best 3pt finish mower

[qed-cat225]

looking for input on a 72" 3 pt finish mower, who is good and bad etc?

 

[bp fick]

The Sicma. Sold under many names. It is even Kioti's "brand name" RFM, I believe. It isn't the most expensive, thus, might not be THE BEST, but it is a fine, Italian made mower. I love mine and, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, tough to beat.

Ken Sweet, a regular here, ie, Sweet Farm Equipment sells them.

Also available from Everything Attachments, just to name a couple places.

 

[Code54]

I bought a Woods 72" - paid 1850 for it and love it. I would buy the same one again (I also had the center roller added when I ordered it and would recommend it)

 

[leonz]

The three point hitch mounted flail mower is
a better finish mower with a lot less work and
better finish with less work and no grass clippings
left like a belly mower.

I am unsure if ken sweet sells the finish mower
type of flailmowers but you should contact him
about them as well.


We have over a hundred pages of discussion
regarding flailmowers and you should read them
to become more familiar with them as well.

The nice thing about flailmowers is they slice
the grass to tiny bits and it disappears quickly
in to compost.

It wont happen with a belly mower as they cut
the grass and it stays on the lawn unless
you sweep it up or vacuum it up.


leon

 

[Diamondpilot]

Stay away from King Kutter.

I have a Caroni. Its Italian. Lost one bolt in 5 seasons. Total unscheduled maintenance cost is $.25, yes a quarter. My KK cost me $800 in parts plus tons of down time in only 3 seasons. Never again. Italian implements are first rate.

I would also consider Frontier(JD), Woods, and Landpride just as good.

Chris

 

[ronscat]

I've only used my 72" Land Pride 4 times, but it is really quiet and the 18,130 FPM blade tip speed allows me to move on out (speed wise) with the Kubota. I can't compare since I haven't tried all the other mowers, but this one suits me so far.:thumbsup:

Ron

 

[teg]

Bush Hog RDTH 72" :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: built like a tank. IMHO.

 

[sweettractors]

looking for input on a 72" 3 pt finish mower, who is good and bad etc?

We have 1 six foot First Choice left like in the pictures above for $1395 + modest shipping. I thought I was completly out, however, I recently found one more at our retail store in Munfordville. Ken Sweet

 

[PHS79]

Bought a Befco 84", it is just plain awesome. Our yard has various terrain (hills, ditches and flats) I have yet to scalp the yard and the mower is quiet. The Befco mows just as good if not better than the 60"mmm under our BX2230.

 

[Runner]

I have been happy with my Frontier GM1072R, which is a re-badged Woods RD7200. It delivers a beautiful cut, in my opinion, and seems to be heavy built.

 

[whistlepig]

Woods PRD7200". Woods mowers are heavy and stay on the ground better. They don't beat themselves to death. The spring loaded casters keep the caster wheels from scalping the grass. I have been mowing an 8 acre yard with it for three years. I have owned a Caroni 72" RFM. The Woods is much more expensive than a Caroni and worth the extra money for my use. I also owned a RM660 72" RFM before buying the PRD7200. I used to do commercial mowing of medians and parks for the city with the RM660. I consider the Woods RM series and PRD commercial grade mowers.

 

[bp fick]

looking for input on a 72" 3 pt finish mower, who is good and bad etc?

The bad? The cheap Chinese knockoffs of King Kutter. I had a 60" briefly, just a horse trading affair, but long enough to know they are to be avoided. I wouldn't consider the many other Chinese knockoff RFMs either, and there are quite few styles out there, in brightly painted colors.

 

[RoyJackson]

looking for input on a 72" 3 pt finish mower, who is good and bad etc?

"Best" is a subjective term as most of us cannot compare more then one or two brands we've had personal experience with.

That said, I can recommend Befco as a high quality and robust brand. I've had two of these.
The first was a 60" unit that came with my first tractor. Other then one belt (in about 9 years), blade sharpening and greasing, no other maintenance was required. This mower was used when I bought it, BTW. It was traded off with my 790 when I bought the 4400.
The second came with my current tractor (the 4400). It's an 84" mower (what a beast!!!). Had it most of the summer of 2010 and so far, it's as good as the old 60" mower. It's a great mower, but is actually too big for my yard (I'm only finishing mowing an acre) and parking it in the garage is chancy (there's only an inch of clearance each side when backing in...close!).

So, a great quality Rear Finishing Mower...go for a Befco!

 

[qed-cat225]

lets state best as best for variety of terrain, anyone have thoughts about the woods heritage series?

 

[cspot]

"Best" is a subjective term as most of us cannot compare more then one or two brands we've had personal experience with.

That said, I can recommend Befco as a high quality and robust brand. I've had two of these.
The first was a 60" unit that came with my first tractor. Other then one belt (in about 9 years), blade sharpening and greasing, no other maintenance was required. This mower was used when I bought it, BTW. It was traded off with my 790 when I bought the 4400.
The second came with my current tractor (the 4400). It's an 84" mower (what a beast!!!). Had it most of the summer of 2010 and so far, it's as good as the old 60" mower. It's a great mower, but is actually too big for my yard (I'm only finishing mowing an acre) and parking it in the garage is chancy (there's only an inch of clearance each side when backing in...close!).

So, a great quality Rear Finishing Mower...go for a Befco!

Roy is correct that most of us only know a brand or two. I have an 84" Farm King that I bought new about 10 years ago. It is well made and really cuts nice. Other than greasing and sharpening blades, I have not had to replace anything. I would definately recommend it. The belts still look like new. I like it because the belts run straight and it has two small belts instead of one big belt. You can also go buy the belts at a local parts store.

 

[sweettractors]

Roy is correct that most of us only know a brand or two. I have an 84" Farm King that I bought new about 10 years ago. It is well made and really cuts nice. Other than greasing and sharpening blades, I have not had to replace anything. I would definately recommend it. The belts still look like new. I like it because the belts run straight and it has two small belts instead of one big belt. You can also go buy the belts at a local parts store.

In addition the the First Choice/Phoenix/Sicma finish mowers that we sell, we do sell the Farm King. It is a tough machine, however, not any better than the First Choice Brand. Ken Sweet

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My King Kutter has performed very well. I think it is a good value. course mine is older, maybe the new ones are different. today at TSC I saw a Stainless Steel deck King Kutter, didn't see a price.

I usually post pics of my kubota, but today I mowed with it with my little old MF. Nice little tractor.

 

[careyo63]

I'll have to give another vote on Woods/Frontier.I bought it used over 3 Yrs. ago and it cuts great no problems with it what so ever.:thumbsup:

Carey

 

[kebo]

My King Kutter has performed very well. I think it is a good value. course mine is older, maybe the new ones are different. today at TSC I saw a Stainless Steel deck King Kutter, didn't see a price.

That's because it would give you or anyone else sticker shock.

 

[qed-cat225]

In addition the the First Choice/Phoenix/Sicma finish mowers that we sell, we do sell the Farm King. It is a tough machine, however, not any better than the First Choice Brand. Ken Sweet

Ken- are these essentially all the same mowers? First Choice/Phoenix/Sicma