Acres cut per hour

[LD1]

I dont use charts. I always just calculate it exact X's whatever % efficency you think you can run. For me, remembering 43,560 sq ft per acre is easy.

That is the only # I need to remember.

8' mower x 4 MPH x 5280ft in a mile = 168,960 sq ft per hour

168,960/43,560=3.8 Acres per hour MAX @ 100% efficency.

Allthough I think 4 MPH may be a tad fast for 12-18" tall grass

 

[NativeSon]

This is really good info and gives a better perspective of seat time when mowing.

Charlie

 

[KTurner]

Thanks FWJ. Anyone think 4MPH is a reasonable speed mowing 12-18" tall pasture grass with a 8' finish mower behind my M-7040?

I use a Ford/NH 3230 (32hp 2wd) with a 6' Caroni side discharge RFM to cut ours (just personal, no business). I'll normally mow in 4th gear, which is about 5 mph. Grass can't be too wet or thick or things start clogging and the belts start slipping. Normally it doesn't get real thick, but thicker means it has to be shorter. About 12" or so seems about right. If I wait a little too long, I'll switch to 3rd gear, about 3.5 mph. If I wait more than a little too long, I pull out the rotary cutter and switch back to the RFM next time. It's very flat here and the sections with obstacles are cut with a riding mower.

I've only been using this a couple years and this is the approach I ended up with after some trial and error. Haven't used any other equipment, so I don't know how it would change with a rear discharge RFM or a flail.

Keith

 

[Builder]

I dont use charts. I always just calculate it exact X's whatever % efficency you think you can run. For me, remembering 43,560 sq ft per acre is easy.

That is the only # I need to remember.

8' mower x 4 MPH x 5280ft in a mile = 168,960 sq ft per hour

168,960/43,560=3.8 Acres per hour MAX @ 100% efficency.

Allthough I think 4 MPH may be a tad fast for 12-18" tall grass

I think that's where the problem is. How do you calculate overlap, turn time, breaks to empty bladder, etc. I just needed a rough calculation so I know how long it'll take to get job done. Thanks to all contributors.

 

[jenkinsph]

Builder,
If you are using a 96" mower I suspect you will loose about 10% on overlaps. For turns if you have a regular shape with long passes you will loose another 5%, if it is more irregular in shape you mal loose 10% in turns. without seeing the pasture this is my best guesstimate. I will stick my neck out and say 80 to 85% efficientcy. Pee, take breaks and talk on your cellphone on your own time.

What height do you have in mind to cut this? If it is tall enough I would try the bushhog first as there is a big difference between cutting 5' tall stuff and 18" stuff. Your MX8 may do a good job for you as 18" grass is easier for the hog to handle than it is for the finish mower.

Using the first formula in the thread (width of cut in inches x ground speed) /100 was very accurate(98 to 99%) compared to working it out the long way.

 

[tornadowatchranch]

builder

I haven't ever had one but it seems as if the woods 990 might be a good match for your needs. It is a finish mower but has free swinging blades like a hog. They are pricey though

Woods Equipment Company - RM990 series 90?

good luck

the wind

 

[Builder]

That is a great mower, but it won't handle my M7040's power output. The 990 is maxed-out at 50HP. I'm 70 engine and 61 PTO.
I'm gonna try either my MX-8 with really sharpened blades or I have access to a 15' finish batwing.

 

[TripleR]

We couldn't do 4 mph on our 8' Caroni in tall grass without smoking belts or getting poor quality cut. It has the swinging blades like the Woods and have been a very tough mower. We pulled it with a 72 and 80 hp tractor.

 

[Builder]

TripleR, How is the quality of cut with that mower?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

That is a great mower, but it won't handle my M7040's power output. The 990 is maxed-out at 50HP. I'm 70 engine and 61 PTO.
I'm gonna try either my MX-8 with really sharpened blades or I have access to a 15' finish batwing.

SOME bush hog style cutters do really well as a "lawn mower" once the blades are sharpened a bit. Some don't.... More often than not, they'll "winrow" clippings more than a finish mower would typically. If there's an option for "high lift" blades, they make a big difference.

One "brush mower" I've seen cutting grass toa nice finish, and was particularly impressed with is the Bush Hog brand model 3008. 8'-2" width, dual spindle, so it's not nearly as long as a dual spindle 8'er. They ride nice and stable, even at moderate speeds. That helps the consistency of cut height. It seemed to spread clippings quite well. It was being used to groom pastures at a horse farm near Lexington Ky. The place looked like a golf course!