finish mowers

AndyM · Jan 4, 2004

First Choice and King Kutter seem to be competetive on price, but as far as how nice it looks, First Choice wins hands down. The welds are cleaner and the paint job is better. I'm got a KK Middle Buster that you could cut your hand open on a couple of the welds if you weren't paying attention. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

There's just something about going to the local Tractor Supply Company and seeing the rust on all of their King Kutter implements sitting outside that turns me off. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

chim · Jan 4, 2004

( ( Kingkutter says, and I quote: "King Kutter's specially designed hitch allows one side of the mower to raise to a height of up to 16" (15.5 degrees) while the other side remains on the ground. This lets the mower follow the contour of the ground.)

This must be in newer models of KK finish mowers.
But this hitch automatically adjust the height? I didn't understand. There must be a KK knowledgable person out there who can give us more detail? )

My Landpride has two short arms attached to the deck that allow a certain amount of independent movement. I never measured the amount, but doubt very much if it is anywhere near 16". My Caroni has hard mounting points for the lift arms, allowing no such movement. That said, it is hard to imagine needing 16" of slack between the tractor and the mower. If the ground is that "lumpy" it would likely get scalped anyway................chim

RoyJackson · Jan 4, 2004

"There's just something about going to the local Tractor Supply Company and seeing the rust on all of their King Kutter implements sitting outside that turns me off."

That appears to depend upon the store. The TSC in York (Delco Plaza) is definitely scrufty compared to the TSC in Hanover.
Although both stores had the KK stuff outside, the York store had the cutters on the parking lot (the only 4' cutter was missing the PTO shaft and the manager wouldn't swap the shaft from a 5 footer setting close by). Since the 4' unit looked a bit beat up (as well as the missing PTO shaft), I offered them $100 less then the selling price they had listed. Well, they wouldn't do that.
The Hanover store had all of it's stock neatly organized inside a fenced area. I didn't see any rust on any of the units. The KK paint tends to be a bit rough from the factory, but that didn't concern me. Hanover store didn't have any 4' cutters in stock.

Didn't buy from either store since I really need a 4' cutter for my 16 PTO HP tractor. I ended up buying a 5' Land Pride from a Kubota store (they didn't have any 4' cutters either). They said this cutter worked well with the B7500 series tractor so I thought I'd give in a try. It really worked well which kind of surprised me.

PineRidge · Jan 4, 2004

Chim, KingKutter is referring to the two dogbones (swivel links) attached to the lift arm assembly to give them the 16+ inches of sway travel. I have a 6 foot deck, don't know if it will actually pivot a full 16 inches but it may.

chim · Jan 4, 2004

Pineridge, I think they are similar to what I was referring to as "arms" on my Landpride. These are adjustable (in/out) which allows the deck to be mounted at a number of distances away from the tractor. There is vertical movement in any of the positions, and I think lengthening them ("out") will increase the amount of vertical movement. Right now the deck is in Winter storage at another location, so I can't get measurements. I'd bet at the current length setting there's about 4 or 5 inches of vertical play. This is at the 3PH connection, so it would translate into something greater than that at the sides of the deck.....................chim

sweettractors · Jan 4, 2004

The fit and finish and features on most First Choice Equipment compares to Landpride and the higher end lines--The brands usually seen at TSC and Coop stores (KK--Howse--IMC--Tennessee River--etc) all fall a little short in those quality areas--However, they are functional---Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co *New and Used Equip Since 1977*

HayDR · Jan 4, 2004

O'Bryan's has the First Choice 6' finish mowers listed for $700.
Check it out. http://kioti.com

OhioTC18 · Jan 4, 2004

That, in all likelyhood is a WAC aka Caroni.

nomad · Jan 4, 2004

$700 for a 6ft finish mower? This must be very good.
I have always heard First Choice has the best prices in the market. So, go for FC.

There are some good prices also on this page;
http://www.agri-supply.com/catmain/2000019.htm

Whats the difference between estate mower and finish mower?

JimMc · Jan 4, 2004

Not a Caroni in the picture, it's a Sicma. WAC also brought in the Sicma mower, which is the mower FC private labels, as does Harp, Goforth and many others. Although, farther down on the page they have a picture of a landscape rake listed as a Midwest. The picture is definately not a Midwest rake, as the Midwest uses a channel instead of an angle to mount the tines.