How to mow with 4115 or other JD product

[tgactu]

First, thanks to all who have posted in this forum. I've learned more from here than anywhere else.

I have about 4 acres to mow. It is mostly flat, not too many trees, with one small steep area. For a variety of reasons, I hired someone to mow for me last year. Now I can mow it myself.

What should I consider regarding:
1. Rear Finish Mower or Mid-Mount or separate machine (Ztrak)
2. Stick with JD/Frontier or shop around

Could spend up to $7 - $8k, but I'd prefer to keep it under $3k.

For the money reason, I'd prefer not to get a separate machine. However, on the 4115, I use the FEL and backhoe quite a bit. I don't look forward to removing backhoe, installing mower, removing mower, installing backhoe, over and over throughout the mowing season.

For a MMM, do I also have to remove FEL or FEL AND FEL mounting?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[hpc]

Hi,


I have a 4115 which I'm trading in on 3520.

You can run the MMM with the FEL or without the FEL - though,
all of the weight of the FEL is going to cause the fronts to leave slightly
deeper tracks. Plus, the FEL will introduce some rocking motion as
you change speeds and encounter bumps/depressions/etc. - well,
if you suddenly change speed, you could get some rocking motion due
to weight transfer.

Removing the MMM is easy. REMEMBER!!!! to turn the front wheels
as far left as possible and REMOVE the deck from the right side. The
hardest part is reaching under to connect or disconnect from the PTO.
Oh yeah, if you start mowing and no grass is getting cut - guess what
you forgot to connect?

FEL removal is about 20 minutes the first time you do it - everything
is so easy EXCEPT for that darn bracket on the front - you need
three hands and long, slender fingers. But by the third or fourth time
you've attached the loader, you can do it in 5-6 minutes.

The 4115 is a great tractor - starts first time even in sub-freezing weather;
has good torque/power. The HST with two pedals beats the one
pedal anyday.

ENJOY!

Lon

 

[TGTractor]

NOTE: Somehow I ended up with two logins on this forum. I am the same one who wrote the initial question (tgactu), now using my more up-to-date profile (TGTractor).

Thanks, hpc. I have had the 4115 for about a year and love it. What size mmm do you have? If the 60" is what you have, what do you think about moving up to the 72" mmm for the 4115?

 

[hpc]

Sorry - forgot to include size of MMM. Yep, it's the 60". I did
the Deere Tri-Cycler kit (for mulching) - and later added the Gator
blades, but you have to grind away some on the baffels for clearance.

For me the 72" was too wide to mow around some of the beds
between trees. Plus our property has alot of slopes and figured
I'd get a better cut from the 60". I'd really like to try the new 62"
drive-over deck. Looking at the underside, Deere has made some
much needed improvements in flow and reduction of blowout.

Remember to fold the ROPS down before driving into the garage!
LOL!

Cheers.

Lon

 

[TGTractor]

I hadn't heard about the 62" with the drive over deck. According to my dealer, that isn't an option for the 4115. He couldn't tell me why.

Sounds like the 60" mmm mower is one option. According to my dealer it's about the same price as the Frontier 60" rear finish mower (not the economy version, the next level up). Anybody care to give some pros and cons to each - mmm vs rfm?

Thanks again....tg

 

[RalphVa]

Wouldn't it make sense to just remove the bucket? If it's the 410 or similar, it removes with just 2 pins and then lift it off the "U" brackets. This would remove about half the weight up there, at least the major amount that would tend to sink the front tires.

Ralph

 

[trlong]

tg,

I've had my 4115 through two summers now. I've done a LOT of work with the FEL and BH, and have a Frontier rear finish mower for the grass. I don't even want to discuss the rear blade and front snow blower with the pitance of snow we've had this year /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

Any way you look at it, the BH's coming off to mow. It takes a little practice (and a LEVEL SPOT) to easily attatch or remove the BH. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. However, I have found that it is often necessary to relieve the pressure on the "power beyond" hydraulic cables to attach the BH. As for the FEL, I see no reason to leave it on if you're going to mow. Just makes mowing that much more awkward and lengthens all your turns, etc. With just a little practice and a reasonably level spot, the FEL goes on or off in less than 5 minutes....piece of cake!

My dealer steered me away from the MMM as he said they'd had problems with them (that may have changed but look for threads on those issues). My only problem, changing to the rear finish mower, comes with fighting the TPH. I leave the JD I-Match attached to the mower, all summer, with the TPH arms and all if I'm not going to be using the RB. No matter how I do it, the link arms never want to play nice /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. On the other hand, when I'm not going to be using the BH for a while, and I have the TPH on, changing from the finish mower to the RB (using the I-Match) is simple. One more word of caution, though, IF you go with a rear mower MAKE SURE IT IS I-Match compatible (and I mean REALLY compatible). I had to get a conversion kit for mine AND a longer driveline for the PTO to mower... and it was a pain in the @#$@#.

Tom

 

[trlong]

tg,

One other thing... be VERY careful on that "steep area". Mow it straight up and down and use the 4WD, if needed, until you're back on more level ground, then kick it out before you make any turns so you don't dig up the lawn.

Tom

 

[Toolguy]

I think you will get tired of removing the FEL and BH and installing the MMM every week. If you need to use the tractor quite frequently between mowings I would consider another way to mow your yard. If you are able to spend the money to get a Zero Turn mower I believe you will not be sorry. You will save yourself a lot of time and aggravation. CUTs can do a fine job as lawn mowers but they are just not as fast and convenient as a ZTR. Good luck.

 

[TGTractor]

Thanks to all for the thoughts/tips/advice....especially the part about folding the ROPS BEFORE entering the garage. I'll admit, I've almost forgotten about it a few times...