Class III CUT's suitable for lawn work??

Pacesetter300 · Dec 1, 2003

Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Hi Group,
I have a Century 3045 with R4's that I bought in May. I absolutely love this tractor for the tasks I have used it for. It is great for 85% of my 20 acres. I can't imagine myself with less of a tractor.

Looking forward to next year, I would like to cut down the time I need for cutting the 3 acres of lawn I presently don't use it for. I mow about twice a week on average and time required is about 3+ hours each time. Equipment for that is a '91 Honda 4518 with 38" deck. Every few weeks I hook up the Cyclone Rake.

Running the Century over the lawn, even when dry, does a number on the grass. When wet, it really tears things up. I'd like to get a 72" or 84" RFM, but am afraid that after a while I won't have any grass to cut! Before I forget the idea and end up trading the Honda for a larger garden tractor has anybody solved such a problem or have any ideas?

Thanks

Pacesetter

CMunger · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Is it the tires that tear up the grass, or the weight of the tractor, or probably both? Would R3's and no water or weights help, remove loader? I'm sure you have thought of these things.
Chuck M.

markie61 · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

I mow two field of similar size (1 is the lowest point on the property - almost always wet) and the only time I have a problem tearing up is when I turn relatively tight at relatively high speed IF:

I remove the loader
I remove the wheel weights
Keep my loaded rears to their lowest recommended pressure
Keep my fronts near their lowest pressure
Use 2WD

3 acres takes 30-40 minutes with my 72" around lots of obstacles (trees, fences, old wall, etc.)

Mark

bigpete · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

By the time you price out that 7-8' finish mower, you may be able to buy a second dedicated mower with a 54" or 60" deck. Maybe a solid garden tractor or ZTR.

I used to mow my 4+/- acres with a 60" deck on a JD garden tractor in under 2 hours. The lighter weight and turf tires will eliminate your turf quality worries.

Pacesetter300 · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Hi Pete,

That's pretty much what I've been thinking. The cost of the RFM plus the value of the Honda is probably about $3k~ #4k. Certainly a good start on a nice garden tractor. Of course, downside to everything and going to the bigger machine, I loose manuverability around the house and garage. Never seems to be a perfect solution /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Pacesetter

jackd · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

For manuverability(sp?) around the house & stuff, I went with a zero turn Gravely...great machine. FWIW...

JackD

bigpete · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

The mid to high-end garden tractors will offer a hydrostatic tranny and power steering. The JD 445 I traded had a 23 HP fuel injected Kawasaki V-Twin with a 60" deck. It took any finish mowing conditions I could throw at it. With the wheels turned tight, it left an uncut circle radius of 24". I got a little over $6 grand on trade-in with 300 hours on the clock.

On the other hand, I REALLY like the Gravely ZTRs, too.

BenderKC · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

ZTR mower if you want a quality cut with no damage, no question.

art · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

It is important to remember when looking at tractors as to the purpose they are being purchased. When looking for a farm traactor 90 lbs per horsepower is great. Lawn mowers don't need half that. It really depends on you!

Pacesetter300 · Dec 1, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

( It is important to remember when looking at tractors as to the purpose they are being purchased. When looking for a farm traactor 90 lbs per horsepower is great. Lawn mowers don't need half that. It really depends on you! )

Only looking at grass cutting as a secondary use. I wouldn't want a 180 lb per HP tractor for the loader and other work I need to do.

Looks like I should start looking at ZTR's /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pacesetter

slowzuki · Dec 2, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Sheep work very well, eliminate whipper snipping too.

Soundguy · Dec 2, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Well the 3 big options are: get a rear finish mower... problem is your tractors is a bit big for 'lawn' work.

You could unload tires.. get turf tires.. and remove the loader.. seems like a bit of work.. and you might be looking at 1k$ in tires...

2nd option is one of those ztr's... downside is they are as expensive as a new off brand tractor / or a used common brand tractor. The idea of a ztr is nice.. but seems so limited.. all it does is mow ( and mow good .. no argument there). A cheap ztr isn't much bigger than your rider lawnmower.. to get substanitally more size.. you are in the 6k range or so.

Would be cheaper to buy a chineese tractor.. brand new.. say 3400 and a finish mower... say 1200.. and come out ahead money wise.. and have a second tractor. Similarly.. you could get an older domestic used tractor.. say like a farmall H series.. late 40's or so.. with a 60" belly mower. probably in the 2-3k$ range.. mows decently fast too. I turned down a great deal on a 49' H farmall.. and kick myself all the time... was only 2k$ and had a new mower... just didn't have the 3pt I wanted.... oh well.. live and learn.

3rd option is upgrade your lawn equipment with ann add on trail mower. These trail mowers are a gas powered mowing deck you can pull behind your existing lawnmower ( or atv ).. For instance I have a 48" craftsman... It can be offset behind my murray riding mower.. My mower is a 40" cut.. so you alloy a little overlap.. and have something like a 7' cut. True the price of the trail mower is as much as another economy riding lawnmower 800-1000 range... but makes it a one man job.

I mowed my 3 ac of lawn with my mower/trail mower for a year.. before I let it go 'pasture.. and then let my tractor / rotary cutter maintain it.

good luck

Soundguy

songhunter · Dec 2, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

I agree that your tractor is too heavy for lawn work. Almost all farms in this area have the same problem. Most have an ag or utility tractor to handle the large jobs and a smaller lawn tractor used for mowing. I made the mistake of trying to split the difference and bought a small CUT with a 48" finish mower. It turns out that a 42" lawn tractor from Lowe's can cut the two acre lawn about as quickly as my CUT with a 48" finish mower, mostly due to difference in maneuverability.

If your current tractor handles 85% of your needs, your least expensive solution is probably a small lawn tractor. I wouldn't go less that 48" cut, though, since that's a lot of grass to routinely cut with a lawn tractor (probably spend around 1-3K). The next step up would be the ZTR or a walk-behind with sulky (6-8K). The most expensive solution (and maybe not the best) would be a sub-compact diesel (9-13K). Considering the costs, it seems to me the best solution is a larger lawn tractor with a minimum cut width of 48" and a hydrostatic transmission. I would go with a used, name brand like Simplicity, Ford (model YT16H is nice), Gravely, or Case (model 444 is good too). I hope that helps!

bigpete · Dec 2, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

I don't know how far you want to go with this suggestion, but I bought an older Gravely rider with a 50" deck for a few hundred $ a year ago. I have rebuilt the top end of the engine (a twin Onan 18 hp) and refurbished the deck a little with new blades, belts, etc. I'm sure I have a few hundred more into it now, but it has saved me a few times when my bigger machine has been in the shop.

For a couple thousand, you could pick up a newer used Gravely G series rider and have a bullet-proof solid garden tractor. You can plow and blow snow, til a garden, etc. with one of these little Bad Boys. Just a thought.....here's an example: Gravely Rider on Ebay You can even do better (newer) than this. Just check around a little.

Pacesetter300 · Dec 3, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Thanks everybody
All great ideas. I brought up the ZTR with the CFO. To put it mildly, I think it's a little soon since I sold her on the big one less than nine months ago /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Going to check on the price of a set of turf tires. I think they'll do for the FEL work as long as the ground isn't muddy. Easier to slide by too as she'll equate them with a set of Goodyears at Sears /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pacesetter

BenderKC · Dec 3, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Take her to test drive a ZTR. She will see the beauty of these machines, the ease with which they do their job and you will have a convert. I am not kidding.

jackd · Dec 4, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

Not only that, SHE may end up cutting the grass, and leave you more seat time on the CUT!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JackD

Pacesetter300 · Dec 4, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

( Not only that, SHE may end up cutting the grass, and leave you more seat time on the CUT!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JackD )

I'm liking this better and better all the time /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I hog the 14 acres out back and she can cut the 3 acres out front. Sounds fair to me!!

Pacesetter

Pacesetter

jackd · Dec 5, 2003

Re: Class III CUT\'s suitable for lawn work??

We have the same set up, but a little smaller pasture -- 10 acres : /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif