6ft King Kutter finism mower

deerefan · Jan 25, 2006

Hello to all...as some of you know (b/c I won't shutup about it!), I recently bought a JD 5103 and 6ft model 286 Bushhog. I have a 6 ft King Kutter finish mower that I am hesitant to use behing my JD for fear the tractor is really too strong for it. It has a small gear box (I think rated for 40 hp max) and smaller driveshaft. I used to pull it behind my 8N. You guys think it would be smarter to get a finish mower thats a little more heavy duty? The KK is in great shape but it is a little too big for my 8N and 2N but I think it is not strong enough for the JD. Help please...

Soundguy · Jan 25, 2006

If I were heading out to buy a 6' finish mower for my 50 hp tractor.. I wouldn't specifically get one that had a lower gearbox rating than the pto hp.. but in the case of "I already have it'.. I think you are pretty safe. Is this a belt driven unit? Belts slip.. probably even before a slip clutch would slip.. etc. Also.. keep in mind.. a 5103 at 50 eng hp is not 50 pto hp.

I pull a 10' mower behind a 95 hp tractor..

Soundguy

deerefan · Jan 25, 2006

The PTO hp is about 44. It is belt driven. I might give it a shot and see how it acts.

RobJ · Jan 25, 2006

I wouldn't really see a problem as long as you are using it as a finish mower. Regularly mowed grass, etc. Every not and then I might get lazy and not want to switch mowers for some heavy stuff. Then I remind myself that a FM costs about 2.5 times or more that a RC.

And being belt driven like my Woods should help. As mentioned the belt will slip way before any major damage IMO.

gamble77 · Jan 25, 2006

Obviously that tractor can pull larger finishing mowers and obviously there are stronger finishing mowers on the market but I have seen many KK finishing mowers behind similar hp machines...should be OK.

jinman · Jan 25, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The PTO hp is about 44. It is belt driven. I might give it a shot and see how it acts. )</font>

David, I would say that just because the tractor is 50 hp, that doesn't mean the mower is going to cut more grass or do more work than it would behind your 8N. It's 6' wide no matter what tractor you put it behind. If you maintain your ground speed for a good cut at a given PTO rpm, I can't see that the potential horsepower of the tractor should matter. Now if you hit an unseen object, you will have much more torque to snap a shearpin or slip a clutch or belt, but that's not really the fault of the tractor's hp. I think I'd use the mower for normal cutting and just be careful to not get into heavy stuff that I wouldn't do with a 40 hp tractor or less. If the cutter covers your rear wheel width, I'd say it's good to go.

PineRidge · Jan 26, 2006

I agree with the others on this matter of HP vs gearbox size. We originally purchased our KK finish mower for a 25HP tractor but are now dragging it with a 40HP New Holland and have had no complaints. Well maybe one, wish it was a lot wider.....