Finish Mower options

[stickman61]

I'm considering a 7' finish mower and could use some help. I have zero experience with them and would like to know your opinions on them. Which ones have better shafts and bearings, casters and do I want solid tires or tubes?
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought an LS 84” RFM about 3 years ago and have had good service from it.

 

[RjCorazza]

I have a Befco 84” rfm that I have used for many years. For the first 10 or so I had air tires, but got tired of flats, and constantly filling them up. Replaced them with solid tire a few years ago.

 

[Oldtink]

IMO, Woods is top of the line as far as long lasting quality and design. Of course that comes at a price.
I'd check out what parts manuals are available on line for popular brands such as Befco, Rhino, LandPride etc. and decide.
Look at the Woods then compare it to the others, would be my suggestion.
My 7' LandPride gives a much cleaner cut and follows contours much better than my 6' belly mower ever did.

 

[4570Man]

My Howse mower is the heaviest built finish mower I’ve ever seen. And it does a really good job. The blade tip speed is smoking fast on that mower. I think they claim 27,000 FPM. I’ve got inflatable tires on both my finish mowers and they’re constantly going flat. You definitely want solid tires.

 

[RjCorazza]

IMO, Woods is top of the line as far as long lasting quality and design. Of course that comes at a price.
I'd check out what parts manuals are available on line for popular brands such as Befco, Rhino, LandPride etc. and decide.
Look at the Woods then compare it to the others, would be my suggestion.
My 7' LandPride gives a much cleaner cut and follows contours much better than my 6' belly mower ever did.
View attachment 562585

What’s up with your front R4’s ???

 

[GrumpyJoe]

I would concur with Oldtink about Woods. I have a PRD 7200 and it works great. I did look at others and wasn't that crazy about metal thickness and the contour of the box. Some were just too squared off in the front. I'd buy another one.

 

[ns_in_tex]

We are on our 3rd finish mower. First was Woods, 2nd was Bush Hog. Bought it 16 years ago and has been very reliable. First Choice GM35-84, which I think was built by Sicma, in Italy. We read that Sicma makes many brands of finish mowers and may be the largest manufacturer of finish mowers. We have been very happy with it. We are on our 5th set of blades and 2nd set of solid tires.

 

[majorwager]

Stickman.
I have the large befco C-70, 9ft-2inch cut. Made in Rocky Mount, NC, ( home state loyalty) super mower, Also Tire Ject, will seal any off road air tire application. Solid tires cause the mower frame to absord all terrain shock. Befco also offer swinging blades, similar to a rotary, so they can be used in thicker vegetation w/o comprimising the cut result. They are a lifetime mower if maintained.

Woods is also good quality, 90 inch is better than 84 inch. Avoid mowers w/ non-greasable spindles.

I also have a Walco-Douglas mower, 90 inch on another tractor. This is the 19th season for the Walco, original spindles, second set drive belts.

The Walco is Canadian, favorable exchange rate. I have run the Walco on my little ford, 22pto hp, so no reason to go small, get the mowing done w/ a wider cut.

Befco needs to be viewed as long term investment. Owned a Woods but sold it when Walco was purchased. As things turned out, Walco has become long-term investment as well, but the Befco is a true beast.