Going from belly to rear mower

[DONOTDELETE]

I am used to the convenience of a belly mower, having had one on each of the compact diesel tractors that I have owned (currently I have a JD4400HST with 60 inch commercial belly mower). Consideration is being given to moving up to a TC35D with a 7 ft. rear finish mower (Rhino, Woods or Bushog). QUESTION:is a rear finish mower practical for me after 20 years of using belly mowers--I mow around 50 trees and other objects in my small acreage of a yard. Opinions? Mike S.

[DONOTDELETE]

I think you might be in for a big wake-up call with a rear mount. I have used mid-mount mowers for over 25 years. I gave a rear mount a try recently and after 2 hours decided it wasn't for me. It is especially difficult around trees, shrubs, and buildings in comparision to the mid-mount. Ease of attachment of the rear mount on the 3 point hitch makes sense on tractors which don't easily accomodate mid-mounts. However, mid-mounts on most modern tractors are all very easy to remove and attach in comparison to some older generation tractors. They only take 5 minutes to install or remove (if the mower is parked on a concrete surface). If you only had wide open space mowing, a rear-mount would probably work quite well for you. However, with 50 trees to deal with, I don't think you will like a rear-mount. Why are you considering switching anyway?

[Thomas]

Mike,
I've learn that a rear mower works fine on a good surface and any obstacle thats space well,and when turning as you mowe you have to compensate even more for the rear mower.

The belly mower as you know you can get even close in tight area and your view so much better.

On the other hand to remove or install a belly mower takes a lot longer compare to a rear mower.

I never like the idea of have the belly mower attach while useing the FEL,for that 6 or 8 inches off the ground doesn't seem to be enough.
The rear mower either attach or not will be up high and safer.

Well thats my 2 cents work.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif[/img]




Thomas..NH [img]/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif[/img]

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Jack in IL--I was thinking of switching from a JD 4400 with a 60 inch commercial belly mower to a Boomer TC35D because I really like the design of the TC35D. There were three things that did not impress me about the well-built 84" belly mower for the TC35D: (1) it appears to be much more difficult to install or remove than that on my JD; (2) there is no hydraulic cylinder kit available for raising the Boomer belly mower--would have to use the 3 pt; and (3) at $4000, it is twice the cost of a quality rear discharge, rear mounted finish mower. Also, it would be easier to raise the rear-mounted mower in order to clean beneath it and to remove the blades for sharpening. BUT, as a person on a different tractor forum pointed out--do I want to frequently turn around and look behind as I mow and my aging body answers that in the negative;-)

[DONOTDELETE]

Try to get your dealer to let you field test a rear mount mower. You have a lot more buyers of a rear mount mower and the belly mower will only fit your tractor. I bought a woods rear discharge over a Kubota 72" as i saved $1300.00 and my wife was use to mowing with a rear mount anyhow.