First Choice finish mower

[greg_g]

Anybody have experiences - good or bad - with the First Choice GM35-84 ? I'm looking at a pair of used ones, but one's blue and one's red. Is color an indication that one's older than the other? The red one ($900) needs bearings and bushings at least, but the blue one ($1100) looks like it's ready to mow. I'm leaning toward the blue one, and I know what the new prices are. Just not sure if $1100 isn't too much for a used one.

//greg//

 

[qstott]

I bought a used one about a month ago. Mine is orange. They have different color choices. (I guess to match your brand of tractor). I paid $1300 for mine. It looked like the paint was a little faded from being stored outside. Other wise it appeared to be new except for just a few scrapes around the edges. The blades still had a nice sharp edge on them. PTO shaft was included. I use mine behind a JD 1050. (33 PTO hp) with 420 lbs of weight on the front. It's MUCH heavier than I expected. It's a little exciting sometimes if I lift the mower and hit bumps or start off too quickly. At least it seems to save wear and tear on my front wheel bearings /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It does appear to be well made, and it works well. No problems at all so far. I do wish mine had the anti-scalp front center roller.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Greg, I bought a new one about 3-1/2 years ago. I consider it much better than the other two brands I have owned in years past. Do not know todays new prices, back then they were around 1500.00 here. I was able to get it for less at the time.

I would consider a front center roller a must on this 7' unit.

 

[greg_g]

Color matching makes sense, I should have thought of that - thanks. I haven't committed yet, will have to double check if either one has a nose roller. I'm going to use this to scalp brome sage, so I'm not worried so much about turf damage. But the less often the blades hit the dirt, the less often I'd have to sharpen them.

Hopefully there are more than two folks out there who've got experience pulling a First Choice GM35-84.

//greg//

 

[easyrider]

Greg,

The anti-scalp roller is standard on the GM35-84. These mowers are offered in red, orange, and blue to match tractor color. Having worked for First Choice, I can tell you that this is a good mower for the money. It is a heavy mower so make sure you can handle it. I would assume that being in western Kentucky you're either dealing with O'Bryan or Ken Sweet. I know both those guys and know that either one will take care of you.

 

[greg_g]

Thanks that's good to know. I wonder why QSTOTT didn't get a center roller with his (?)

I have a two ton tractor with 40 PTO hp, hydraulics rated to life 1675 pounds, and a tread width of 67 inches. It's for those reasons that I was looking in the used seven to eight foot size range, instead of at new six footers.

And actually the guy that's got both mowers is a Kubota dealer in Hanson (KY)

//greg//

 

[JPA]

Greg, I just got a used blue one a few weeks ago. Mine's been spectacular so far. It is heavy, but really seems sturdy and well made. Does a very nice job cutting and even with my rolling land, no problems with scalping, etc.

 

[qstott]

Befco, how about ask "Bit" next door at Hines what he did with my "standard" anti-scalp roller. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I bought the mower from him a month ago. (just joking) I don't suppose you guys happen to have something that would work, do you? Maybe I could pick one up in Wilson? When I priced the rollers on line they seemed a little pricey to me. Thanks.

 

[qstott]

I hope this link will work for you. first choice web page
My 1050 weighs about 3700 lbs with me on it. The mower weighs 816 lbs. It's all my tractor wants on the rear. When it's on the ground it is no problem at all.

 

[greg_g]

Yeah - with a heavy duty rotary cutter on the back, mine gets a little light in the front too. No FEL, and the RC isn't very impressed by the suitcase weights up front. Gotta be a little careful on the clutch, especially when facing uphill. But I'm going to get the front tires ballasted this spring. That was in the works even before I saw this First Choice mower.

//greg//