Looking at Woods RM 90 and have questions.
1. Since the Rm 90 dosen't have the coaster wheels on front of mower, how do you keep the mower mowing level and the grass cut at the same height?
2. How expensive is it to replace blades?
3. How much dose it cost to replace belt?
I know these are good old mowers as I have seen them for years but not smart enought to figure out what will keep them from dropping cutting height when you hit swag or dip.
Thanks for help or advice.
I have a RM990-3 with castors front and rear with a cutting height adjustable from 1" to 8". It's a great machine, built like a tank. I bought it new
20 years ago and cut 20-30 acres with it every 2 weeks in the summer to a 3.5" height for weed control and natural fertalization after taking off a hay cutting this time of year. It will also handle higher cuttings with no problems. I just finished cutting a few acres that had gone to seed too much for the type of hay I make. It was 36-40" high and I cut it to 6" in the same gear I use for the shorter cuts. I'll probably cut it again to 3.5" if it ever rains.
You can go to the Woods site and download a manual for the unit you are looking at for free.
It is built basically the same but is designed to control the front height that you asked about with check chains. The same way their rotary brush mowers work. For finish cutting you would probably be more satisfied if you get a front wheel castor kit to use instead of the check chains since the unit makes a 90" cut.
There are 6 blades about a foot long that pivot mount to 3 spindle hubs.
As I recall the last set I purchased as a spare a couple years ago was around $100. They are easy to sharpen. I try not to run over tree limbs or hit rocks but that does happen some as I mow close to a lot of tree lines. I've only had to purchase a total of 2 sets in 20 years in addition to the originals which were beginning to look pretty bad.
There is one big long double B Kevlar belt about 3" wide that runs on double groove pulleys. I got one last year as the old one was starting to crack.
I think it was a little over $100.
The area between the cover plates and the deck top, where the belt drive is collects some clippings and needs cleaned out occassionaly. There is an idler pulley with a large spring that keeps the belt in tension. Be sure the arm the pulley is on moves freely on the pin at the other end. Other than greasing the 3 spindles, which have tubes to them with zerks on the end so you don't have to remove any covers to grease them, and greasing the wheel zerks and PTO shaft it is just mow-mow-mow.
You can price the parts at messicks.com but I find them the same or cheaper
at my New Holland Dealer.
Hope this helps.
Ron