Compact Diesel Engine Tractor vs Gas Engine Riding Lawn Mower For Mowing

[welyell]

I currently use a Husqvarna HST drive, side discharge, 24HP gasoline riding lawn mower (garden tractor style, not zero turn) with a 48" deck. The first mowing of the season, wet grass up to a 1+ foot tall REALLY bogs down the mower and requires a very slow speed to mow. How would an HST drive, 26HP Diesel Tractor with a 3pt/PTO driven, 54" rear discharge finish mower compare? Would it still bog down like the gas/side discharge mower? I want to keep the loader bucket size at 54" to maneuver around fruit and ornamental trees on a 2 acre property. Also want to see if I can avoid the HP that requires a DPF, but if I need the HP, then I'll deal with the DPF

 

[4570Man]

It’ll probably do better but a mower deck will only take so much. Forgot about mowing with the loader on.

 

[DK35vince]

It may do a little better, but it would still be slow mowing if you let it get that deep.
Finish mowers don't do well in deep grass

 

[RjCorazza]

On my previous 34 hp tractor and 84” rear discharge finish mower I could mow at a reasonable speed, but the clippings always clumped in anything but short and dry grass.
Perhaps a non dpf diesel with a belly mower would be an option.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Switch to a 48 to 60" "rotary cutter" and you will mow that grass, no problem at all...

SR

 

[4570Man]

Switch to a 48 to 60" "rotary cutter" and you will mow that grass, no problem at all...

SR

Or just mow before it gets that tall. In either case regardless of power a lawnmower isn’t meant for cutting 1’ tall grass.

 

[welyell]

Or just mow before it gets that tall. In either case regardless of power a lawnmower isn’t meant for cutting 1’ tall grass.

Too many areas that would turn into mud bogs if I tried to run equipment through them from October to May. The Pacific Northwest usually doesn't get the super heavy rain showers they do in the south, but it's pretty much a continuous drizzle from Oct-May.

 

[4570Man]

Too many areas that would turn into mud bogs if I tried to run equipment through them from October to May. The Pacific Northwest usually doesn't get the super heavy rain showers they do in the south, but it's pretty much a continuous drizzle from Oct-May.

Than I agree with bush hogging it the first time and taking over with a deck. How thick is the grass. If it isn’t very thick my mowers take 1’ tall grass pretty good. If it’s good grass and thick it’s not going to be quick.

 

[Grandad4]

I currently use a Husqvarna HST drive, side discharge, 24HP gasoline riding lawn mower (garden tractor style, not zero turn) with a 48" deck. The first mowing of the season, wet grass up to a 1+ foot tall REALLY bogs down the mower and requires a very slow speed to mow. How would an HST drive, 26HP Diesel Tractor with a 3pt/PTO driven, 54" rear discharge finish mower compare? Would it still bog down like the gas/side discharge mower? I want to keep the loader bucket size at 54" to maneuver around fruit and ornamental trees on a 2 acre property. Also want to see if I can avoid the HP that requires a DPF, but if I need the HP, then I'll deal with the DPF

I think you would find a considerable difference in cutting capability, even though subcompact tractors - on paper - have about the same horsepower as your Husqvarna. That was certainly my experience going from a 24 HP John Deere lawn tractor to a 22 HP Kubota subcompact. The Kohler gas engined JD would bog in heavy grass but the diesel Kubota was for all practical purposes unstoppable. There simply wasn't anything you could remotely call "lawn grass" that would bog it down to any degree, even thick material 18" tall. Now getting all the clippings discharged was another matter, and that was the limiting factor in how fast you could go.

That was with a mid-mounted deck. A rear mounted 3 point deck with rear discharge should be even better, but you sacrifice maneuverabililty with a rear mounted deck. Other posters are correct that a rotary cutter is the better solution if you have rough ground or woody material to cut.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Not an apples to apples comparison but I pulled a 72" RFM with a 28HP geared compact with no issues. Speed was not an issue. I don't think a 54" RFM with a 25HP with hydro would be an issue either. I currently use a Toro Groundsmaster with a 25 HP diesel and 72" deck. It's a load in heavy grass but uses a mulching deck that pulls harder. The quality of cut is the best I've ever had.

 

[Texasmark]

I thought I'd try what you are recommending. I had an 18 hp Allis with a 5' 3 pt. 3 blade finish mower years ago when I thought I'd upgrade from a conventional riding mower. In short, that setup is unsuitable for yard maintenance. I can bore you with all the whys but it is.

Mowing wet grass is just a mess regardless of the machine. I have a Ferris ZT that I bought new 2 years ago for a soft ride and other things. It is perfect for yard and pasture mowing after I modified it for a softer ride. You get in and out and around things very fast. The problem with it is clogging as you are experiencing in the spring when the grass is wet and I experience with all my current mowers.

I'd loose my shirt on the deal but I thought seriously this spring about a new Grasshopper front deck mower trade that has the power assisted flip up front deck. A 52" would serve you well with plenty of power. I paid about $7k for my Ferris. Expect to pay $12k for a Grasshopper so equipped. Not above what you'd pay for a tractor to do what you want to do and I guarantee you, you will thank me..... Flipping up the front deck is perfect for washout and blade sharpening.

 

[TractorGuy]

Most finish mowers do not have the blade speed that a mid mount has so the cut isn't quite as clean especially in high Bahia or tough type grasses. I switched from a 50" Craftsman zero turn to a 72" finish mower behind a 24 HP, 19 PTO HP John Deere. Very seldom does the finish mower bog but in Bahia it might leave some seed shoots standing. The zero turn never did much better in cut quality so I don't miss it. For knocking down acres of grass I prefer my finish mower.

Wife hasn't mowed in 30 years and decided to start helping. She is cutting around the house with our 38" Craftsman lawn tractor and she likes to cut it low. It does a cleaner looking job than the finish mower. She put in for something with a larger deck so I bought a project mower. A pair of JD F725s with 54" decks. Having to make one good one out of the pair. Time will tell if that works out for me.

 

[DK35vince]

I have a 35 HP zero turn 72" side discharge deck. (gas engine)
And 35 HP tractor (diesel) with 72" rear mount side discharge deck.
Both will do about the same trying to mow deep grass. Little difference.

 

[welyell]

I've also been looking at videos of flail mowers and they look like they would do the job and give a "nice" semi-finish look - BUT - D*MN they are expensive.

 

[3930dave]

Too many areas that would turn into mud bogs if I tried to run equipment through them from October to May. The Pacific Northwest usually doesn't get the super heavy rain showers they do in the south, but it's pretty much a continuous drizzle from Oct-May.

For just an initial cut of 2 acres, I'd be tempted to find an old Gravely.

Gravely 526 with Sicklebar Mower. - YouTube

Should be in-production other Manuf options, but I have no idea what's out there now.

Hadn't seen this head before, didn't slow down for corn....

1964 Gravely L8 mowing the Cornfield - YouTube

Rgds, D.

 

[tmcj]

My Mahindra Max26XL with 60" PTO belly mower kicks ice over my Craftsman 17hp 42", but it does have its limits also. It is PTO driven but the blades are still belt driven. I rarely bog out the deck or engine but I don't mow 1' high grass or wet grass either. That is simply too much for a finish cut mower IMO. If you routinely let it get that high I would invest in a brush hog or a mini like the pull behind Swisher rough cut mowers. You can pull a Swisher with an ATV or lawn/garden tractor with enough HP to drag it around. They have their own engine to power the deck, just need a tow vehicle.

 

[welyell]

For just an initial cut of 2 acres, I'd be tempted to find an old Gravely.

Gravely 526 with Sicklebar Mower. - YouTube

Should be in-production other Manuf options, but I have no idea what's out there now.

Hadn't seen this head before, didn't slow down for corn....

1964 Gravely L8 mowing the Cornfield - YouTube

Rgds, D.

I had a Troy-Bilt walk behind sickle bar mower years ago. It worked great, but as I got older, it got very painful to use

 

[welyell]

My Mahindra Max26XL with 60" PTO belly mower kicks ice over my Craftsman 17hp 42", but it does have its limits also. It is PTO driven but the blades are still belt driven. I rarely bog out the deck or engine but I don't mow 1' high grass or wet grass either. That is simply too much for a finish cut mower IMO. If you routinely let it get that high I would invest in a brush hog or a mini like the pull behind Swisher rough cut mowers. You can pull a Swisher with an ATV or lawn/garden tractor with enough HP to drag it around. They have their own engine to power the deck, just need a tow vehicle.

A Swisher Trail Mower behind an 650cc ATV is what I used for a few years to get rid of all blackberries in the area that is now all grass

 

[3930dave]

I had a Troy-Bilt walk behind sickle bar mower years ago. It worked great, but as I got older, it got very painful to use

I first thought PTO sickle bar, but with 2 acres/many trees that would be awkward.

Gravelys do vibrate, more so with a sickle bar on. I've found vibration absorbing gloves to help with small equipment with handlebar controls, but it sounds like you need a larger more comfortable platform.

Good luck, and let us know what you settle on.

Rgds, D.

 

[dnw64]

I mowed my field yesterday. 60" rear discharge 3pt finish mower on my B3030 (23 pto HP).

Other than some really steep sections where I need Low range, I mowed in Mid range, roughly half to full speed.

Haven't mowed most of it for over a month. There were several sections that were very thick and pretty tall, well over a foot for sure - tips at 18" or so, and I had the deck set at 1-3/4". Quality of cut was amazing; I slowed the forward speed as required to keep engine RPM within 50 or so of 540 PTO. Boy does it suck the diesel when you're maxed out!