Back in December, my wife and I bought a place with 6 acres, about 2 of which are in grass with lots of trees interspersed. Gravel driveway measures out at about 950'. I bought a SWEET 8N to handle snow plowing and thought I would add a finish mower this spring to cut the grass. My dilema now is that I am not sure whether the tractor/finish mower is going to be nimble enough to get around the trees (obviously would need to do a little trim with pushmower & weedwhacker anyway...). Any thoughts? Cost is an issue with even good used riders/ztrs being way more than a finish mower. If I go with a finish mower which brand? Local dealers here have Woods, King Kutter and Land Pride. Five foot or six foot for the 8n?? Looking forward to responses.
Finish mower?
- Thread starter OB1
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steveinmo
Silver Member
OB1,
Without seeing the property it's hard to know what "grass with lots of trees interspersed" really means. If there truly are LOTS of trees, I don't think you'll be happy cutting 2 acres of it with an 8N / finish mower. There would just be too much forward/backward/stopping/shifting and without power steering. If you had a newer tractor with HST it could be a different answer.
If you do decide to go the finish mower route, I'd go with a 5 footer. The 8N MIGHT handle a 6' but with the trees you'll be able to manuver easier with the smaller mower.
For only 2 acres, I'd probably recommend a good new or used lawn tractor with an automatic/HST transmission. I think you'd me much happier.
Steve
Without seeing the property it's hard to know what "grass with lots of trees interspersed" really means. If there truly are LOTS of trees, I don't think you'll be happy cutting 2 acres of it with an 8N / finish mower. There would just be too much forward/backward/stopping/shifting and without power steering. If you had a newer tractor with HST it could be a different answer.
If you do decide to go the finish mower route, I'd go with a 5 footer. The 8N MIGHT handle a 6' but with the trees you'll be able to manuver easier with the smaller mower.
For only 2 acres, I'd probably recommend a good new or used lawn tractor with an automatic/HST transmission. I think you'd me much happier.
Steve
sweettractors
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6 ft finish mower, if you mow weekly and 5 ft if you mow every 2 weeks--Ken Sweet
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Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 5 ft First Choice Finish Mowers $1295 + Shipping*
Email sweet@scrtc.com
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 5 ft First Choice Finish Mowers $1295 + Shipping*
Soundguy
Old Timer
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- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
A good 8n will handle a 6' finish mower.. but if you are wanting to stay nimble.. I'd go 5' Also.. see if you can find a belly rig. Woods used to make one for the 8n.. lots of them still in existance.
I wouldn't worry about the power steering issue. Those tractors steer easy, if you have the stock 4.x or 5/6.x tires on them. if you have car tires.. they steer a bit funky. Also.. you won't have weight on the front axle.. like a loader... that's where the steering gets real funky.
what year is the 8n... is the steering nice and tight?
Here's a pic of an 8n that a collector/parts supplier owns. He changed the front hubs to 1936 car hubs in order to use wide tires, but the mower rig is what I wanted you to see... the 8n accomodates it fine.
Soundguy
I wouldn't worry about the power steering issue. Those tractors steer easy, if you have the stock 4.x or 5/6.x tires on them. if you have car tires.. they steer a bit funky. Also.. you won't have weight on the front axle.. like a loader... that's where the steering gets real funky.
what year is the 8n... is the steering nice and tight?
Here's a pic of an 8n that a collector/parts supplier owns. He changed the front hubs to 1936 car hubs in order to use wide tires, but the mower rig is what I wanted you to see... the 8n accomodates it fine.
Soundguy
My 8n is a '49 year model. Came all fixed up: complete engine overhaul, new clutch, new paint. sheet metal is perfect. I have not had any problem with steering whatsover, it is tight. (was going to send a pic of it but the photo file size is too big). The tractor is not truly "restored" but is in excellent condition.
A local dealer quoted me a price on a new Woods belly mower of something over $3000, and for that I would go out and pick up a good used rider with a bigger deck and be done wondering about a good choice in finish mowers. The belly mower would be great but I have not been able to locate a good used one (besides, I hear they are a bit of a bugger to install/remove) and price is my biggest concern.
The tractor came with a 6 foot snow blade that seems to line up with the rear tires, so I was thinking a 6' finish mower would do the same. Then I began hearing that the 8n will not handle a 6 footer, etc. and that a 5' would manuever better... sounds like a five footer is the way to go.
So, of the brands (Woods, King Kutter, Land Pride) available to me locally, what are the recommendations given that price -- i.e. lack of cash -- is an issue?
A local dealer quoted me a price on a new Woods belly mower of something over $3000, and for that I would go out and pick up a good used rider with a bigger deck and be done wondering about a good choice in finish mowers. The belly mower would be great but I have not been able to locate a good used one (besides, I hear they are a bit of a bugger to install/remove) and price is my biggest concern.
The tractor came with a 6 foot snow blade that seems to line up with the rear tires, so I was thinking a 6' finish mower would do the same. Then I began hearing that the 8n will not handle a 6 footer, etc. and that a 5' would manuever better... sounds like a five footer is the way to go.
So, of the brands (Woods, King Kutter, Land Pride) available to me locally, what are the recommendations given that price -- i.e. lack of cash -- is an issue?
RalphVa
Super Member
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That's a neat picture of an 8N with MMM. That would be better than a rear finish mower sticking out the back.
You might also consider a flail mower. Agri-Supply has a couple different models on their web site. They don't stick out the back so far as a rear finish/brush hog type mower.
Ralph
You might also consider a flail mower. Agri-Supply has a couple different models on their web site. They don't stick out the back so far as a rear finish/brush hog type mower.
Ralph
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
i had a 2n , and used a 5' KK RFM and that worked fine. did have a few trees that i could not cozy up to, but would just take GT and get in close with that
Donnyj
Platinum Member
That is a great looking tractor and mower. How does the mower work? Off the rear pto? Or is there a mid mount pto? I really like that setup. Great picture.
Soundguy
Old Timer
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- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
I believe that one works from the rear pto via special drive shaft arangement.. though i have seen mid mount mowers that use a belt pulley arangement like a IH cub.
Soundguy
Soundguy
loaderbob
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OB1,
I have a 1952 8N I restored. If you have alot of trees I would consider a 5 ft king cutter 3pt. They are cheap and unless you are doing commerical work or really care about how great the paint looks, they will get the job done.
Best of luck,
Bob
I have a 1952 8N I restored. If you have alot of trees I would consider a 5 ft king cutter 3pt. They are cheap and unless you are doing commerical work or really care about how great the paint looks, they will get the job done.
Best of luck,
Bob
