Finish mower prices

[Nightrain1]

I have been shopping for an 84" - 90" rear finish mower. I was even pulling out the cash to get ordered an 84 KingKutter at TSC, when they said it only came in side discharge. Actually it is a country pride now, or some name like that, but has the same model # as the KK.
TSC tells me the rear discharge is being redesigned and would take 2 months to get one. Price was 2k, plus 100 to ship, and +tax. I balked due to the time to ship and wanting rear discharge.
Shopped landpride dealer, $3400 total for an 86" and $5300 for the 90". I balked there because of price. Is the LP worth that much extra? I have another dealer near by who sells Maschios and should? be comparable to KK's price. Don't know much about quality and will check him out next. I will be cutting about 6 or so acres in Southern Illinois, any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[smitty9266]

I know everyone always says bigger... but why. you have 6 acres if it has moderate trees a 7 footer should only take maybe two hours,most likely less. I mow 5 acres heavy tree's it takes 2 hours. Smaller mower easier to handle around obstacles. I have a King Kutter 7 foot rear discharge like it a lot...but I would not buy one just like it, I would get the two drive belt version. The land pride is a better mower built mower.

Jeff

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

My experience is that the King Kutter products are the lowest quality available.

 

[FrogLick]

I've bought a Woods RFM from my ag dealer who handles both Land Pride and Woods. In recently pricing another implement the comparable Woods was significantly less expensive. The dealer told me that they could discount the Woods products more and have it delivered in about 1 week. Might be worth comparing to the others you're considering.

 

[NewToy]

I have a LandPride and it's been a good one. Check out the spindles, deck and overall construction. They are very solid. I also looked at the KK units and they were OK but not put together like the LP. Does it justify the additional expense?, thats up to you.

John

 

[Nightrain1]

The reason I want bigger is simply due to wanting to cover the edges of high banks and ditches without dropping a tractor tire off in it and rolling over. Right now, my 6 foot rotary cutter just barely covers my tire tracks. I also have a pond to mow around and have considered sickle mowers and flail mowers. I really like the offset on some flails. I think a finish mower will leave a better looking yard then a flail though.
I have 34 acres all together and one day, who knows how much will be mowed.

 

[EddieWalker]

I bought a used Landpride 7ft finish mower from a client for $600 two years ago. I wanted one, but couldn't justify spending the money on a new one, but when he offered me the used one for that price, I couldn't refuse. I've since replaced the belt, the tires with solid ones, new blades and rebuild one of the spindles after hitting a stump. Even with a slip clutch, that stump did some damage. Now that I have the finish mower, I would highly recomend buying one to everyone. It's faster and easier to cut with then the rotary cutter. It leave a much nicer finish too. Even with sharp blades on the rotary cutter, it's still night and day. Mine is a side discharge. I've never run or even seen a rear discharge in action, so I can't really compare the two. I just don't know anything about both types. I can say that I like the side discharge and have to issues with it. I cut about once a month with it during the growing season, and here, that's from April to November, or 8 times a year. In the time the grass has to grow, it's not that tall to create any issues with the discharge. I've read some people complain about how the side discharge leaves cuttings all over the place, but the rear discharge doesn't. While I have cuttings shooting out the side, by the time I'm done, you have to look to see them. A few days later, they are all gone anyway. One of the nice things about Landpride is that they are great about parts. Kubota has an partnership with them and I can go to any Kubota dealer to order the parts. You can also go online for a parts breakdown. It's simple and easy. Prices seem reasonable, but I can't say for certain since I don't know of any other brands or their prices for parts. All I do know is they have them and they are easy to get. For me, parts and support is the most important consideration in buying an implement. If you buy from Tractor Supply, where will you get a replacement spindle if you hit a stump like I did? How easy will it be to get that part? Will you still be able to get parts for that mower five or ten years from now? Especially if Tractor Supply changes brands again? Sometimes cheaper isn't really cheaper in the long term of owning the attachment.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[scuvnut]

The reason I want bigger is simply due to wanting to cover the edges of high banks and ditches without dropping a tractor tire off in it and rolling over. Right now, my 6 foot rotary cutter just barely covers my tire tracks. I also have a pond to mow around and have considered sickle mowers and flail mowers. I really like the offset on some flails. I think a finish mower will leave a better looking yard then a flail though.
I have 34 acres all together and one day, who knows how much will be mowed.

I currently have both - a 72 inch Landpride finish mower and a 94 inch New Holland Flail. Since I purchased the flail, I have never hooked up the finish.

First, in regard to LandPride, very solid equipment. Great steel and well built for the long term. I like buying equipment that I feel if I take care of, I'll have it forever and LP fits the bill.

My flail mower has performed better than I could have imagined. One day I hack into the woods to clear more land, the next day I am mowing the grassed areas in the yard. Does a great job. I'm a big flail fan at this point. Sounds like you should think about it - there are alot of advantages.

 

[Nightrain1]

I spent hours reading 60+ pages of one thread alone, not to mention anything else I could find on flails here. I was under the impression, while it does an acceptable job, it was'nt quite as nice on a lawn as a finish mower. Guess it depends on what blades you use. I do have a 6 ft rotary cutter and it does'nt cut bad niether considering. I am trying for a better look and wanting closer to ditches, banks, and pond edges.
Any thoughts on the caroni sold on e-bay? If it was wide enough to cover both tire tracks, I would had already bought one with the hydraulics to slide the mower over to the side. When you get larger then 5 foot, new flail mowers really start jumping in prices from what I see.
To be honest, I can't justify 4-5k for something I don't have to have, just something I would really like to have.

 

[scuvnut]

yes, the type of blades do matter. For me, the flail is kind of a hybrid of all types of mowers and it does a more than acceptable job making the lawn look like a park.

Can't speak to the caroni although I know many have them. If you take your time and hunt around, you can find a great deal. I was able to get my New Holland 94 inch flail in near new condition for 2K via Craigs List. To me, well worth it.