Considering the 72" MMM? - read this first

[Tomish]

Greetings all. Some real-world feedback on the RC72 MMM:

I ordered my B3200 with the RC72 to reduce mowing time on 3+ acres, because as much as I love my tractor time I'd rather be driving a Titleist. I can say that it has done so, but with a couple of drawbacks I felt others should be aware of:

First, this is NOT a finesse mower, and you should consider your unique terrain before making the purchase. If you have a lot of maneuvering to do, take notice: It's big, it's heavy, and if not used properly will do some damage. On softer terrain, the large rubber gauge wheels at the corners will dig sideways when reversing, rather than smoothly casting to the other direction. This makes it necessary to raise the deck when reversing, or risk 1 to 4 new trenches in your yard. And no, grease will not solve this.

Also, unlike the 60, the 72 does NOT include an anti-scalp adjustment at the nose, just a fixed roller. If you haven't found any slight high spots on the property yet, fair warning... this deck will. On uneven terrain, you must raise accordingly to avoid the brown look.

Lastly, Kubota does not offer a mulching kit for the 72, so you're out of luck there. A set of Gators will produce better results, but it will not perform like a true mulcher, so keep your expectations in check.

These being said, when paired with the B3200, the 72 is a BEAST. The combo powers through the thick stuff without breathing hard, and even with stock blades the cut quality is outstanding. The deck follows terrain precisely and, thanks to its 500+ lbs, stays firmly planted at all times.

If you've got wide open spaces and need to get through them quickly, the RC72 is worth your consideration. If you've got uneven terrain and lots of maneuvering to do, you may want to consider other options.

 

[Mowbizz]

Good to know, Thanks! I do have a 60" MMM and find it works great for me. The 72" would be a monster.
I used to live in Salem, NH...how long have you been in Methuen? I lived on the line off of Rt 28 behind the Lowe's there.

 

[Ken45101]

Although I have never operated that way, I've been told that proper adjustment is for the gage wheels to be OFF the ground.

As for it scalping the high spots, well eventually those spots will be eliminated :laughing:

 

[Tomish]

Although I have never operated that way, I've been told that proper adjustment is for the gage wheels to be OFF the ground.

As for it scalping the high spots, well eventually those spots will be eliminated :laughing:

I've heard both Ken - depending on who you talk to. I can see where removing the weight from the wheels would alleviate the issue, but the net result would be uneven cutting... and if that were the case, why bother with the height adjustment at the wheels themselves? Note that the trenching issue is limited to softer spots only (mostly shaded areas), and casting functions normally on harder ground.

Mowbizz

Good to know, Thanks! I do have a 60" MMM and find it works great for me. The 72" would be a monster. I used to live in Salem, NH...how long have you been in Methuen? I lived on the line off of Rt 28 behind the Lowe's there.

I'm actually from Salem, I've been 20 years now on the wrong side of the border near Haverhill.

 

[KennyG]

My understanding is also that mid mount mower wheels should be slightly off the ground when on a hard level surface. In fact, my John Deere mower has those specific instructions directly on the deck. The wheels will turn due to touching the ground and grass, but will have limited weight on them except on uneven areas. If you have weight on them all the time, you will wear the wheels out quickly. They are much lighter duty than three point mower wheels that are intended to support the mower weight.

 

[ovrszd]

His deck does not work that way guys. The swivel casters carry the deck, not the tractor. Should never back up without lifting the deck to avoid the divets he is complaining about.

Next, a wider deck will always cut worse than a narrower one. Can't help it.

The OP complained about a lot, then toward the end of his post he bragged on the quality of cut.

I think he's just experiencing growing pains.

I had a 60" Kubota deck that ran on the ground like his and I considered it the best cutting deck I've ever owned. It cut wayyyyyyy better than my current 62" JD deck that is carried by the tractor.

My perfect tractor/mower would be a B2910 or B3030 with this 72" deck. I also cut 3 acres.

 

[Ken45101]

If you have weight on them all the time, you will wear the wheels out quickly. They are much lighter duty than three point mower wheels that are intended to support the mower weight.

My B2710 with MMM is 15years old and I have always cut with the wheels on the ground. I haven't worn them out yet.

You are probably right, but I'm willing to give up some wheel life for the better cut of "wheels on the ground". At least until I see the replacement cost of those little wheels. ::laughing::

 

[Tomish]

His deck does not work that way guys. The swivel casters carry the deck, not the tractor. Should never back up without lifting the deck to avoid the divets he is complaining about.

Next, a wider deck will always cut worse than a narrower one. Can't help it.

The OP complained about a lot, then toward the end of his post he bragged on the quality of cut.

I think he's just experiencing growing pains.

I had a 60" Kubota deck that ran on the ground like his and I considered it the best cutting deck I've ever owned. It cut wayyyyyyy better than my current 62" JD deck that is carried by the tractor.

My perfect tractor/mower would be a B2910 or B3030 with this 72" deck. I also cut 3 acres.

No doubt there are growing pains when going from a 60" out-front to a 72" MM. Not complaints so much as info I thought might be helpful to some when considering a purchase... things the dealer either won't know or won't likely tell you. As with anything else, practice makes perfect. With a little seat time and some patience I've been able to adjust to it pretty well, and the 45+ minutes it's taken off my mowing time have outweighed the adjustment period. It's well-suited to my property... your mileage may vary.