Mowing 12' finish mower

[ddivinia]

Sometimes it seems that the tractor is unstable, but it might be OK. I find out that it takes me a while to find the limits.

That is one serious finishing mower,
D.

 

[ddivinia]

Herrick:

I tried a 15' Batwing mower for a week on my 3720. The dealer had a used one come in and dropped it off for me to try. There is a post on here with pictures: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/103614-my-3720-15-wing-mower.html

With 35pto HP I didn't suffer for HP much and (you'll have to read the post) but probably mowed at 5mph. I have a single short steep (maybe a 10' rise) hill but that's it so I can't give a review of running it on hills. I also was mowing I think 2 weeks growth.

It weighed 3200lbs which was over 1/2 the fighting weight of my 3720 cab (about 6K [loader frame, loaded tires, etc.]). I would imagine that it could wrestle the tractor around a bit on hills but in my short use I didn't have any issues.

It had a drawbar hitch rather than a 3pt which I thought made it handle better. Technically the drawbar weight for transport (wings up and off the ground) exceeded the max recommended for the 3720 but the operating tongue weight was fine.

6,000 lbs sure seems high for a 3720. I would have never figured that. I have a HX-15 batwing I pull with my 5525. I considered hooking it up to my 4720 but I think the batwing weighed more than the tractor. Also it needs 2 rear valves to run it properly.

D.

 

[KB9UDE]

6,000 lbs sure seems high for a 3720. I would have never figured that. I have a HX-15 batwing I pull with my 5525. I considered hooking it up to my 4720 but I think the batwing weighed more than the tractor. Also it needs 2 rear valves to run it properly.

D.

Darin you can setup 3 hyd valves on the rear of the 4x20 series.

John

 

[jenkinsph]

Darin you can setup 3 hyd valves on the rear of the 4x20 series.

John

On my 4520 I removed the front steel lines and replaced them with 4' hoses run to the rear. I use these with the joystick for the top and tilt. The 3rd rear outlet is used for pull type wheel cylinders and boxblade toothbar. It is nice to have a tractor without a fel on it, really helps in tight quarters.


Steve

 

[herrick]

Herrick:

I tried a 15' Batwing mower for a week on my 3720. The dealer had a used one come in and dropped it off for me to try. There is a post on here with pictures: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/103614-my-3720-15-wing-mower.html

With 35pto HP I didn't suffer for HP much and (you'll have to read the post) but probably mowed at 5mph. I have a single short steep (maybe a 10' rise) hill but that's it so I can't give a review of running it on hills. I also was mowing I think 2 weeks growth.

It weighed 3200lbs which was over 1/2 the fighting weight of my 3720 cab (about 6K [loader frame, loaded tires, etc.]). I would imagine that it could wrestle the tractor around a bit on hills but in my short use I didn't have any issues.

It had a drawbar hitch rather than a 3pt which I thought made it handle better. Technically the drawbar weight for transport (wings up and off the ground) exceeded the max recommended for the 3720 but the operating tongue weight was fine.

I noticed that you went with an 84" RFM in the end... do you get much if any scalping with that? How fast can you run with it and still get a nice cut?

 

[orlo]

6,000 lbs sure seems high for a 3720. I would have never figured that. I have a HX-15 batwing I pull with my 5525. I considered hooking it up to my 4720 but I think the batwing weighed more than the tractor. Also it needs 2 rear valves to run it properly.

D.

Base weight for Cab unit is just under 3600lbs. I have probably 800lbs in the tires = 4400lbs. The loader frame (no bucket) is 1100lbs for 5500#. Me and some other crap I have on it brings it even closer to 6000#.

The loader and loaded tires add almost 2Klbs. I had the large R4's and they took 900lbs of RIM Guard. I have R3's now and I figure they probably take 800lbs of fill. (Rim Guard is over 11lbs/gal).

When I was using that Batwing I had the large R4's and I think those ones were unloaded.

 

[orlo]

I noticed that you went with an 84" RFM in the end... do you get much if any scalping with that? How fast can you run with it and still get a nice cut?

I get some scalping if I run over crowned areas but I don't have many of those fortunately and I just cut them differently (direction-wise). Also, when I cut with the 72" MMM I think it would scalp also.

The tip speed on the unit I got (Made by Woods) is like 16,900ft/min (more than the JD unit advertised the year I got mine, I think I got a later model that they sped up.)

I've cut as fast as 7-8mph (full speed in mid range) still getting a nice cut but bounce a lot. This season I put on a mulch kit that I got from woods on it so I mostly keep it under 6. My lot is mostly flat and level but there are a couple of washboard areas. The mulch kit works pretty well but if the grass is high I'll leave a little grass poop behind.

Where I do scalp terribly is when I (my fault) back up to the top of a hill too far and the rear wheels drop and let the blades go real low.

I wish they put cranks on the height adjusters instead of the shims but I've only ever seen that on an old 60" Swisher pull beside mower I had.

 

[ddivinia]

Base weight for Cab unit is just under 3600lbs. I have probably 800lbs in the tires = 4400lbs. The loader frame (no bucket) is 1100lbs for 5500#. Me and some other crap I have on it brings it even closer to 6000#.

The loader and loaded tires add almost 2Klbs. I had the large R4's and they took 900lbs of RIM Guard. I have R3's now and I figure they probably take 800lbs of fill. (Rim Guard is over 11lbs/gal).

When I was using that Batwing I had the large R4's and I think those ones were unloaded.

That is some weight - nice.

D.

 

[sandman2234]

Just curious, why would anyone want to load the tires on a mowing machine that they are concerned about ground compaction? (or is this a shootoff of the original post?) I would think the widest tire size available and zero added weight would be the best deal...
David from jax

 

[MarkV]

Good point. I can see that with a 3000 lbs mower that loaded tires on a 3500 to 4500 lbs tractor would be an advantage.

MarkV