Rotary Cutter rotary cutter or finish mower?

[daugen]

I think you are being a little hard on me here. I just purchased a 25 year old tractor that I don't want to damage. I know my power is inadequate for the task. And I'm not sure of my cooling system. So my approach is conservative and I'm sure seems silly to any of you who have 200 hp tractors, bat wing mowers, and unlimited budgets. But I have owned a large old boat with two big Detroit diesels (8V71TI's) for many years (no longer thankfully), and have a lot of experience running diesels at full load. It cost me $20K to get one fully rebuilt, and I'd like this little 1 liter diesel to last a while. So of course it should run fine at full rated rpm, But until I have more seat time with this tractor I'm just wondering how a couple hundred less rpm would affect light load mowing.
Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question.

 

[LastSTRAW]

daugen,

Do you cut it twice because it looks better or because of the height. If for the second reason could you not cut it more often? Mow before it gets too high to cut once then come back again a few weeks later. It would look nice for twice as long.

Just a thought.

 

[daugen]

Laststraw, I cut it twice only to make it look better. The landowner, who is a very close personal friend of mine, likes to let it get higher so it looks like he really is growing hay instead of a giant lawn. So I absolutely agree with you about more mowings, and maybe I'll just have to put my foot down and say when the field gets 12-16 inches tall (not just wisps) either I cut it or he hires someone with a big tractor to do it later in the year. Drew

 

[LastSTRAW]

That would be much easier on your eqpt too.

Maybe let him do the mowing once, and see if he thinks it is a good idea

Good Luck.

 

[Soundguy]

I think you are being a little hard on me here. I just purchased a 25 year old tractor that I don't want to damage. I know my power is inadequate for the task. And I'm not sure of my cooling system. So my approach is conservative and I'm sure seems silly to any of you who have 200 hp tractors, bat wing mowers, and unlimited budgets. But I have owned a large old boat with two big Detroit diesels (8V71TI's) for many years (no longer thankfully), and have a lot of experience running diesels at full load. It cost me $20K to get one fully rebuilt, and I'd like this little 1 liter diesel to last a while. So of course it should run fine at full rated rpm, But until I have more seat time with this tractor I'm just wondering how a couple hundred less rpm would affect light load mowing.
Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question.

didn't say stupid question.. just said run it. not trying to be hard on ya either.. just saying what I see...

if it needs cooling system help.. fix it.. then run it.

it's got an idot lamp. does it work? ok.. if it works.. run it.. if it comes on.. back off and fix it. it.. flow test or flush te rad and block.. celan radiaotr ( preventative maint anyway )..

mypoint is.. you've bought it.. make sure it works then use it...

25ys old? hek.. that NEW.. the bulk of my stuff is twice that old!!

here's pics of my detail mower last year.. it and a cheap howse hog from the local dealer that needed some welding and a new tail wheel bracket fabbed up.. made a great mower last season...

 

[Soundguy]

and another one last season that ut plenty of ac. I had so much fun on these, I didn't even use the batwing last season. 7' tall weeds and 3' briars we pacidied with these old machines...

that previous one is a 63 mostly.. cut of weld up rims and a swapped out tranny..

this one is a 78.. a new one.. old heavy duty 6' servis mower was actually free.

needed welding and lube and more welding and a grease seal. the 5' hows cost me 100 or 200$.. can't remember.. had to make a tail wheel fork and put in a couple bolts.. and weld a tab wown on the deck... lube box and go..

lookout for good deals like that on implements and save you some money. IN my case.. that mower was about 1/3 to 1/4 price because I had to wave a wrench over it and spend 5$ in welding rods and electricity on it for a couple hours.. keep an eye on craigslist and local for sales.. check with dealers too.. many get tractor trades and beat up implements they can't easilly resell.. so will unload cheap.. like the ones I got.

use them bad boys.. they like to work...

PS.. if it really has a cooling sys problem.. just running it a lil shy won't help much on temp.. and you will be down on power.. a net loss.

soundguy

 

[daugen]

soundguy: thank you. I hear you. Beautiful restorations friend, I can see why you enjoyed mowing with these. And I like your homemade(?) bug shield on the 4600. Geez, those old units don't have USB ports, 8.1 or wi-fi... how can you stand it?... You are the perfect person to ask: what's the best noise cancelling headphone that I can also listen to music with? Sure hate to drop a Bose in the field, anything less expensive?

Ok, now I head off to Craigslist and try to find a non-destroyed used mower, and will also go to TSC. My biggest problem (ok, I have a few...) is I don't know how to weld. And boy does one need a welder I am finding out. That's another story, for another post. Drew

 

[wcampbell47]

I think you are being a little hard on me here. I just purchased a 25 year old tractor that I don't want to damage. I know my power is inadequate for the task. And I'm not sure of my cooling system. So my approach is conservative and I'm sure seems silly to any of you who have 200 hp tractors, bat wing mowers, and unlimited budgets. But I have owned a large old boat with two big Detroit diesels (8V71TI's) for many years (no longer thankfully), and have a lot of experience running diesels at full load. It cost me $20K to get one fully rebuilt, and I'd like this little 1 liter diesel to last a while. So of course it should run fine at full rated rpm, But until I have more seat time with this tractor I'm just wondering how a couple hundred less rpm would affect light load mowing.
Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question.

My first tractor is a 21 hp (new) with a 4 ft finish mower. I have tackled some high grass with it. It is belt driven so I have less risk of breaking something. I can set it to cut at 6 inches. I have on occasion lifted the mower off the wheels for a first pass. If I am mowing in that manner I run in the lowest gear I have with rpm's pretty high. I have noticed that on normal cutting full rpms appears to give me a bit better cut, but I have no issues with the cut produced running at 2k rpms. Seems to be easier on the tractor and a satisfactory cut. There are times I wish I had a 4ft brush hog - but so far the finish mower has stayed with me pretty good. Land Pride.

 

[pacerron]

i'm surprised about that too. we have a local guy that will cut and bail your field, even if it is junk grass, and sell it for 15-20$ a roll for cow hay.. and give you a couple bucks per roll, then disc it and seed it for you at the beginning of the season. so it's no cost, you get a LIL money and a better ground cover crop next season out of it..
not always. once you get a cut established, if you sharpen up the rotary a bit, then maintain it.. it loks about as good as a shaggy lawn cut by a cheap 800$ rider..soundguy

You can probably get a smoother cut if you sharpen the hog blades a bit but then it is not good for it's designed purpose. The blades on my Woods are not sharp on purpose, even the new replacements have 1/8" of flat vertical surface and the book says not to make them sharp like a mower. I use it for the edge of fields and to clean out wild rose. The "stump jumper" has a lot of action as I back over hidden limbs, etc. which dull the blades even more.
The height wheel in the center of the back will leave a tire mark path on any grass or weeds that has much height before cutting.
In my opinion, if the neighbor wants it to look like a lawn from spring thru fall he willmjust have to manage it as a lawn.

 

[Soundguy]

that 4600 now has a radio in a weatherproof box.. cd, mp3, usb audio.. etc..

unfortunately.. bose are likely the BEST NC HP.. I have seen some chinese ones that worked, were cheaper.. but not as 'good / nice'.

best way to learn how to weld is get a 50$ arc welder and box of rods, gloves and helmet, a and some metal...

soundguy: thank you. I hear you. Beautiful restorations friend, I can see why you enjoyed mowing with these. And I like your homemade(?) bug shield on the 4600. Geez, those old units don't have USB ports, 8.1 or wi-fi... how can you stand it?... You are the perfect person to ask: what's the best noise cancelling headphone that I can also listen to music with? Sure hate to drop a Bose in the field, anything less expensive?

Ok, now I head off to Craigslist and try to find a non-destroyed used mower, and will also go to TSC. My biggest problem (ok, I have a few...) is I don't know how to weld. And boy does one need a welder I am finding out. That's another story, for another post. Drew