4520 Finishing Mower Troubles - Help!

[morrisond]

I've had my 4520 for about a year now - only 80 hours and paired it with a Frontier FM3012 Finishing Mower (It's a Woods TBW 150C 12.5' Tri-Plex)

Although the 4520 can do it (barely - I have to get out every 30 minutes or so to clear the radiator or it overheats), it just seems like too much mower.

Today when driving along the Support for the drawbar ripped right off the Tractor - it appears the 4 bolts that go through the side supports we're either missing from new or backed out and fell out.

It struggles a little as well in the taller grass. - Plus I've already blown one gearbox(it ran out of oil after only 25 hours or never filled from Factory), and then jackknifed it once in reverse wrecking a hydraulic line - generally it's been a PITA.

I have a lot of grass to mow - about 3:30 every week with the Triplex, so I want something relatively large. A minimum of 90"

I'm thinking of the Frontier GM2190 or GM2109 (BEFCO C70 90" and 110")

or the Woods RD-990X

What's the Heaviest Duty Large Deck Finishing Mowers out there?

Thanks

 

[jenkinsph]

More information would help, what height are you cutting at? How many acres and is it smooth enough for a wide deck? What speed are you mowing at now?

 

[Gator6x4]

John Deere lists the PTO horsepower for a 4520 at forty (40) horsepower. A good rule of thumb when sizing mowers or rotary cutters is to have five (5) horsepower for each foot of width. Using five horsepower per foot width as a guide shows you need 60-65 PTO horsepower to drive the 12.5' mower.

If it was my tractor I would not want something larger than an eight (8) mower or rotary cutter on the back. In my opinion the mower you currently have is to large for the tractor and is going to cause some serious damage.

 

[morrisond]

More information would help, what height are you cutting at? How many acres and is it smooth enough for a wide deck? What speed are you mowing at now?

Thanks for responding. Now that I've calmed down a bit - I may just keep it for a while longer - but I wouldn't mind a plan B

Mowing at 9.7KPH, Cutting very low, generally smooth enough for a wide deck - I don't care if it scalps - probably about 7-10 acres

It just seems like I'm always fixing it - but I can't blame the hitch ripping off on the mower.

BTW - I'm 99.9% certain Deere never installed the 4 support bolts from new - or is the Drawbar support installation part of the PDI?

 

[morrisond]

John Deere lists the PTO horsepower for a 4520 at forty (40) horsepower. A good rule of thumb when sizing mowers or rotary cutters is to have five (5) horsepower for each foot of width. Using five horsepower per foot width as a guide shows you need 60-65 PTO horsepower to drive the 12.5' mower.

If it was my tractor I would not want something larger than an eight (8) mower or rotary cutter on the back. In my opinion the mower you currently have is to large for the tractor and is going to cause some serious damage.

That was the old 4520 - mine is 60HP - 50PTO - the flex wing calls for 25-60 Tractor HP - Not PTO HP - but your right it's a lot of mower for the tractor.

I took the Air to the Rads yesterday and it was amazing what came out of the grills versus the normal of just removing the dried grass from between the grills themselves - it should help a bunch.

 

[jenkinsph]

Why cut it so low? The grass will look better and be heathier if you cut it about 3 to 4 inches high. Keeping the blades higher and allowing the grass to stay healthy will make less dust too. I think cutting real low is hurting you and the machinery more than any benefits you think you are getting. You should be able to mow 7 to 10 acres with this mower in about 2 hours or less. About 7 acres/hr at 5 mph would be about right in an open area. I have a lawn with Tall Fescue and mow this at 3 to 4 inch height depending on the season.

Some grasses such as Bermuda may need cutting lower and if that is the case and the ground is very smooth then gang reel mowers might be a better choice. Lots of people try to cut the grass low to get more time between cuttings. This will typicallly weaken the grass and allow weeds to take hold, then they grow taller and faster than the grass from my experience. All grass is easier to mow and maintain than grass and weeds are.

 

[WilliamBos]

Why cut it so low? The grass will look better and be heathier if you cut it about 3 to 4 inches high. Keeping the blades higher and allowing the grass to stay healthy will make less dust too. I think cutting real low is hurting you and the machinery more than any benefits you think you are getting. You should be able to mow 7 to 10 acres with this mower in about 2 hours or less. About 7 acres/hr at 5 mph would be about right in an open area. I have a lawn with Tall Fescue and mow this at 3 to 4 inch height depending on the season.

Some grasses such as Bermuda may need cutting lower and if that is the case and the ground is very smooth then gang reel mowers might be a better choice. Lots of people try to cut the grass low to get more time between cuttings. This will typicallly weaken the grass and allow weeds to take hold, then they grow taller and faster than the grass from my experience. All grass is easier to mow and maintain than grass and weeds are.

Would have to cut ours every 2-3 says if cut that tall, Set at 2 1/2" now.

 

[jenkinsph]

or is the Drawbar support installation part of the PDI?

Mine came off the truck from Deere with the drawbar in place. Also came with the regular hitch arms in place, the telescopic link/arms were separately boxed. Which means I have the originals for spares. (2009 4520 cab)