f 2690

[Sigarms]

The one F3080 I sold was because it had side discharge deck, hated (hate) side discharge decks. Like rear discharge deck due to less windrowing, being able to get close on either side, grass doesn't blow all over me in slight breeze or strong wind, don't have to watch where "stuff" on one siding is blowing/shooting to. Grass does blow/collect under the F but a cheap electric grass blower will blow it away after mowing.

John

If the 3080 you're referencing to was the one I bought from you, it was a rear discharge deck.

Per rear vs side discharge, I kept my other zero turn when I bought the Kubota, and absolutely love the rear discharge over the side discharge. Grass clippings do accumulate under the mower a lot more than a side discharge, but 3 minutes with the leaf blower after a good mowing makes the machine look pretty much brand new.

My only complaint with the F series is if you have a lot of low hanging trees, even with the front deck, it can be difficult to get into "tighter low hanging" areas because you're sitting up so high off the mower. That said, out it the "open" or on hills, the F really shines. I've got about 55 trees and bushes spaced out in front of the house, and I use my smaller zero turn around those as I can mow a lot quicker than with the F. That said, if I could only have one mower for everything around the house, it would be the F.

Had a guy come out to look at dropping about 20 ton of stone for my one creek bed, and he asked me what tractor I used to mow out there. The F works wonders in a open field and hills hands down.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John

If the 3080 you're referencing to was the one I bought from you, it was a rear discharge deck.

Per rear vs side discharge, I kept my other zero turn when I bought the Kubota, and absolutely love the rear discharge over the side discharge. Grass clippings do accumulate under the mower a lot more than a side discharge, but 3 minutes with the leaf blower after a good mowing makes the machine look pretty much brand new.

My only complaint with the F series is if you have a lot of low hanging trees, even with the front deck, it can be difficult to get into "tighter low hanging" areas because you're sitting up so high off the mower. That said, out it the "open" or on hills, the F really shines. I've got about 55 trees and bushes spaced out in front of the house, and I use my smaller zero turn around those as I can mow a lot quicker than with the F. That said, if I could only have one mower for everything around the house, it would be the F.

Had a guy come out to look at dropping about 20 ton of stone for my one creek bed, and he asked me what tractor I used to mow out there. The F works wonders in a open field and hills hands down.

The reason I sold you the mower was because I bought the F with a side discharge (Thinking maybe I was wrong about side discharge) and hated it so was selling it to buy another one with rear discharge. Barlows had my first F with the rear discharge and it was a 60" RD instead of the new 72" SD. You decided you preferred the 60" vs the 72" and the decks were traded. I bought another F3080, which I still have with a 72" RD. Now as Paul Harvey used to say about The rest of the story..........I bought that F back from Barlows which had the new 72" SD deck on it so I still ended up with the SD deck for awhile until I traded that F2680e to a ZD326.:laughing::cool2: Did finally get rid of that SD deck and demanded a rear discharge deck on the ZD326 against Barlows recommendations and never regretted the RD deck!!!

 

[4570Man]

I foam (Canned insulation foam) filled one of my cut tires and got a mowing season out of it. It's still on but falling apart.

How did that work out? The tires on my finish mower continually go flat. I had to replace the tire on the F-2560, but the rim still wears the scars.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

How did that work out? The tires on my finish mower continually go flat. I had to replace the tire on the F-2560, but the rim still wears the scars.

I'm very satisfied with the results. I squirted the foam in thru the tears/cuts in the tire and where it came out I just wiped it off with a stick or something and after running for awhile the bit that had escaped the tire was worn off and no one but me would have even known what I did. I have a new tire which I may mount and fill it with the foam to never worry again about pushing the tire off the rim while doing my thru the ditch mowing using the front tires as land leveling/grader blading tools.

 

[ironpen]

Well....they got the cruise control fixed. Mowed about 6 hours Friday and everything was really good. Plenty of power I must say. Nice smooth cut. I set it for 1 inch according to the deck instructions, but it is higher than that, but still low enough for a great looking cut. No complaints here. I've got to figure out how to bypass the seat cut-off switch...anyone tell me how to do that?

 

[jcummins]

I know I'm in the minority....but I have my mower set at 4".....don't like cut real short.

 

[4570Man]

I know I'm in the minority....but I have my mower set at 4".....don't like cut real short.

Me neither. It's rare I cut lower than 3".

 

[ironpen]

The short cut works great for the areas I cut. Much higher than that it just doesn't look groomed to me. But, that's why they make Fords and Chevrolets...to each his own! This is a great mower! I just have to figure out how to bypass the seat cutoff switch. That is a real pain in the butt.

 

[kuboman]

The short cut works great for the areas I cut. Much higher than that it just doesn't look groomed to me. But, that's why they make Fords and Chevrolets...to each his own! This is a great mower! I just have to figure out how to bypass the seat cutoff switch. That is a real pain in the butt.

Why do you want to by-pass the seat switch. How is it bothering you?

 

[ironpen]

When I get off the tractor to pick up trash, etc. I have to disengage the pto and put on the emergency brake. When mowing the soccer fields at church that was about 20 times.
Way too much trouble. I did it on my old MC35 New Holland (also a front mount mower like this one) and it makes a huge difference.





way

 

[kuboman]

Seems like a good way to cut off a toe or 2. JMHO

 

[Sigarms]

I know I'm in the minority....but I have my mower set at 4".....don't like cut real short.

Right where I'm at. During a nice hot NC summer, just seems like you want to kill the grass faster any lower IMO.

 

[ironpen]

The 1 to 1.25 inch level is where I have cut for years. The places I cut mostly have a sprinkler system...maybe that is why they tolerate the lower height? I still need to disable the seat cutoff switch!

 

[jcummins]

The 1 to 1.25 inch level is where I have cut for years. The places I cut mostly have a sprinkler system...maybe that is why they tolerate the lower height? I still need to disable the seat cutoff switch!

Under the seat is a connector. Unplug it. Build a short wire with the correct crimp connectors on it. Plug it into the wire coming from the mower, looping it back to itself to close the seat circuit.

 

[Sigarms]

When I get off the tractor to pick up trash, etc. I have to disengage the pto and put on the emergency brake. When mowing the soccer fields at church that was about 20 times.
Way too much trouble. I did it on my old MC35 New Holland (also a front mount mower like this one) and it makes a huge difference.





way

I'd be telling the church to let the people know not to be littering, it's both impolite and rude to the church.

 

[ironpen]

They do clean up for the most part....but with 200 kids 4 days a week, things tend to slip through the cracks. I found the connector and will very soon have the bypass surgery performed!

 

[HoyeTractor]

I just picked up a new 2690 based on the recommendations on this forum. I got my first hour of seat time last afternoon and I am impressed. I sold my ZD331 and was worried about losing 5hp but I could not tell any difference at all and my grass was unusually tall because of a delay getting the new mower. There was plenty of power.

I got the 72" rear discharge and it made a huge difference in mowing comfort. I have pretty bad allergies and it is always windy here on top of a big wide open hill. I would not say that I felt refreshed after mowing (still some dry weeds blowing around and getting in the eyes- there was 20mph wind yesterday) but I was certainly not covered in grass/weeds and miserable like I was with the side discharge. I thought the ride was surprisingly rough until I let a bunch of the air out of the tires and then it rode very nice! Much nicer ride than my ZD331.

Overall I'm impressed and glad I made the change.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I just picked up a new 2690 based on the recommendations on this forum. I got my first hour of seat time last afternoon and I am impressed. I sold my ZD331 and was worried about losing 5hp but I could not tell any difference at all and my grass was unusually tall because of a delay getting the new mower. There was plenty of power.

I got the 72" rear discharge and it made a huge difference in mowing comfort. I have pretty bad allergies and it is always windy here on top of a big wide open hill. I would not say that I felt refreshed after mowing (still some dry weeds blowing around and getting in the eyes- there was 20mph wind yesterday) but I was certainly not covered in grass/weeds and miserable like I was with the side discharge. I thought the ride was surprisingly rough until I let a bunch of the air out of the tires and then it rode very nice! Much nicer ride than my ZD331.

Overall I'm impressed and glad I made the change.

As you'll see, with experience, the F is a class above the Zs. The rear discharge deck also does less windrowing if cutting grass at same level of growth than a side discharge. The F will cut taller grass better than the Z and faster in open areas with less steering wheel manipulation. Rear discharge F is the tops! Been saying so for ever 10 years beginning with a F2680e and also owning two different F3080s and slipping a ZD326 and a small Kubota Z in for a couple years trial use.
You'll not be disappointed. Read the old posts and replace those front wheel pins with hardened steel bolts/pins if your yard isn't a lawn. Keep the screen clean in dry mowing season/watch temp guage. Don't cut rocks/stones, it chips the blade edges.:cool2::drink:

 

[ironpen]

Here is my follow up report. Mowed about 10 hours this week on the mower. Beautiful cut. Rear discharge is perfect. Plenty of power. I can't tell the difference between it and my New Holland MC35 which is the same front mower layout. It has 35 hp, but I didn't miss it. I climbed some rather steep hills in the one spot I have that's hilly and did not have to shift into the slower gear. I bypassed the seat switch and that was a Godsend, for getting off to move 24 soccer goals and picking up water bottles, etc. it made a huge difference. My mower is set so low to the ground, I could get my foot up under it anyway. One strange happening was that when I finished, raised the deck to drive home (about 2 blocks), and upon arrival the deck would not go back down. Got out my manual and there is a little knob under the seat that controls this. I had not touched it, but at any rate, the manual said to slowly turn it counter clockwise....I did that and everything returned to normal. This is a top flight mower in every way! I also let some air out of the tires...dealer had about 40 pounds all around and the ride softened up dramatically.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've also had the "deck lock up and not go down" happen to me a couple of times over the years. I called Barlows and talked to Gary and he told me to turn knob.:thumbsup: