7 foot Mowers, anyone?

paccorti · Apr 26, 2004

I use a 7' First Choice finish mower behind my TC35D. I think there are a lot of variables that affect the horsepower requirements of a finish mower vs. a rotary cutter.

For example, I have a 6' woods rotary cutter that seems to require more horsepower than my 7' mower... why? Well the design of the rotary cutter has a metal skirt in the back. With the rotary cutter set to cut the grass low it just can't get out past the skirt. Obviously it takes a lot of power to churn the rotary cutter blades through all the grass stuck under the deck. My First Choice finish mower is rear discharge so it never clogs up. I think you just have to be reasonable about the grass height. 12" might be kinda high. I just mowed my yard yesterday with the finish mower. My TC didn't even feel the mower with 5" to 6" grass and it does a great job. Rear discharge works real well for me. Lastly, I find that I don't need any front weights on my tractor, I even took the loader off, and it mows and steers just fine. Of course my land is pretty level.

Peter

choreboy · Apr 27, 2004

Thanks for the input, Peter. I've always figured one mower would do the job for me but I realize I may be looking at the possibility of a finish mower in the future.

I was hoping to get out this past weekend and other work got in the way....Also, as I was checking fluids and replacing a blade, I discovered I had about 4' of wire and a plastic feed bag wrapped all around the spindle on the mower. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

No fun at all. I lifted the mower with the fel, propped it up with a couple jackstands and spent about an hour slowly hacking away the bag and cutting at the wire. I know it would never be on the cover of Safety magazine, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.....

Gatorboy · Apr 27, 2004

( I was hoping to get out this past weekend and other work got in the way )

Same here. I greased up the tractor and mower -- checked the oil levels in the gear boxes and fired up the tractor. I cut about 1500 feet when I needed to raise my right wing and I heard a hissing sound. Yep, my hydraulic hose feeding the right wing had a cut in it and was spraying hydraulic fluid.

I took all my hoses off -- they were pretty worn looking -- and will be picking up my new replacement ones this afternoon.

sweettractors · Apr 27, 2004

Another thing I've learned is that I need about 20% of the total tractor/mower weight at the front wheels for proper/safe operation. I do have a fel mounted so I think I'll be OK there, and my pasture is flat. 

Just be careful--Using the FEL for added weight is not always a good thing to do--May cause premature wear on tractor steering and also lots of excessive wear on FEL pivot points--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New First Choice Grooming Mowers and Roto Tillers in Stock*

choreboy · May 12, 2004

Thanks to all who have responded.

I literally just got to the mowing last night! I had wanted to install two new blades, which was quite a task, finally requiring concentrated heat to remove the large pin that is part of the blade retainer assembly. In addition to numerous hammer blows and a lotta sweat. After a blade change I realized the outer flange on my mower deck was a little bent, causing the blades to hit on each rotation. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif....Following that I changed my gear oil and got to it! This of course occurred over two weeks as I tended to the other matters of life.....

Bottom line, the mower seems to handle the thick grass very well. The gras is about 18+ incheas high and very thick in some places. I'm not making any great speed, but I'm taking it cautious as I learn the layout. It is 99% grass and field growth. The field has several areas with small ditches and depressions that could cause problems, and I'm feeling my way through them.

All in all it's great to finally put the tractor under load and work it. I've probably put about 25 hours on the tractor so far, but it's all been light duty fel work, hauling and such. This really is the first time I've worked it at 2,600 rpm for any length of time, and all seems well.

You need to understand as a new owner, this is work I had previously contracted, and it feels real good to have the ability to just get it done!!