walnutman
Silver Member
"The system utilizes four upper and lower control rods that ensure the front caster bearing remains vertical through the full range of travel. This controlled motion results in a smoother ride, more precise tracing of the terrain and an improved cut."
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I've driven through Ben Wheeler a few times on the way to Canton, but I've never stopped there.
ID Corgi Ranch
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2017
- Messages
- 68
- Location
- Relocated to: South Central Oklahoma
- Tractor
- 1965 Ford 4000, 1025R TLB, 3025E
I recently went thru this decision-making process. 10.6 acres to mow in SE Oklahoma. We had a 50/50 hay arrangement with a neighbor but he sold the bulk of his cows and no longer needs the hay. I can't afford hay equipment just for 10 acres and I got tired of relying on someone to come cut it. Something always went wrong and it looked like a jungle out in front of our place where all the pasture is located. When the grass gets tall, the mice, rats and snakes all move in. So, we decided to just start mowing it ourselves (and by "ourselves", I mean just me 
). We also considered just getting a couple of cows...but I know nothing about cows and would've had to fence 8 to 10 acres. So, the initial expense of the fencing and acquiring the cows kinda drove me away from that idea. Plus...I'm a softy with animals and I know a momma cow and her baby would just become my pets and I'd wind up caring for them for their entire lives. Anyway...
Looked at all the different mowing options and considered a zero turn. Then I found a great deal on a 2021 1025R TLB with a 60" auto-connect deck. Only had 88 hrs on it, looked brand new, and wasn't a lot more than a good zero turn. Plus I had all the capability that came with a small tractor with the loader/mower/backhoe. I was using a 3025E with a 5' rotary cutter but that just did a horrible job over uneven ground. The mower on the 1025R does a great job and I can cover ground a lot quicker. Of course, I have to keep up with the mowing so the grass doesn't get too tall for the mower to handle.
I wanted an offset flail mower, mostly for about 600' of ditch along the road. But even the 3025E couldn't handle one over 60" and that really didn't seem like much of an advantage over what I already had...especially for the price. So, I pulled the trigger on a 72" finish mower. Lowest cost option and, as a bonus, I can draft the wife into the mowing crew and we can cut two days of mowing down to one day since we can use both tractors.
). We also considered just getting a couple of cows...but I know nothing about cows and would've had to fence 8 to 10 acres. So, the initial expense of the fencing and acquiring the cows kinda drove me away from that idea. Plus...I'm a softy with animals and I know a momma cow and her baby would just become my pets and I'd wind up caring for them for their entire lives. Anyway...Looked at all the different mowing options and considered a zero turn. Then I found a great deal on a 2021 1025R TLB with a 60" auto-connect deck. Only had 88 hrs on it, looked brand new, and wasn't a lot more than a good zero turn. Plus I had all the capability that came with a small tractor with the loader/mower/backhoe. I was using a 3025E with a 5' rotary cutter but that just did a horrible job over uneven ground. The mower on the 1025R does a great job and I can cover ground a lot quicker. Of course, I have to keep up with the mowing so the grass doesn't get too tall for the mower to handle.
I wanted an offset flail mower, mostly for about 600' of ditch along the road. But even the 3025E couldn't handle one over 60" and that really didn't seem like much of an advantage over what I already had...especially for the price. So, I pulled the trigger on a 72" finish mower. Lowest cost option and, as a bonus, I can draft the wife into the mowing crew and we can cut two days of mowing down to one day since we can use both tractors.
I was in the same position only I was using a compact with a loader (because it was a pain to remove) and a rear finish mower. So cutting around obstacles was a major issue.
I have a variety of sloped ground to the pond, ditches, bank along the driveway, around the pond etc. I cut around 5 acres sometimes more as the wife likes her walking paths done. Typically it was 9 hours for the major part and a few hours for the extra, so my weekends were cutting grass.
I started looking at better riding mowers, was considering the JD Signature I believe it was 735. Then I saw an ad for a Zero Turn touting it's stability on hills.
The salesman allowed me to demo it, I bought it and I'm happy. Might mowing time is down to 3.5 hours for most everything.
I'll say this, one of the large factors in stability is weight. I have a Hustler X-Onei 60". Traction can be an issue on wet or morning dew, but you learn. You can also use ag tires on it for more traction. Air pressure in tires effect handling. There is a learning curve, but I am glad I went the Zero Turn route. I'm careful around the pond and along the drive.
As far as mowers, if you can afford a more commercial mower, go for it. Better hydros are a better mower. I looked at Ferris back then, but it was pricy, but a good suspension will make life easy and comfortable. Mine has FlexForks that absorb most of the roughness. A good set of Gator blades will make it a beast that I can run through the field and almost use it as a bush hog. As I said, the heavier the better. I think mine was around 1285 pounds. My son and the salesman are more agile with it, I'm conservative because I've had a riding mower flip with me, so I'm naturally scared on anything that isn't flat. Always use the ROPs up.
Fields_mj
Silver Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2021
- Messages
- 122
- Location
- Central Indiana
- Tractor
- Ford 1710, Kubota F2880, White FB16
About 30 years ago, I spent part of a summer mowing for our school corporation. It was a rural area and the schools were built on farm ground that had been donated meaning each of the 5 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 HS) sat on several acres. I mowed the high school and middle school because they were on adjoining properties that totaled 80 acres while another guy hauled a mower to each of the 3 elementary schools to mow during the week. It took me 4 days to mow assuming I didn't get rained out. The largest open field was a little over 14 acres and it took me a full day to mow it. I spent the 5th day doing maintenance to the equipment. We used Kubota front runners (21hp F2100 FWD back then) with 7' decks. Most of the time I could mow at full speed (9-10 mph if I remember correctly).
At home I now use a (28hp) F2880 FWD. My understanding is that these machines are basically a BX series tractor built backwards. For wide open ground they work great. They also handle really tall and/or wet grass exceptionally well. If you have to mow around a bunch of stuff, then a zero turn would be better. For my personal use, a ZTR would be a better fit but I found the F2800 at a REALLY good price. It has a top speed of 12.5 mph, but if the grass is very thick or very heavy, it prefers to mow closer to 9mph. I've mowed through stuff that was over 6' tall, but it took several passes. For stuff that's a foot or 2 tall, it will mow it in a single pass, but it looks better if you make a second pass. If I had a rear discharge deck, I think it would handle really tall stuff a lot better.
The school now uses a tractor with a large batwing to mow the wide open areas. It mows the large areas a lot faster. A batwing is the only way a tractor can keep up with or outpace a ZTR for mowing.
At home I now use a (28hp) F2880 FWD. My understanding is that these machines are basically a BX series tractor built backwards. For wide open ground they work great. They also handle really tall and/or wet grass exceptionally well. If you have to mow around a bunch of stuff, then a zero turn would be better. For my personal use, a ZTR would be a better fit but I found the F2800 at a REALLY good price. It has a top speed of 12.5 mph, but if the grass is very thick or very heavy, it prefers to mow closer to 9mph. I've mowed through stuff that was over 6' tall, but it took several passes. For stuff that's a foot or 2 tall, it will mow it in a single pass, but it looks better if you make a second pass. If I had a rear discharge deck, I think it would handle really tall stuff a lot better.
The school now uses a tractor with a large batwing to mow the wide open areas. It mows the large areas a lot faster. A batwing is the only way a tractor can keep up with or outpace a ZTR for mowing.
Gord Baker
Platinum Member
Gord Baker
Platinum Member
Stick with the tractor you have and are comfortable with. Don't worry about cutting every last sprout along ponds or creek banks. Stay safe.
Paul McILwain
Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2022
- Messages
- 38
- Tractor
- LS 5030C/MF220-4/ Satoh S650
My brother has a 155 and loves it as well,Paul, I love your Husq R322T! I have a R155, 15hp 42" cut, that I've used for well over 2500 hours/23 years, cutting everything from 2 acres and more. Knowing that Husq no longer sells that mower in the US makes me sad. Let me know if you decide to "get rid" of yours
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Admittingly, I do take better care of it than I do of my Kubota ZT.
Guess I will be keeping my r322t for now, like the easy on and traction as well as compact size
You don't mention type of grass you are cutting - lawn, fields, pastures, etc... You are asking the right question and I can definitely give you some good advice! We have a 30-acre horse property in eastern TN - all grass in 7 different pastures plus grazing track and large lawn. I have an ABI 6' finishing mower for my Kubota tractor and a Skag 61" Turf Tiger2 zero-turn mower. For the first couple of years I used the finishing mower for the pastures and the Skag for the lawn - non-pasture areas. It became apparent to me that I can mow much more quickly with the Skag - even being 1' less cut width - plus the Skag can cut as high as 6-1/4" which is great for the horse pastures! I can mow 1-acre in less than 1hr. It takes me about 3-1/2hrs to mow my 5.5acre pasture as long as I don't have to backcut it because it got too tall. We have nice, thick pasture and lawn grass and if you have same - make sure you go with a nice powerful zero-turn like the Skag Turf Tiger2. That thing is a beast and powers through rough pasture grasses in late summer like butter! I hope this helps
