish mower, whether belly mower or 3-point. Of course, that's not to say it can't be done; just that you'd probably spend more time on maintenance, blade sharpening, etc.

Bird

 

[bsauter]

Glueguy, You might give your setup a little more time and see what you think.

The one thing that would make me hesitate about the mid mount mower is that you said you have very rough land. My old B2150 with the Kubota mid mount had a heck of a time with my property and getting pounded. I have lots of old growth tree roots at the surface that makes for a very bumpy front yard. I welded broken brackets SEVERAL times on the mid mount deck. I have switched to a 3pt rear at my dealers suggestion and have had great luck. They seem to hold up better in my case. This may just be a design fault on the combo of the B2150 and deck but it got really old. I have switched tractors but still use the 3pt decks. Where I could leave the loader on my B2150 I prefer to take it off on the L3010 for getting around trees and tight spots. Doesn't take long at all and kindof like driving a diferent tractor for a change! I still leave the loader on for "bushhoggin" since I am usually in open areas like pastures.

My 3 pt. finish deck floats like the old mid mount which is nice.
I can see where you may want that. You might think about a 3 pt finish deck if you want to float but you probably do have the most reliable setup for your situation now.

Brad, Kubota L3010HST, loader, R4 tires
Pictures at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=179207&a=9183978

 

[GlueGuy]

Hmmmm.

OK. Maybe I will give it more time. Maybe what I might do is add a couple of full-swiveling wheels to the front (inside the side rails, so they don't interfere with side clearance). This would allow me to leave the 3PH in float, and I wouldn't have to be jocky-ing it up and down so much. I still have an issue with negotiating the tight spaces though. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[GlueGuy]

Well, I gave the mower another chance today. It may, in fact, be the correct mower for my situation. One of the things that I hadn't realized before was that this mower allows me to take advantage of a couple of places where there are "edges" (45 degree slope with a shoulder). If I had any kind of finish mower (mid-mount or rear-mount), I wouldn't be able to do what I did with this mower:

I backed up to the edge with the mower pulled up tight. In essence, it becomes cantlevered off the back of the tractor, and when the rear wheels get to the edge, I stop, and slowly lower the mower by letting out the top link on mt T&T. I then roll forward until the front of the mower gets about the right distance from the edge, then pull the top link in slowly as I creep away.

This little technique allows me to mow "over the edge" so to speak. I see that this would be impossible with any other kind of mower.

I've also gotten into the mode of backing up with this mower almost as much as I go foward. When I'm in one of those tight places, it's a waste of time to try to turn around. Just going back and forth a couple of times does the trick.


The GlueGuy

 

[TresCrows]

Perhaps you have the right setup but have you ever considered smoothing it all up just a bit? Off subject but since you mentioned it I really doubt the BX would get stuck on 6 inch bumps, you are not the only one with "bumps". If you have done any offroading you will know that absolute groud clearance is not the most important aspect, wheelbase plays a roll in that as does approach/departure angle. The BX would clear those bumps unless they are so steep and small that the BX would be straddleing them. I cross berms and terraces all the time that are quite a bit more than 6 inches all the time without ground contact. If your property is that bumpy why not use that 7500 to smooth it--not take all the character away you probably like but just take the edge off. Oh, I think it is 6.7 at the front axle and 6 inches with the deck in the stowed position, deck removed for activities in the rough and clearance really is not all that big a problem, if it is I bulldoze it away with the boxblade. Good luck with those bumps. J

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>ever considered smoothing it all up just a bit?</font color=blue>

Now there's a thought! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I wonder if there's any new equipment I could buy the would help me with that? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Actually, any "smoothing" around here is temporary at best. We have what one of my neighbors calls "super gophers", he claims they can bore through his concrete driveway! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

The owls, coyotes, bobcats, etc. sure think they're tasty though/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif!

The GlueGuy

 

[TresCrows]

Well, my being somewhat of an animal lover and knowing also that you live in the "Peoples Republic of California" I hesitate to suggest that you introduce Mr. Gopher to Mr. 20 guage and we are not talking metal thickness here--well yeah---Lead. J

 

[GlueGuy]

I don't know that we "love" the gophers. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif But seeing as we could really give a "s**t about the "lawn", and the gophers seem to attract other critters that we do like, I'm happy to let them have their own way.

Just wait till California secedes from the union. You folks will miss our 10% of the economy.

The GlueGuy

 

[john_bud]

GlueGuy,

I don't know if we would miss California, but we would miss you and Harv and .... well, you get my point!

By the way, I would think California would miss the electricity they get from the rest of the country as much as we would miss the "10% of the economy". But, I could be wrong. You do have a PTO generator, don't you?

/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

John Bud