Mowing bx25 mowing speed??

[gardenguy]

Hi all. This is my first post on this website. I've been lurking for a while doing research for my first tractor purchase.
I'm considering buying a new bx25 w/48" or 60" land pride finishing mower. Today I talked with a man that is looking for someone to mow his acreage every other week. He has 2 sections one consists of 3.5 acres of wide open field. It should be easy pickings the weeds are not thick. The other acre is covered in trees. 110 of them to be exact, but it's still a clean well kept lot. I'm trying to get a good figure on what to price to charge.
My question is how long does it take to cut an open well kept acre with this tractor? Also will a 60" mower be too much for this tractor?

Thanks,
James

 

[timswi]

I have no idea what to charge, but a 60" mower is perfect on these machines. They have plenty of power for even high wet grass.

 

[bp fick]

If the fields are "wide open" a 60" is OK. If the terrain is somewhat smooth and the "weeds" are not really brush, sticks, saplings, etc. I'd give some concern to the HST cooling fans on a BX for anything too much more rugged than grasses.

Had a 60" RFM and sold it. Much prefer my new 48". Then again, my cutting is not entirely wide open. As for what to charge, we paid $90 a mowing for a commercial service at a church lawn of similar size. Hard to say what your market bears in your area. Maybe ask around a bit, for local knowledge?

 

[Grandad4]

I would encourage you to re-think part of your idea. Mowing a 1 acre lot with 100+ trees is going to be a royal pain with a rear-attached 3 pt mower. That 1 acre will take you as long or longer than the 3.5 acres, you will constantly need to watch behind you as you mow, you run a greater risk of bashing it into a tree, and you'll be endlessly backing up around every tree.

That would be much better accomplished with a belly mower, because you will be able to trim around the trees much faster and safer. The BX will handle a 60" mid-mount mower with ease. The 60" mower will allow you to make a very tight circle around each tree so it's not stop-n-go all the time.

For your open space mowing, it doesn't make any difference, but with all that trimming, you're better off with the mid-mount type mower.

Regarding time, I finish mow about 1 acre/hr. with a 54" mid-mount mower on our BX. The tractor could mow faster than that, but some bumpy ground keeps the speed down.

 

[TripleR]

I would encourage you to re-think part of your idea. Mowing a 1 acre lot with 100+ trees is going to be a royal pain with a rear-attached 3 pt mower. That 1 acre will take you as long or longer than the 3.5 acres, you will constantly need to watch behind you as you mow, you run a greater risk of bashing it into a tree, and you'll be endlessly backing up around every tree.

That would be much better accomplished with a belly mower, because you will be able to trim around the trees much faster and safer. The BX will handle a 60" mid-mount mower with ease. The 60" mower will allow you to make a very tight circle around each tree so it's not stop-n-go all the time.

For your open space mowing, it doesn't make any difference, but with all that trimming, you're better off with the mid-mount type mower.

Regarding time, I finish mow about 1 acre/hr. with a 54" mid-mount mower on our BX. The tractor could mow faster than that, but some bumpy ground keeps the speed down.

X2, own both and the MMM is much easier for quick trimming; definitely a 60" for me.

 

[radioman]

you mentioned the word feild. If it never been mowed with a regular mower, but maintained with a bushhog, then you better off with a bushhog. Otherwise if the grass is short then go with 60 inch. The other area with lots of trees- 110 trees in one acre? hmm I am thinking a 48"er will be better, and I hope you are willing to be frustrated with backup, go around a bit, backup, go around a bit, backup and go around a bit... get the idea ? a zero turn would be better suited here with lots of trees.

Is there a reason why you need a backhoe ? On a lot with 100+ trees, I bet you will be taking both FEL and BH off just to attempt to mow.

 

[bp fick]

you mentioned the word feild. If it never been mowed with a regular mower, but maintained with a bushhog, then you better off with a bushhog. Otherwise if the grass is short then go with 60 inch. The other area with lots of trees- 110 trees in one acre? hmm I am thinking a 48"er will be better, and I hope you are willing to be frustrated with backup, go around a bit, backup, go around a bit, backup and go around a bit... get the idea ? a zero turn would be better suited here with lots of trees.

Is there a reason why you need a backhoe ? On a lot with 100+ trees, I bet you will be taking both FEL and BH off just to attempt to mow.

Agreed. As others have stated, these two plots are so radically different that a recommendation for equipment is made difficult.

Mowing an open, grassy, 3 acre field is the cat's meow with RFM or hogged, if the material is too rough for an RFM.

An acre of trees, at the density of 110 on that acre, is almost push mower time. The amount of post riding mower work is so great, that I'd push a mower and probably get done quicker. Honest. Not trying to be cute here. 110 trees on an acre lot is almost too thick for a ride on machine of any type, not to mention the ROPS. Talk about a contrast in plots!!

 

[radioman]

yup - not to mention all those fallen branches you would be running over with mower in the wooded lot. !!

 

[gardenguy]

Thanks for all the comments. As far as the trees goes it's not to bad. I've been mowing my fathers land (2 acres) with his L3130 and a 5' brushhog. He has many trees, brush piles, junk cars, etc... So I've got plenty of experience with getting the mower around stuff. Also I'd be weedeating around the trees after the main mowing was done. So I wouldn't be worried about getting to close in the first place. And yes I would take off the FEL, but that looks pretty easy anyway. Iwas just hoping that someone would have had a general idea of how long it takes them to mow an acre.

Thanks,
James

 

[radioman]

figure about 30-40 min to mow an acre in high gear with pedal to metal. Otherwise normal mowing in high gear and pedal half way, mowing around few objects with take an hour for BX 60 inch MMM deck.