Mowing Do you have enough tractor?

[DieselBound]

I've got two tractors, a Kubota B7800 running a 5' bush hog (recently acquired a LandPride 1860; it's working really nicely) and my, almost one year-old, Kioti Nx5510 running a 6' Bush Hog B26(? extremely well-used by PO!). I appreciate both tractors, both have their purposes. The Kubota has been through utter heck and, though I have to slow down with some really heavy stuff, it has just chugged away: it's done a LOT of work. It fits in places where few tractors can, while having the power to do what similar sized ones cannot. It'll run on soft ground, and if it gets stuck the Kioti is used to extract it: I don't dare get the Kioti stuck. My Kioti runs the 6-footer with ease. I only need to go slow when cutting really heavy brush (backing in, of course). Cutting grass speed is determined by how much jostling I can stand: ride is generally better than on my Kubota, but when this larger mass gets bumping around it too can be pretty jarring). One day I'd like to get a 7' flail for the Kioti. Can't really go very big because I've got a lot of obstacles, mainly in the form of trees (these also limit my speed).

 

[mapper]

Same here. That would be fun. I'd be concerned about a groundhog hole or washout and doing some damage to my machinery. Or hitting an exposed rock with the cutter. Maybe I'm just a coward...

I'm just too old to want to take that sort of a beating

 

[DieselBound]

I'm just too old to want to take that sort of a beating

I'm still too stupid to realize that I'm too old to take these beatings!

My neck is trashed from whiplashing around on my B7800. That tractor can be pushed really fast and it can turn on a dime. The Kioti has forced me to slow down a bit: cost of repairing bits on a larger tractor is substantially higher.

 

[mapper]

I'm still too stupid to realize that I'm too old to take these beatings!

My neck is trashed from whiplashing around on my B7800. That tractor can be pushed really fast and it can turn on a dime. The Kioti has forced me to slow down a bit: cost of repairing bits on a larger tractor is substantially higher.

The cost of repairing bits on any modern tractor is high, haven't broken any thing yet on the Massey, not looking forward to the day I do. In the meantime I have more time than money so I don't have to beat up my equipment getting stuff done.

 

[shaeff]

The OP's terrain makes for easy bush hogging, given the open space between clumps of tall weeds, and the thin stems of 1.5" or less. The cutter has time to mulch the tall stuff and spit out the dregs before it has to ingest the next bite.

By contrast, tall grass never lets the deck get a break to clear out the accumulated junk. Thicker woody brush requires multiple turns of the blade before it gets chopped up into small pieces.

Here in the northeast, where we get plenty of rain, overgrown fields with 5 or more years of growth need at least 6 HP per foot of diameter on the bush hog, and slower speeds to make sure you don't overwork a tractor.

Agreed. When me and my wife bought our property, there was a section of maybe two acre field that had overgrown for easily 10 years, maybe longer. My father's tractor is a Kubota L2850- 34hp, 28pto. It took several weekends working very slowly, my brother and me on our knees cutting the really thick stuff with chainsaws to lay it over- but we got it done. Brought that tractor to it's knees many times with a 5' Bush Hog. We were working in late fall when everything was dead and crispy which helped a lot. His old 75hp diesel International would have made much faster work of it. Miss that thing!

 

[DieselBound]

For me, wet stuff seems easier to cut than dry stuff. Perhaps it's psychological, I'm thinking it lubricates the cutters?

 

[Mace Canute]

Do you have enough tractor?

Why yes, I believe I do!

 

[kenmac]

why do we always need a bigger tractor ? Back in the day, they were doing things with 30 HP tractors and mules, that we are doing today with 50-60 hp tractors

 

[rustyshakelford]

why do we always need a bigger tractor ? Back in the day, they were doing things with 30 HP tractors and mules, that we are doing today with 50-60 hp tractors

Because we are all in a hurry! I mow my home place of 13 acres with a 15' batwing. I like to get it knocked out and I can go back to doing family stuff. I'll spend money to increase efficiency

Brett

 

[DieselBound]

why do we always need a bigger tractor ? Back in the day, they were doing things with 30 HP tractors and mules, that we are doing today with 50-60 hp tractors

I guess most folks could be reminded that "back in the day" is still TODAY, and that much of the world works by oxen-power.

My machinery is almost always beckoning me away from other things for maintenance and or repairs. I rationalize it all by saying that it keeps me from really breaking my back! I figure it's all less expensive than medical bills.