Should mower width match wheel width?

[CobyRupert]

What's the big deal with insisting that a mower is as wide as the tractor wheel width?

I see this all the time in forums.

This means your tires will run over 2 tracks of grass that enter the mower.
If tires are set wider, the mower is only going over 1 track (the track that you left on the last pass before).

What am I missing? (Besides a little grass next to buildings that I weed-wack anyways?)

 

[jeff9366]

Mowing near fence lines, more than buildings, is the issue. Some have miles of fence lines.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Mowing near fence lines, more than buildings, are the issue. Some have miles of fence lines.

Yes, also youll typically cover more ground with full width. ... Altho, as surmised you get a better cut with the mower running w/i the wheel track.
......My best cuts ever were done with a 5' bushog running behind a JD 2010 tricycle with Ags.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I guess that the best scenario is to have the tractors wheels set to widest and then have a mower that is wider than the wheels so that you are only running over the grass once. That is hard to do though.

 

[Mendonsy]

It depends entirely on what you are mowing. Your question sounds like you are asking about trimming grass and weeds around buildings.
For that application it is convenient to have a mower that is just slightly wider than the wheel track so you can mow up close to obstacles. A mower that is too wide is more likely to scalp the high spots and leave grass in the low spots.
For large open areas, the bigger mower you have, the better. The ideal mower for those areas would cut in front of the wheels like a haybine or large zero turn.

 

[ovrszd]

I have three setups.

1. 10ft mounted JD brush cutter behind my 90" wide Kubota. I love it for cutting along fences or deep ditches. Keeps the tractor tires away from the fence and/or the risk of falling in the ditch.

2. 6ft mounted Rhino brush cutter behind my 78" wide Ford. I love it for cutting in the timber on crooked trails. Keeps the cutter inside the tractor and narrows my path for easier access.

3. 7ft mounted offset Ford 917 Flail Mower behind my 78" wide Ford. I love it for cutting along fences and roadbanks where I can put the offset side against the fence or dangle off a ditch bank without getting the tires into trouble.

If I only had one choice, it would definitely be a cutter wider than the tractor.

 

[CADplans]

When I purchased this JD 650, it came with a Woods 60" mower,,,

After running it one season, I found a 48" mower on CL,,, it was so cheap, I had to try it,,

The 48" CL mower does not cut the full width of the tractor,, but,
it does let the tractor mow at a much higher ground speed.

I have timed myself with both,, I can mow the same area in less time with the narrow 48" mower.

So, in my case, less than tractor width is good,,,

Oh, yea,, I do have another mower with a deck that is much wider than the tractor,
I use that for trimming.
That mower is gas powered,, it is no where as much fun to use as the diesel,,,:thumbsup:

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

How come there are no hydraulic controlled offset 3pt mowers? Seem like a relatively easy design and could be very convenient arround obstacles and in tight places.

Sweeping wide or narrow on turns. Mow up next to a tree with offset next to the tree, then swing the other way, drive forward, swing back to the tree and cut the other side.
?

 

[Citydude]

I used to leave my turnbuckles loose when I was mowing on a side hill next to a ditch. The mower would gravitate down hill and I'd probably get another 5-6" of cut that way. I'm so glad I don't take those risks anymore....

 

[ovrszd]

How come there are no hydraulic controlled offset 3pt mowers? Seem like a relatively easy design and could be very convenient arround obstacles and in tight places.

Sweeping wide or narrow on turns. Mow up next to a tree with offset next to the tree, then swing the other way, drive forward, swing back to the tree and cut the other side.
?

That would be cool. Never saw one that swings across the rear of the tractor for use on either side. Would definitely be hydraulic driven. Would require one remote to run the cutter, one remote to swing the main boom, one remote to change the angle of the wrist. Doable, but complex. I'm sure someone will chime in with a pic of such an animal.

 

[ovrszd]

I used to leave my turnbuckles loose when I was mowing on a side hill next to a ditch. The mower would gravitate down hill and I'd probably get another 5-6" of cut that way. I'm so glad I don't take those risks anymore....

Very common around here for rollover accidents, usually killing the man, while mowing roadbanks and dropping in an unseen ditch......

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

That would be cool. Never saw one that swings across the rear of the tractor for use on either side. Would definitely be hydraulic driven. Would require one remote to run the cutter, one remote to swing the main boom, one remote to change the angle of the wrist. Doable, but complex. I'm sure someone will chime in with a pic of such an animal.

I was thinking simple. Track width (only need 1-2 ft of swing from center), PTO powered, one remote for articulation and only passive"wrist" action.
Maybe a sliding rail like on fork lifts?

Just thinking out loud (so to speak)

 

[Citydude]

Very common around here for rollover accidents, usually killing the man, while mowing roadbanks and dropping in an unseen ditch......

Yes, I had some close encounters with that senerio. Luckily, I never tipped over. I mowed that ditch three times a year. I dreaded it each time I unloaded my tractor to mow it. It was hazardous plus I never made money off that area because it took so long to mow going in creeper mode...

 

[Jimmy in NC]

When I purchased this JD 650, it came with a Woods 60" mower,,,

After running it one season, I found a 48" mower on CL,,, it was so cheap, I had to try it,,

The 48" CL mower does not cut the full width of the tractor,, but,
it does let the tractor mow at a much higher ground speed.

I have timed myself with both,, I can mow the same area in less time with the narrow 48" mower.

So, in my case, less than tractor width is good,,,

Oh, yea,, I do have another mower with a deck that is much wider than the tractor,
I use that for trimming.
That mower is gas powered,, it is no where as much fun to use as the diesel,,,:thumbsup:

Still have the 60" and want to part with it?

 

[TripleR]

Product Details

 

[CADplans]

Still have the 60" and want to part with it?

I put it on the JD 855,,, so it has a home,,,

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Product Details

Ohhhh yea! Like that but in a 6ft mower (rotary and/or finish) not 10ft. If only I was retired...

I'm guessing the hydraulic system has some kind of pressure relief bypass built in.

 

[ovrszd]

Shaking the dust off my memory,,,, I think there are/were some PTO driven offset flail mowers that could be slid to either side??? Can't remember if it was done manually or hydraulically??

 

[TripleR]

We had a TBN member some time ago who did commercial mowing and had a hydraulically adjustable one, but I "think" it was an 8', I've never seen a 6', there are times I would like to have one. We have 4', 5', 6' and 10'.

 

[bcp]

That would be cool. Never saw one that swings across the rear of the tractor for use on either side. Would definitely be hydraulic driven. Would require one remote to run the cutter, one remote to swing the main boom, one remote to change the angle of the wrist. Doable, but complex. I'm sure someone will chime in with a pic of such an animal.

Use this idea with a hydraulic cylinder and offset on both sides..



Bruce