finish mower questions

[GaryS]

We moved into our new house last fall and I've spent the spring trying to get a yard growing. We have about 8 acres and I've got about 1-2 acres on which I'm trying to grow grass. The good news is that the grass is growing -- the bad news (for me anyways) is that I'm going to need to cut all of it.

So, I'm going to need to find a finish mower sometime soon. What are the pros and cons for a rear finish mower versus a MMM?

About MMM, are they universal or do I need to find one marketed for my tractor? BTW, I have a MF 1428...

Any recommendations for brands? Who makes the best rear mower or MMM?

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Who makes the best rear mower or MMM? )</font>
Oh, I don't know, either Ford, Chevy or Dodge... oh, sorry, that's another one of those that can't be answered!

While MMM have manuevering advantages, I believe RFMs have them beat in general unless you just have too darn many obstacles.

MMM are harder to mount, to the point that one poster even admitted he doesn't use it as often because of the trouble. MMM cost more than RFM.

There are some makers of Universal MMM, but I would probably go with the makers mower as it will be designed for a perfect fit.

Not that I would ever have a MMM as I use a ZTR for lawn cutting and rotary mower for brush and heavy grasses and I don't have a great grassy lawn to worry about but it looks pretty good when cut.

John

 

[jcmseven]

Gary,

I personally like the RFM's for the cuts. They are super easy to take off and put on, and they offer a really nice cut. The only problem is in tight spaces or on tighter lawns they can be cumbersome. So to get a RFM to work I would say you need at least a few open spaces, otherwise go with the MMM. To me, there are several good companies making RFM's but consistently the two tops in my book are Woods and Befco. Befco makes really nice stuff, and Woods makes the new Premium line which seems to be an excellent mower. I have had two of their RFM's painted JD green and both were top notch. I have also had a Befco/Frontier mower which I did not like as well, but it was the economy series so not one of Befco's top products.

John M

 

[hockeyhead]

the only really nice grass I have is my front yard and about 50ft around the other 3 side of the house. and I don't mow these areas with my CUT. the weight, R4 tires just rip it up. I use a 50" lawn tractor for this area. and I use the cut on the rest of it. The lawntractor does about 1.5 acres. in 2 hours
If you really want to keep it really like golf course lawn, spend your money on a second machine. a dedicated mower

 

[GaryM]

I use a 60" rear discharge RFM myself. It works really nice for 95% of my grass.

RFM Pros:
Cost less than MMM.
Easier to remove and replace than MMM.
Available in rear or side discharge.
When raised on 3PH, it doesn't reduce tractor's ground clearance.
Easy access to blades and underside of deck.

RFM Cons:
Not as easy to use for trimming around trees and such.
Increases overall length of machine
When front of tractor goes Right, rear of mower goes LEFT!

MMM Pros:
Best for trimming around trees and such.
Machines overall length is not increased. Easier to manouver in tight spaces.

MMM Cons:
Higher cost
More difficult to remove and replace.
Access to blades and underside of deck more difficult.
Not available in rear discharge (as far as I know anyway)

I have one spot about 10 feet wide between two landscape beds and against a wall. I can back the RFM in there and get a lot of the grass. If I had a MMM I don't think I could get any of it.

You need to look at your situation and see what would do the best job for YOU. A dedicated ZTR mower would undoubtedly be the cat's meow!

 

[kensfarm]

Maybe give this a shot first.. sharpen your bushhog blades and cut the field the first time.. mine gives a pretty good finish when halfway sharp.. maybe you can save some $ to spend on another implement.

 

[Nasty135]

Gary , The previous posters gave great advice on the reasons for or against which mowers....

I will mention something I look for in a RFM if I was buying one... The main drive pulley attached to the gearbox, IMO should be large in diameter to provide greater surface for the belt to hold and not slip... I have seen other brands that will use two belts on a smaller dual pulley(to compensate) in order to have enough surface for the needed tension to cut through heavy grass... I'm not saying one is "better" because if you get in heavy wet grass going too fast either kind will eventually slip... But for me I prefer the one belt type with the large drive pulley... and blade pulley's with 50% contact...

Something to think about... Because sooner or later your grass will get higher than you would've preferred to cut it.

I have a friend who has a smaller diameter drive pulley and he has complained to me about slippage of the belts... The one I use has a large pulley one belt system and it has actually caused some slight loss of RPM of the engine(as the gov kicked in ) due to heavy grass...

Something as small as this can be insignificant when all conditions are good but when things get difficult it might make a major difference of your attitude by the time you get of your tractor... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

And of course blade sharpness has alot to do with all the above, and could have possibly been my friends trouble...

 

[GaryS]

Great information - thanks to all.

The area I have to cut is mostly wide open so the RFM sounds like my best bet.

I love the idea of trying out the bush hog - building the house has left me feeling poor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[GaryM]

A bush hog with sharp blades might work OK for you. I also cut my grass with a 4' for the first year. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif