how well does a BX2200 mow?

[JeffreyG]

Thanks for all the info!

Here's a similar but different question. Any of you mow rough stuff with rocks, like a pasture? Specs say the deck raises 5". That should be enough, but the terrain is uneven. I don't want to hit the rocks and break anything.

Currently I use my old, old 42" Montgomery Ward. Costs $200, and I'm trying to kill it. So I've been mowing the pasture. Deck only raises 2". Takes me about 7 hours to mow the pasture. I hit plenty of rocks. Sometimes the mower stops, and I just back it up and restart it. Once a rock had it jammed good, but I was able to knock it out with a hammer and a piece of wood.

Sure, buy a brush hog you will say. But heck, if my current mower can get the job done, then hopefully the BX will. I just wouldn't want the BX to hit rocks. I'm talking about rocks that maybe stick up 2.5 inches that I didn't see to clear, and my old mower hits them. 5'' high deck should clear, unless the uneven ground puts the 2.5 inch rock up 5.5", then I'd be in trouble. The ground is mostly flat, but you know how those "waves" and "rises" of uneven ground can sneak up on you without you really being able to see them.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Sometimes the mower stops, and I just back it up and restart it. </font>

If it were me I would dig those big ones out, or use something to break off the high points.

If there were a lot of them, and I did not intend to make the pasture into a lawn, I would save the $2,000 MMM and buy a cheap brush hog. Why damage an expensive mower doing something it is not designed to do?

My guess is that if you are able to get the pasture cut with the little lawn tractor at 2", the bx will not hit much when the deck is all the way up. Try it and find out.

But if the bx does start hitting those rocks, it would be penny wise and pound foolish to keep beating it up when it costs so much more than a cheap rotary cutter that is designed to take a beating like that.

That is the way I see it anyway... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JeffreyG]

Just for the heck of it, here's a pic of the pasture that I want to keep mowed. Not to make it a lawn, but rather to keep it in good shape so the weeds don't outnumber the grass.

 

[WVBill]

I agree with Henro. I wouldn't take a brand new BX MMM in there until I could run my old $200 mower through it without hitting rocks big enough to jam the blades. Heck I wouldn't take my old mower through there after I hit rocks that jammed the blades twice. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[upgw]

There are actually two more 'setting' above the 4" maximum on the knob. I mow the pasture in 'top' position (transport position I think) and the really rough stuff with the deck all the way raised and the knob under the seat closed (so it doesn't lower back down as fluid in the lift bleeds out).

- Patrick

 

[Henro]

I may be wrong, but I think I remember the manual warning against running the mower when it is fully raised.

Myself, I don't run it if it is above the settings indicated on the height adjustment knob.

That does not mean I am doing it right...I did not realize that "top" was a setting that was usable for cutting! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[F350Lawman]

That pasture is screaming BRUSHHOG!. It looks like my horse pastures. I use to cut them with my lawn tractor, it beat up the tratcor, took forever and looked only OK. Now with the tractor and brushhog it takes 1/3 the time and looks great.

You can probably get a used brushhog for $250 or so.

 

[JeffreyG]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That pasture is screaming BRUSHHOG!. It looks like my horse pastures. I use to cut them with my lawn tractor, it beat up the tratcor, took forever and looked only OK. Now with the tractor and brushhog it takes 1/3 the time and looks great.

You can probably get a used brushhog for $250 or so. )</font>

Yes, but you have a John Deere! Looks like I might be getting a JD, too. A garden tractor, however.

Man, I've been dreaming of a JD 790 or 2210, or a Kubota BX1500 or 2200.

But the reality is that I can get a really good deal on a new John Deere GT235E with a 54" deck and 48" front blade. And that's the route I may be going. Just a matter of $$$. The compact with a loader (and a brush hog, per suggestions) will have to wait.

That pasture is going to have to keep getting mowed by a garden tractor. But I'll be darn careful not to hit rocks with a new one! The difference is that the old one's deck wouldn't raise up at all, and it was already beat when I bought a couple years ago. I've gotten my $200 out of it. Steering rod keeps coming undone. Needs a bearing in the mower. Deck doesn't raise. Tires go flat (I keep hand pumping them up). Burns oil at start-up (I keep adding oil). RPMs don't hold steady, nor very high to begin with (even after new plugs and air filter). Front wheel bushings are shot. Front axle is worn through (3 sided frame is now just 2 sided. The best thing I can say about it is that it still keeps running, and the mower belt has never broke!

 

[F350Lawman]

My mower a Murray was not very much $$, I bought it the first week I moved here along with a zillion other things so it was all I could get. It has taken tons of abuse but for the past 3 years it starts in mid Januray after witting in a cold shed from October. Has never failed but it looks like it's gone a few rounds with the champ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think the real downside were the small wheels that come on standard lawn tractors. If you get the better units the start to have the larger front and rear wheels so you don't need to wear a kidney belt when riding. I darn near bit my tongue off on some big bumps! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It was also fun to find those missing horse shooes my horses had hidden /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif NOT a good sound.

 

[NIXON]

Jeff ,gotta go with Henro and Lawman . Your pasture needs a HOG . But then all that's a moot point as You've bought a JD 235 ( pricing forum ) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
So now you need to make a choice ..... Clear the rocks out .or beat up yor new machine . (Sweat's relatively cheap)
Personally I'd opt for the first choice as this seems to be cost driven /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif You might want to consider ridding the pasture of the worst of the rocks , then adding some fairly rock free dirt ,and then seeding . You can most likely rent a small skid steer with a rock hound (rock rake )for a lot less than you'll spend on blades and deck repairs .
Not cheap, but less expensive than tearing up that new machine . Remember , the better you treat that machine,the more it'll be worth in the long run . (trade in time )
All the best , John