Mowing Speed Kubota L2501

[Atchuuu]

Hi guys, first post on TBN so if I missed a thread that already covers this my apologies.

Have 15 acres. 10 of it is cleared and mostly level. I want to keep it that way. Kubota dealer recommended a L2501HST as I told him I want to cut and maintain the property and speed of completion is important to me. I want to pull the largest deck possible but realize this often means larger, higher HP, tractor.

Last week I cut about 7.5 acres with a 42" Zero turn running at 7 miles per hour (according to specs on exmark for my model). It felt like riding a horse or bull for much of the work. Took 5.5 hours but it got the job done. I used it mainly to get a feel for the land and a benchmark for the time it takes to cut.

So that is the background. Now to the question. How fast can I run a bushhog on a l2501 on mostly flat, clear property (free of obstacles) and what is the appropriate size BH. I know if I let it get overgrown this will affect operating speed. Assuming the grass is 1-2 feet tall can anyone tell me an approx. speed. On another forum/post someone said they operate at around 2 miles per hour. If that is the case my exmark would likely be faster even with a 42 deck. If not faster then close enough in speed to make buying a tractor impractical.

Please excuse long post and thanks for your opinions, advise and expertise.

 

[4570Man]

If you plan on cutting 2 foot tall grass the exmark is out of the question. If you don’t plan on cutting 2 foot grass and mowing speed is important why not buy a bigger ZTR?

 

[Atchuuu]

If you plan on cutting 2 foot tall grass the exmark is out of the question. If you don’t plan on cutting 2 foot grass and mowing speed is important why not buy a bigger ZTR?

That's a great question and a larger ZTR is probably a smart way to go. But there is just something appealing about owning a tractor and I will get a FEL with it so it can do things the ZTR can't do. The 2' height was really a guess as to how high I would let it get before cutting. Ideally I will have time to keep it much shorter.

 

[diesel85]

A L2501 would be OK with a 72" mower on normal height grass. Forget about 1-2 foot tall grass -- even then, that's realms for a bushhog or flail mower not a riding lawnmower/ZTR.

A ZTR is fine for lawns, not for brush cutting. I was almost going to get a ZTR for my lawn (or what I call my lawn), and a local dealer let me try one out. I hated it because I thought my fillings in my teeth were going to fall out. I even tried a Ferris and same results.

If you want to go 7 mph in 2 foot tall grass, you need 35-40 hp to the PTO with a 5' brush cutter (to concentrate the power). However, the faster you go, the less likely it is for the brush/grasses get cut. You wind up laying it all down, then a week later it looks blotched. The blade tip speed factors in to quality of cut at higher speeds.

A good mowing speed is 4-5 mph for normal grass for any machine. Bushhogging 2-4 mph, or slower depending on what you encounter.

 

[4570Man]

A L2501 would be OK with a 72" mower on normal height grass. Forget about 1-2 foot tall grass -- even then, that's realms for a bushhog or flail mower not a riding lawnmower/ZTR.

A ZTR is fine for lawns, not for brush cutting. I was almost going to get a ZTR for my lawn (or what I call my lawn), and a local dealer let me try one out. I hated it because I thought my fillings in my teeth were going to fall out. I even tried a Ferris and same results.

If you want to go 7 mph in 2 foot tall grass, you need 35-40 hp to the PTO with a 5' brush cutter (to concentrate the power). However, the faster you go, the less likely it is for the brush/grasses get cut. You wind up laying it all down, then a week later it looks blotched. The blade tip speed factors in to quality of cut at higher speeds.

A good mowing speed is 4-5 mph for normal grass for any machine. Bushhogging 2-4 mph, or slower depending on what you encounter.

I’d rather have an 8’ cutter behind a 40 hp machine.

 

[Atchuuu]

Thank you both for your quick replies and info. I have been using a mowing calculator and had hopped I might get something capable of mowing as high as 10 miles an hour. When I use the provided number of 4-5 mph it dramatically increases the time to cut, even with a 72" finish mower or 60" BH. Maybe the 40+ hp with 8 foot cutter is something to look into. This of course will force me to go used. Likely very used.

 

[4570Man]

I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Mowing at 10mph isn’t my idea of a good time. Just have your wife take her frying pan and beat the crap out of you now. It’ll be a lot cheaper that way. Use a wider mower and go as fast as hp allows which will be pretty slow at times.

 

[lpigott]

Get a Ferris 72” zero turn. You can fly on them due to their outstanding suspension. Used the time saved to cut more often or you will be out of finish mower territory of any type.

 

[goeduck]

I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. Mowing at 10mph isn’t my idea of a good time. Just have your wife take her frying pan and beat the crap out of you now. It’ll be a lot cheaper that way. Use a wider mower and go as fast as hp allows which will be pretty slow at times.

What he said ^^^^

 

[jeff9366]

Thank you both for your quick replies and info. I have been using a mowing calculator and had hopped I might get something capable of mowing as high as 10 miles an hour. When I use the provided number of 4-5 mph it dramatically increases the time to cut, even with a 72" finish mower or 60" BH. Maybe the 40+ hp with 8 foot cutter is something to look into. This of course will force me to go used. Likely very used.

Ten miles per hours is unrealistic. If you can stay on the tool it will be pounded to ruin as the blades will inevitably strike the dirt from momentum.

A Kubota L2501/HST will operate a 60" Bush Hog in grass about 18" tall @ 2-1/2 mph.
A Kubota L3301/HST will operate a 60" Bush Hog in grass to 30" tall @ 2-1/2 mph.

"Maybe the 40+ hp with 8 foot cutter is something to look into. This of course will force me to go used. Likely very used".

In my experience a 45 horsepower tractor is required to operate a six foot wide Bush Hog in grass taller than 36".

Maybe 40 horsepower tractor for operating a six foot Bush Hog in grass less than 36" tall.

The larger wheels/tires on larger tractors bridge small holes and ruts that smaller wheels/tires on small tractors or Zero Turns drop in.


You need to set the alarm on your bedside clock 2-1/2 hours earlier.