SCUT Mowing - Ground Speed?

[riptides]

Can't thank everyone enough for all the advice. This thread really took off!

Looks like the consensus is keep the Z or be prepared to spend more time mowing. Since saving time is the driver for this whole thing, and I'll be mowing 80% of the time, I'm sure keeping the Z and renting a tractor when needed (as much of a pain as that is) will require less time overall, and certainly less $$$.

Will continue to keep me eyes open for a used SCUT, but going to hold off on a new one for now.

Thanks!

Trust me, I mow airstrips and farm/house layouts.

You will need both. But for pure time savings, the ZTR with ground and blade tip speeds cannot be beat.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Thanks! Lots of good info here.

@Code54 - My ZTR has a top speed of 8.5 MPH according to the spec sheet. I've never clocked myself, but when I'm mowing dry grass, I find that I'm pushing the controls 80-90% of the way forward while still getting nice cut quality and not bogging the engine at all. My yard is more or less wide open, and flat/smooth enough that I don't get too beat up even when mowing quickly. My ZTR does not have suspension. Glad to hear your comment at about 2 acres in 2 hours with your 60" MMM.

@TheMadOne / @rbtjr / @smstonypoint - Completely agree. 7-8 MPH is my guess at straight line speed. My average speed, including turns, is a lot less. My yard is pretty flat/smooth with the exception of one section (steep slope), and there are minimal obstacles. Based on tractors I've rented and driven in my yard, I could keep the pedal down for most of it, provided the engine and mower could keep up. I could also change my mowing pattern to avoid making 180-turns to increase the SCUT's average speed.

@Phillip w - Thanks. The enticing financing from some manufacturers ($0 down, 0% for 84 months) is what got me thinking about this in the first place. If a buy a SCUT, it will be financed. In reality, I could afford to keep my other toys, but it's just too much stuff and my wife wouldn't come close to agreeing to that.

@ovrszd / @newbury - You guys are getting at the core of my decision. I have some projects around the house appropriate for a FEL and backhoe - probably 50-60 hours of tractor work (grading, removing stumps, moving dirt/rocks, etc.). Once those are complete, unless I come up with new projects, the backhoe wouldn't get as much use, though I'm sure the FEL would come in handy. I would also be using the FEL for snow removal, and the 3PH might come in handy in the future if we start gardening more seriously. From a straight economics perspective, renting is cheaper. However, renting is not the easiest for me, as I have to borrow my brother's pickup to trailer the rental and dedicate a full day to make the most of it. With a full-time job, two-year-old daughter, and many other (non-tractor) projects, there's something to be said for being able to run out to my workshop, fire up the tractor, do an hour of work in between other stuff, and then put it away.

The issue is, if I keep the ZTR for mowing, sell the ATV, and buy a SCUT w/ FEL (no backhoe, no MMM), I've basically spent ~$11K for a really cool wheelbarrow/grader, and I'll still need to rent something to pull stumps. Thus, this seems, to me at least, to be an all or nothing conundrum. Either keep what I have and rent extra capability, or sell it all and replace two pieces of equipment with a "Swiss army knife."

How's the market for used backhoes attachments?

If you truly want a back hoe and you think the SCUT will work for digging, then get the TLB but skip the belly mower. Keep your ZTR for mowing which is what it is good at. Then you will have a good tractor for digging, hauling, pulling and the best mower for mowing. The best thing I ever did was buying my TLB. I didn't realize how bad I needed it till I got it. Sure sometimes it sets for weeks (months in winter) without use, but when I need it, it sure beats a shovel and wheelbarrow (my wheel barrow hasn't been used in almost 10 years). If you need to dig out stumps, pick up logs for trimming or cutting to fireplace size, dig out rocks, bury a pet or just dig a hole to plant a tree, a backhoe is a BACKSAVER. Most folks who say don't get one have never had one and only look at the cost and not the convenience. Digging with an FEL is a good way to damage the FEL, not very efficient and sometimes downright impossible to do.

 

[BigBlue1]

I mow 7 acres with my JD x758. It isn't a SCUT, really, but it is pretty much the same size as one (i.e. JD 1025R). I have a 60" deck and mow about about 3 mph. I've learned this via both a GPS speed on my phone and the JD Mower Plus app that tracks your route and speeds. When I mow I'm mowing along at a good clip but I wouldn't call it 'fast'. Fast enough not to waste time but my yard is pretty bumpy so I don't go nuts. Lots of things can factor into your speed including grass type (thin, thick), wetness, height, bumpy lawn, how much stuff you have to mow around (trees, fences, gardens, sheds), etc. My yard is pretty busy and is not just a big empty rectangle.

I can mow these 7 acres in about 4.5 hours. Can vary from 4-5+ depending on grass height and wetness, but the 4.5 hour average is pretty consistent.

Hopefully this gives you some idea/info...

Rob