Rear Finish Mower Exceeding max HP rating for finish mower

[4570Man]

Must be, because I run mine set around the middle height ( mower set at around 2 1/2 - 2 3/4" mow height) and I have never bent a caster/spindle.

I bent a spindle on my ZTR wheel. I was rolling over a sidewalk that was sticking above the ground and something caused the wheel to spin sideways right before it hit. I took it off and straightened it but it promptly bent again. It doesn’t hurt anything so I just use it bent.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Farmers make hay on smooth well cared for fields with tractors far bigger than 70 hp. If the soil is not wet and you do not drive like an idiot a 70 hp tractor will not damage sod. Condemning the use of a tractor of that size without considering tire style and contact patch is just blowing smoke.

So you're also an expert on the OP's soil and pasture conditions.

Yup, I'm convinced.

I've got your smoke "right here".

 

[K5lwq]

I can't speak to the OP's situation, but I mow my place with a finish mower and R1 tires and never had a problem. I do try not to get on it when wet. My tractors are 4-5000 lbs. If they weighed 8-10,000 I might would make a mess but have not hurt my grass or ground in at least 20 years of mowing.

 

[RickB]

So you're also an expert on the OP's soil and pasture conditions.

Yup, I'm convinced.

I've got your smoke "right here".

I am close enough to being an expert to know what causes a tractor to leave tracks. And it is not some horsepower threshold.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I am close enough to being an expert to know what causes a tractor to leave tracks. And it is not some horsepower threshold.

No. No it's not.

It's weight.

You don't get 70 hp without some extra weight.

Didn't think I'd have to explain that to you, being such an "expert" and all.

Feel free to lip off further though.

 

[RickB]

I don’t come here to debate with trolls.

 

[aczlan]

No. No it's not.

It's weight.

You don't get 70 hp without some extra weight.

Didn't think I'd have to explain that to you, being such an "expert" and all.

Feel free to lip off further though.

RickB has been in the tractor and equipment business long enough to be considered an expert IMO.
He has a good point on weight vs HP vs tire size.
There are various 70HP tractors out there with different weights from the factory plus the multitude of options when you add in front weights, loaded tires, cast wheel weights, cast centers, etc.
Then you get to the various tire options in the 3 main tire classes (Turf, AG and Industrial). Kubota did an article on that a couple years back with a good lineup:
Turf:

AG:

Industrial:


In the AG line, look at the difference in tire widths, they range from what appears to be 8 in wide to what appears to be 18 in wide. That would make a huge difference in ground pressure and what kind of tracks it will leave.
A tractor driver who doesn't care and isn't being careful can leave tracks with any tire, a good tractor operator can leave almost no tracks with any tire.

Aaron Z

 

[K5lwq]

I agree with Aaron, but Slim is not a troll either. Both Rick and Slim have offered really good advice over the years. I have great respect for both guys!

With that, I am going outside to run my 5' finish mower using my 48HP cabbed tractor on Ag tires! :thumbsup:

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I personally wouldn't want to run a 70 hp tractor over any grass area I cared enough about to use a finish mower on.

Out in a pasture or road ditch, etc, sure. But a 70 hp tractor carries enough weight that you'd be more likely to rut up your ground just by driving it over the surface. I don't even like to drive my 7000 lb tractor over my lawn. And if it's not "lawn", there's no reason at all to cut it with a finish mower.

Since a certain fella' seems to have a reading comprehension issue, I have quoted again, what I originally said above. Note the "bold" areas I have highlighted for maybe some extra-careful-pay-attention-ness...

Now I started off saying that "I personally.... X..."

I did NOT SAY NO ONE SHOULD. Nor did I say everyone MUST DO what I do.

Right?

Now this certain fella' replied to me that I was BLOWING SMOKE.

Do what you want OP.

Do what you want RickB.

Tell me I'm "blowing smoke" for doing something a certain way, and you'll get an earful from me every time.

Don't want to talk to trolls??

Then stop acting like one.

Replying like a jackwagon doesn't make you cool, or unique.

I'm done with you.

 

[kthompson]

I have a few acres of Bermuda hay. Have more being sprigged next month. I am not an expect in many areas but hay people here, don't work in wet fields. You can find over 100 hp tractors mowing hay with single ag tires on them. If they leave a rut there is an issue. Professional hay peoples fields HERE are as smooth as many people's lawns.

At same time had a person who is one of the good hay people tell me about the rutting they have in their lawn. Using a Husky zero turn mower. The mower is design totally by Husky with matched weight and tires. They controlled it totally. Yet this person has rutting in his lawn. Why, very simple he cuts the same pattern every time. Many make that mistake.