1500 or 2000

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello this is my first time to the board. I came here through a search about yanmar tractors .what i need to know is what size I need to pull a six foot finish mower without being hard on the tractor? it will be used to mow my yard of about 3 acres ,I have the chance to buy a 1500 and a 2000 which would be the best for this job? thanks Jerry /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[pruntyc]

If you are going to go a 6 foot finish mower, then you had better go the 2000, as the 1500 would be over loaded in my opinion. Not sure if the 2000 would be as big as you might want for that size.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Go with the 2000.
Danny
Parker Equipment Co

 

[mszb]

I have a YM 1500 and a 5 foot EFM finish mower which is made by the brushog company and I love it but am sure a 6 foot mower would be too much for a 1500 on anything but the smoothest ground with short grass. If you have not used one before a couple things to remember: it's not a bush hog - don't use it like one, these little tractors are light, put as much weight on the front as you can - I have 240# and it works well, keep the blades sharp. Lastly, I have alot of grass to cut with a 5 foot mower and it doesn't take long, when you go to 6 feet they are a bit less manuverable.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I agree with mszb, another thing you may want to consider is that a 1500 does not have a water pump.

Joe D.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a YM 1500 with a 4 foot brush hog. "Experts" have suggested a 5 foot finish mower would be appropriate for the 1500. I have 5 acres of pasture to maintain. Since there is not a huge size difference between the 1500 and the 2000, I would opt for the 2000. However, I would talk to plenty of 2000 owners before I strapped a 6 foot finish mower to the back.

If possible advise of the price and hour difference between the two.

Rick

 

[mah]

I don't understand the reason for all that weight on the front. That just makes it harder to steer. I use a YM1700 with a 6' Sitrex finish mower with no weights. It is easy to steer and does a super job. The front end is light when the mower is raised but that doesn't hurt anything. A YM1500 will handle up to a 5' finish mower.

Mike

 

[YanmarFever]

Just for fun
I just hooked up my 5' finish mower to a 1500-D I have here.

#1 it is to much mower for a 1500,every time I lowered the mower the front end came up off the ground. (to much mower) It has front weights too.

#2 It would not start cutting, unless I had a running go at it.
(to much mower)

#3 It was just plain dangerous on the small hills,I had no
sterring control half the time.

My opinion is to get a 4' mower for the 1500
Or get a larger tractor.
And im not even bringing up the overheating questions

Just my 2 cents
Ernie <><

 

[EFC]

Ernie, admit it you just like doing wheelies.....rebel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I know I’m new to this tractor business but don’t understand the wheelie part while mowing.
While mowing I have no weight on the back of the tractor, the weight is on the mower and the tractor mows just fine with the RDTH60 (60” finish mower) @ 2200 rpms.
When I lift it on the other hand my front end is light even with a 4-foot railroad iron mounted as the front bumper and I do have to be careful.

I must admit I don’t mow on any hills.
Joe D.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( don't understand the reason for all that weight on the front. That just makes it harder to steer )</font>

You probably need to re-visit the physics involved with your post... Rear weight on the tractor unloads the front end.. front end *must* be in contact with the ground in order to steer... It is a traction/friction situation. If the front end is too light, and you go to steer, the tractor will push the tires straight ahead anyway.

That's why 1 and 3 and 5 rib tires are good on 2wd front ends.

Soundguy

 

[Tractors4u]

<font color="blue"> When I lift it on the other hand my front end is light even with a 4-foot railroad iron mounted as the front bumper and I do have to be careful.
</font>

That is what people are talking about when they say they are doing wheelies.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Main concern was on the rear of the tractor having load weight on it while mowing.
Are there finish mowers out there that the tractor supports the front of the mowers?
Most I’ve seen are basically self supporting mower decks.

Joe D.

 

[Tractors4u]

There are a few finish mowers that have a set of wheels on the rear only and the front of the mower is supported by the 3 point hitch. It isn't really a weight concern as much as a pain in the butt concern. I have one here that I used to mow my yard with last year and I didn't like it. It is a Ford mower that was built by the same fols that built some of the Yanmar finish mowers. I like the 4 wheeled finish mowers much better.

 

[mah]

Soundguy, I do understand the physics. What I am saying is that when I mow, all of the weight of the mower is on the ground- not on the tractor. I do lift the mower to go over the driveway and other high spots (not around a race track) and it's not a problem. Common sense should tell one to keep the mower on the ground when on slopes and when making fast turns. I used a 5' Woods for years. I now use a 6' Sitrex and have never had a problem. There are some very heavy mowers that would require front weight to keep the front tires firmly on the ground but I wouldn't use something that heavy on a weekly basis on a little Yanmar in fear of tearing the lower lift arm pins out of the axle housing. I have seen this happen.

As far as using a Ym1500 with a 5' finish mower, it depends on the mower and the tractor. I know a good YM1500 will run a 5' Sitrex but of course a 4' would be easier on it. I prefer the YM1700 or bigger because they have more foot and leg room.

Mike

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wouldn't use something that heavy on a weekly basis on a little Yanmar in fear of tearing the lower lift arm pins out of the axle housing. I have seen this happen.
)</font>

I would imagine except in the case of shock loads, that these tractors lower lift pins ( cat 1 )are more than rated for enough weight to make the front end come off the ground, regularly. That is why most tractors have a rail style front bumper for suitcase weights. Your real weak links inthe lift system would probably in the connecting arm between the lower and upper lift arms, and the pins that go through the clevis to attatch the link arms to the lower lift arms. For what its worth, I frequently moved dirt with my 1700 and 30" scoop. I could easilly load the bucket with enough weight that when i pulle dthe 3pt lever, the scoop wouldn't move, and the front would go up. After adding 280# of front weight, the problem disappeared. At one point though, i did snap the adjustable lift link connecting the upper and lower lift arms. I figured it would eventually.. as it is the smallest load bearing part in the lift system... just made sense that that is where the fault would eventually occour.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( . I do lift the mower to go over the driveway and )</font>

I think that is the key to the discussion.. even if the mower weight is fine during mowing.. if it is too heavy to steer during transport, that is where the need for the front weight factors in.

Soundguy