A B2630 or BX2660 for a mowing machine?

[TripleR]

Anyone have trouble with the R4 tires messing up the lawn?

Thanks for all the help.

We have no problems with R4 tires on our BX2660 or JD2305.

 

[Tom_H]

The Kubota ZT are very nice. But ALL THEY DO IS MOW.

That's the trade off. By specializing the machine, they make it do that one thing better than a multi-purpose machine. By generalizing a utility tractor, you make it more capable at doing a number of things, but none of them at the very highest performance levels. It's just like a Class A, B, or C motorhome may function better as an RV than a pickup truck with slide in on back, but the pickup will do a score of other things that the motorhome will not do at all. There are numerous analogies in life.

You stated that you are not going to do anything else other than mow. I haven't looked at the back of the ZTRs, but I would imagine that you could rig up some way to tow things like aerators, spreaders, and sprayers that have simple attachment points. It seems you have a nagging suspicion in the back of your mind that once you buy a ZTR or F, you would then discover a need for a utility tractor. If you do, it seems reasonable that it would be infrequent enough that you could rent one. You could also look for a used BX1500, BX1800, 1820, 1830, or 1860. The 1500 and the 1860 have smaller bodies than the others, but the 1500 is a 2 cylinder diesel, while the 1860 is 3 cylinder. Even the BX1500 was available with a FEL and two members here put a Woods BH6000 backhoe on one and did amazing work digging trenches in cobble filled soil and excavating stumps, there are lots of pics of this in the archives. There are other old ultra sub-compact tractors around that could be found with some searching. Unless I'm mistaken the old Ford 8N was a really small sCUT that was around for quite a few years. I've even seen JD garden tractors with tiny FELs and Cat. 0 hitches that could be used as a second machine for those kinds of utility chores that might come up. Well, hope this info might be of some help.

Anyone have trouble with the R4 tires messing up the lawn?

I bought 2 sets of wheels/tires with the intention of swapping back and forth between ags and turfs. I bought a quick hydraulic jack and an impact wrench for NASCAR type quick changes. The truth is that the turfs have been sitting under the house for 10 years now. The turfs spin when I do BB or subsoiler work (even with ballast), and yet the ag tires just don't damage the lawn in any way. If the ground (clay) is saturated enough for the tires to make a problem, it's a problem where the turf tires would have done the same thing just due to the weight of the tractor on the ground. From my own experience with a BX2200, I have to say ag tires are the only way to go.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Actually the Kubota F is a machine (2wd and/or 4wd) that has a diesel motor that runs implements attached to the front off it's PTO. Mainly that's a mowing deck but there are other attachments that can be added. The Kubota website has the attachments/implements that they sell with/for it.
Tom did a rare slip and referred to R4s as Ag tires. I thnk the R1 is usually the Ag and the R4 is also sometimes called the I(Industrial)4. I've had and have R(I)4s on many tractors as well as Turfs. I've not had bad experience out of the R(I)4s myself. I like that they are less prone to leaks than the turfs and are stronger sidewalls for FEL work. I always get R(I)4s with anything that has a FEL. Just mowing I get Turfs.