Steering Brakes,,, A Necessity,, Or A Nicety?? (41HP, 3000 Lb Tractor)

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Thanks for the complements, guys!! :thumbsup:

The tractor is 41HP. and according to tractordata,, it will max out at 5.7MPH in low range.
I plan on pulling a 6 foot RFM at 5.7MPH.

I ran it a quarter mile down the driveway to get the mail today,,
it felt REAL strong coming back up the pretty steep driveway, at 13MPH.
I do not think it will have any problem mowing at that speed (5.7),
If I never had to turn, it would mow 4 acres per hour,, I am hoping for 3 acres per hour.
From what our other machines do,, I believe this one machine will cover the same area that two were doing last summer.

It might use a tad more fuel than the two,, but, I will live with that.

I was gonna ask why not cut in mid range but you have a 2 range tranny, my low range is around 3.2mph max, high range is 15.9 but bogs a bit at start. 5.7mph is a decent mowing speed, for what your using it for I feel I would rather have a 2 range gearbox for mowing.

I think that will be a really good mowing tractor.

I personally would throw turfs on it.

I would be curious if you can get away of mowing in high range around 8mph if the grass is shorter like a lawn. I wouldn't see a 6ft mower being much of a challenge for your tractor.

 

[CADplans]

I was gonna ask why not cut in mid range but you have a 2 range tranny, my low range is around 3.2mph max, high range is 15.9 but bogs a bit at start. 5.7mph is a decent mowing speed, for what your using it for I feel I would rather have a 2 range gearbox for mowing.

I think that will be a really good mowing tractor.

I personally would throw turfs on it.

I would be curious if you can get away of mowing in high range around 8mph if the grass is shorter like a lawn. I wouldn't see a 6ft mower being much of a challenge for your tractor.

One of the reasons for the 6 foot RFM choice,, is I am trying to keep the total purchase under $10K
The 7 and 8 foot mowers are rather pricey,,,I do not think they build many of those sizes,,,
The front tires are so worn, I think they will "work" like turfs,, they sure will not be like R4's,,,

The JD 855 we mow with has R1 tires on it,, these R4 tires should be better than the R1's.
The JD855 is a 50% time loader tractor, so, no turfs for that tractor.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

One of the reasons for the 6 foot RFM choice,, is I am trying to keep the total purchase under $10K
The 7 and 8 foot mowers are rather pricey,,,I do not think they build many of those sizes,,,
The front tires are so worn, I think they will "work" like turfs,, they sure will not be like R4's,,,

The JD 855 we mow with has R1 tires on it,, these R4 tires should be better than the R1's.
The JD855 is a 50% time loader tractor, so, no turfs for that tractor.

Get a used batwing lol

 

[Turbys_1700]

One of the reasons for the 6 foot RFM choice,, is I am trying to keep the total purchase under $10K
The 7 and 8 foot mowers are rather pricey,,,I do not think they build many of those sizes,,,
The front tires are so worn, I think they will "work" like turfs,, they sure will not be like R4's,,,

The JD 855 we mow with has R1 tires on it,, these R4 tires should be better than the R1's.
The JD855 is a 50% time loader tractor, so, no turfs for that tractor.

I upgraded about 7 years ago from a 5' RFM to a 6' RFM. The old Land Pride that I used was considered a light duty unit but in 14 years I never replaced anything except one belt and a couple of wheels. So far I've done just as well with the Woods but need to replace the wheels this spring before mowing season begins. You will like that set up with a 6 footer.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Is there a chart or something that would show you how much faster a tractor with a rear Finnish 6ft mower cuts than say a 72in belly mower, a zero turn with 60 or 72in deck or 64in on a 700 series JD?

 

[CADplans]

Is there a chart or something that would show you how much faster a tractor with a rear Finnish 6ft mower cuts than say a 72in belly mower, a zero turn with 60 or 72in deck or 64in on a 700 series JD?

Simply calculate each, and compare.

Acreage Calculator

Enter mower width in feet.
enter length as speed MPHX5280 (example - 5MPH = 26400)
Allow a "fudge factor for turns,, and overlap, maybe 10-20% depending on your machine and mowing style.
BINGO, you get acres per hour!!:thumbsup:

 

[olPete]

Simply calculate each, and compare.

Acreage Calculator

Enter mower width in feet.
enter length as speed MPHX5280 (example - 5MPH = 26400)
Allow a "fudge factor for turns,, and overlap, maybe 10-20% depending on your machine and mowing style.
BINGO, you get acres per hour!!

That's really handy, thanks. The metric way is:
Width of implement (Metres) =1.8
Times speed (kilometers per hour) =8
Divided by ten 1.44 hectares per hour
I divide by 11 or 12 to allow turns and overlap.
14.4 ÷ 12 =1.2 ha/hr
2.47 acres in a hectare.
I grew up with parents who refused to adopt metrics until they were in their 60s. So I know just about every conversion lol. Now I'll know how to do it the easy way!!