still trying to decide on size

[ugabulldog]

Thanks for all the help on my first post.... It was clear I needed a bigger B series than I was looking at. Here are my needs: (btw, I will be buying used) I want to stay within the B series over the L if possible for weight, manuverability reasons. (Please don't recommend buying an L and a lawn mower...that might work for some but I would rather not have the expense of maintaining two machines). After reading several posts on here, it seems like a b2920 might be pushing it for a 5' bush hog??? I am thinking I might want to go with a 6' bush hog ( I have attached a picture of the hillest part of my land if anyone wants to comment on a 6' versus 5' bush hog) and 6' mmm for lawn, this would definetly push me to something a little bigger like the b3200 or b7800 right? Or would these be undersized for a 6' bush hog also. I read something about the 3200 not having a suspended deck for mmm or something.....If this is what it sounds like, that won't work either as deck will stay on 99% of time, please explain. Also, how hard is it fix the problem w/ front of bush hog dropping w/ a chain set-up or something, on the 1/4 valve? Thanks for all the help.

 

[medicshawn]

I think if you're gonna stay in a B series you're stuck with a 5 foot bushog. Unless you have alot of treet where you need great manuverability how about a rear finish mower or a flail?

I went back and read your other thread which is basically the same.

I mow over my septic with my L and a 7 foot mower for the last 2 years and with a B series before that with no issues.

 

[TripleR]

I hate to say it, but I don't think your parameters are consistent with a B Series; something is going to have to be adjusted, smaller equipment or bigger tractor.

 

[Ductape]

If you are looking for a large B, the 2710, 2910, 7800, 2630, 3030, and 3200 are the model numbers you seek. I wouldn't run a six foot bush hog on any of them. I would run a six foot finish mower on them though.

 

[davatk]

Thanks for all the help on my first post.... It was clear I needed a bigger B series than I was looking at. Here are my needs: (btw, I will be buying used) I want to stay within the B series over the L if possible for weight, manuverability reasons. (Please don't recommend buying an L and a lawn mower...that might work for some but I would rather not have the expense of maintaining two machines). After reading several posts on here, it seems like a b2920 might be pushing it for a 5' bush hog??? I am thinking I might want to go with a 6' bush hog ( I have attached a picture of the hillest part of my land if anyone wants to comment on a 6' versus 5' bush hog) and 6' mmm for lawn, this would definetly push me to something a little bigger like the b3200 or b7800 right? Or would these be undersized for a 6' bush hog also. I read something about the 3200 not having a suspended deck for mmm or something.....If this is what it sounds like, that won't work either as deck will stay on 99% of time, please explain. Also, how hard is it fix the problem w/ front of bush hog dropping w/ a chain set-up or something, on the 1/4 valve? Thanks for all the help.

That particular shot of the property looks relatively mild in my opinion. How much land do you plan to bush hog, and how much do you plan to use the MMM on ?

 

[ugabulldog]

That particular shot of the property looks relatively mild in my opinion. How much land do you plan to bush hog, and how much do you plan to use the MMM on ?

it's hard to say...I have 14 acres but between the house, barn, pond, driveway, some woods, and a back hill I am not even going to try and tackle.....I'd say I'm down to maybe 8 acres pastures (I had said 10 before) , 1 acre lawn I'm guessing

 

[davatk]

it's hard to say...I have 14 acres but between the house, barn, pond, driveway, some woods, and a back hill I am not even going to try and tackle.....I'd say I'm down to maybe 8 acres pastures (I had said 10 before) , 1 acre lawn I'm guessing

Ok, so one acre lawn you could mow in about 30 minutes with a 60" MMM. A bit quicker with a 72" obviously. Bush Hogging is generally a bit slower process - so I would figure about an acre per hour with a 5 footer, but it could go a bit quicker. Since you'll only be doing 8 acres I wouldn't recommend going to the 6'. Of course I like being on my tractor, so I don't mind it taking a bit longer.

Regarding tractor sized, personally I like the slightly larger footprint and weight on the larger B's - (7800, 3200, 3030, 2630) They help to handle the weight of the bushog better. That said, I know there are quite a few using the B2920 to bushog, and you could probably get by just fine with that. It may come down to seeing what you can get the best deal on a used for.

Hope that helps !

 

[James Loehr]

I have a L3130 that I used a Woods five foot bush hog with it. My dealer talked me out of getting the six foot said it would not handle it. I always regretted listening to him and wished I had the six foot. One can always take less of a swat or slow down in thick going. With only one acre to mow and eight to bush hog I'd want position control. 2630 or 3030 have that and nicer 3pt as well some other features. I also had a six foot RFM that I mowed in some pretty high pasture grass with. It mowed it for me and I think it did a better job as well.

 

[MarkV]

Your land looks rolling so the tractor with widest foot print will offer better stability on the side slopes.

MarkV

 

[MikeInEburg]

I think that you COULD use a 6 foot brush hog on a larger B machine - with this trade off. It would need to be a pull-behind type, not a 3-point hitch type. For flat or gently sloping open pastures, this is way easier on both the tractor and operator.

Six foot 3-point finish mower would be fine with the larger B machines.

Good luck!
Mike

 

[art]

I feel from the picture that you are close to level, certainly not hilly. I would not recommend a 6' bush hog on a B-series even to run with the top link disconnected. You have to much weight to far back from the tractor as well as the startup of the bush hog would be rough.

I would recommend trying the mid mower to mow the pastures!!! We have plenty of people that are doing it in our area as for the most part you are only mowing the weeds that the animals won't eat. Just look at the belt that they use to drive it!

 

[ugabulldog]

Ok, so i see the difference in width in the 2920 versus larger B and agree i need a large B if not an L.....6' bush hog on L series..... And I see according to kubotas website the larger B's will handle A 6' MMM...

 

[dodge man]

Looking at Kubota's website, it looks like the biggest deck the B2920 comes with is a 5 footer. From my point of view, I wouldn't worry to much about 1' of width on either the mid-mount mower deck or the brush hog. In my mind, a larger B would have the power to use a 6' brush hog, its more a matter of the weight throwing the machine around. Looking at the picture you posted, it doesn't look to bad to me as far as being long and overgrown, and while it looks hilly, I don't think you will have any problems mowing it with 4 wheel drive.

Its kind of a limited photo of your property, but it looks like its a great place, enjoy!

 

[beppington]

Did you notice the tiny little gray monkey hanging by one arm from your gate's top barbed wire?

Where in the world is this place??

 

[DiezNutz]

Did you notice the tiny little gray monkey hanging by one arm from your gate's top barbed wire?
Where in the world is this place??

You mean you spotted that... whatever the H that is ... hanging from the wire, and completely missed the huge yellow sign with the address on it? :laughing:

 

[DiezNutz]

Please don't recommend buying an L and a lawn mower...that might work for some but I would rather not have the expense of maintaining two machines

Well, I'm going to suggest it, because I think you could've been a little too quick to dismiss the idea. The points I think you've overlooked are:

* You're going to spend at least $2K on a MMM, which is even a pretty good down payment on a commercial-grade ZTR.
* A MMM still requires a good bit of maintenance, and usually more than a 2nd mower with sealed bearings would. And the cut isn't quite as nice.
* Not to mention, for the amount of property you have, and the size bushhog you want to run, as others have pointed out, you're much better off with an L.

My MMM has been sitting in the barn for 2 years now, because a) We bought a ZTR, and b) I wanted to leave the tractor configured as a TLB for my construction projects. I'll use it again someday to resume cutting the pasture and leave the ZTR for lawn-only, but for the most part I kind of feel like it was a waste.

I hate to say it, but I don't think your parameters are consistent with a B Series; something is going to have to be adjusted, smaller equipment or bigger tractor.

I'm glad you said it, because you're 100% on point. :thumbsup:

 

[DiezNutz]

Ok, so one acre lawn you could mow in about 30 minutes with a 60" MMM.

That would have to be one regular-shaped, perfectly flat lawn with nothing surrounding it and without a stick of anything growing in it. Or half-dead. Or if uncut tufts and stringers weren't of concern.

Most real lawns are going to be about an acre/hour.

 

[beppington]

You mean you spotted that... whatever the H that is ... hanging from the wire, and completely missed the huge yellow sign with the address on it? :laughing:

Where in the world is this place?? ... as in, that sign must be a fake!!!

 

[rswyan]

* You're going to spend at least $2K on a MMM, which is even a pretty good down payment on a commercial-grade ZTR.

Yeah .... but it's that ongoing payment that is really painful.

* A MMM still requires a good bit of maintenance, and usually more than a 2nd mower with sealed bearings would.

Huh ?

How is a having an entirely separate power unit going to be less maintenance ?

Did I misunderstand something here ?

And the cut isn't quite as nice.

No argument there ..... depending on what you are comparing.

Not to mention, for the amount of property you have, and the size bushhog you want to run, as others have pointed out, you're much better off with an L.

Agreed - I have a large B (B2910) - I would not run a 6' brush hog on it.

My MMM has been sitting in the barn for 2 years now, because a) We bought a ZTR, and b) I wanted to leave the tractor configured as a TLB for my construction projects. I'll use it again someday to resume cutting the pasture and leave the ZTR for lawn-only, but for the most part I kind of feel like it was a waste.

I'm of a somewhat similar mind (a waste), although I do use mine regularly - and it delivers a decent cut, provided you don't cut the grass to0 high (3" is working for me)

My issues revolve around the ease of installation and removal on a MMM vs. a rear 3PH finish mower .... if I had it to do over again, I'd go with a rear finish mower ..... although ideally I'd have a Kubota F-series Front Cut

 

[DiezNutz]

Huh ?

How is a having an entirely separate power unit going to be less maintenance ?

Did I misunderstand something here ?

Take my situation for example:
* MMM requires spindles, etc. to be greased every 10 hrs, gearbox oil changed every 50. IIRC there are about 17 different zerks. Not required to thoroughly clean the deck, but it makes greasing easier. To really do it right and get at everything, you really have to remove the MMM and get it in the air.
* ZTR maintenance is every 50-100 hrs for most things, whole thing has only 9 zerks, and no deck maintenance. Compared to the MMM gearbox oil, I could change the ZTR engine oil in my sleep and it doesn't require removing anything or jacking the mower up.

So all told, yes, I've spent noticeably less time maintaining the ZTR than I did the MMM, for the same given number of hours, and with alot less hassle. I didn't include blade sharpening in this because it's really a wash between either unit (gotta get under both, both have 3 blades, etc.)

To be fair, there are more things to go wrong on the ZTR though, once it racks enough enough hours to start nickel & diming. But it's also a commercial unit that only sees in one season what it would see in about a week & a half of contractor use.