Mowing Is mowing a pasture supposed to be this hard?

[corey9212]

Very nice pictures! Thanks for posting. You have a good looking farm.

Is your loader a 553 with the self-leveling feature? I don't believe I've ever seen that model before. The rear fenders on your e are shaped differently than the North American model, too. You've got some pretty wide front tires there as well. Were they an optional add-on?

It's not very often that other farmers, ranchers and tractor owner's from other parts of the world post photos on TBN. So, it's always a treat to see other places around the planet!

AKfish

Good eyes, I hadn't knowticed those fenders being a different shape.

 

[corey9212]

Thanks A lot of hard work has gone into it in the last couple of years and it's starting to come together.

The tractor is "Euro spec" so it's a bit different to what you're used to. The front load is a 533 with self levelling and they replaced the standard joystick with the fancier and more ergonomic version. The front tyres were standard. I am pretty sure that they are 320/85 R20 (12.4 R20), but I'll double check tomorrow.

Here are some more pictures

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317342"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317343"/>

One thing that I forgot to change when I ordered was the standard lift arms with the ball type attachments. They are a pain so I have ordered the telescopic versions. They should be here next week. You can see the pick up hitch which was also an option. It's the best thing ever if you're hooking up trailers or trailed implements.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=317344"/>

Sorry for hijacking your thread a bit Corey.

It is a beautiful tractor, you didn't hijack it, your pics gave me ideas on size for my tractor, the fact that they are European is a sweet bonus for us all.

 

[jenkinsph]

corey,

You might consider running a landplane grader scraper across your fields before mowing. With the blades set flush with the skids it will slide over the grass yet still cut off the mounds and help smooth everything out. Doing this should make it a lot easier to mow without hitting everything. Doesn't hurt the grass as it usually will stand back up in a couple of days. I have been doing alot of this this past month for several customers and they like the results.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

corey,

You might consider running a landplane grader scraper across your fields before mowing. With the blades set flush with the skids it will slide over the grass yet still cut off the mounds and help smooth everything out. Doing this should make it a lot easier to mow without hitting everything. Doesn't hurt the grass as it usually will stand back up in a couple of days. I have been doing alot of this this past month for several customers and they like the results.

Good idea. If the gopher mounds are hard as rock, you'll be doing yourself and your mower a favor.

 

[jenkinsph]

Kyle,
I also find you can increase your ground speed when mowing too as this eliminates most of the suprizes or bumps.

 

[corey9212]

corey,

You might consider running a landplane grader scraper across your fields before mowing. With the blades set flush with the skids it will slide over the grass yet still cut off the mounds and help smooth everything out. Doing this should make it a lot easier to mow without hitting everything. Doesn't hurt the grass as it usually will stand back up in a couple of days. I have been doing alot of this this past month for several customers and they like the results.

That's a great idea, my blades aren't adjustable but I'm sure setting it so it just hovers above flat ground will remove the bumps easily.

 

[Lou66]

I run with my FEL down and about inch or so off the ground,, course that only clears about 6 ft,, but it helps with the fire ant mounds,, my pasture is pretty level,, it is 21 ft elevation in the back and 22 ft elevation in the front.. it is about 3/4 miles long.. Lou

 

[Grateful11]

I've noticed on some other European Tractors they put wider tires on them.

Hey manufacturers listen up we want wide tires too.

 

[cheoah]

I wish my M had big metal fenders like the Euro model. I guess I need to order some extenders.

Sounds like it was a lot to ask of the Frontier mower, and with the slip clutch out of adjustment, it was fortunate that the joint went. That mower may work fine for you once you level out that rough pasture. Even a box scrape may work, and the FEL bucket idea, while not optimal could work too.

Hitting them occasionally and smoking your clutch is not a big deal, but worthy of avoiding by raising height of mower some. Matter of fact, I would try to mow the field and raise the mower over the dirt mounds, then come back and level the soil out in spots, or field-wide. I can't really visualize how many mounds and how high. Having the grass down might help you see what's going on.

I run a bushhog 306, the 6' version of the heavy duty 307 previously posted. Great machine, heavily built. Ill step up to the 307 eventually as it is a better match to our new 5085M. Also in need of a batwing but can't have it all. We put hundreds of hours on our mower each season and have ended up with the bush hog heavy duty line. That Frontier mower is lighter built, but may work fine for you with a property adjusted slip clutch and your land leveled out some, even though it is overpowered.

Hopefully you'll have better results next time through. Good Luck-

 

[corey9212]

I wish my M had big metal fenders like the Euro model. I guess I need to order some extenders.

Sounds like it was a lot to ask of the Frontier mower, and with the slip clutch out of adjustment, it was fortunate that the joint went. That mower may work fine for you once you level out that rough pasture. Even a box scrape may work, and the FEL bucket idea, while not optimal could work too.

Hitting them occasionally and smoking your clutch is not a big deal, but worthy of avoiding by raising height of mower some. Matter of fact, I would try to mow the field and raise the mower over the dirt mounds, then come back and level the soil out in spots, or field-wide. I can't really visualize how many mounds and how high. Having the grass down might help you see what's going on.

I run a bushhog 306, the 6' version of the heavy duty 307 previously posted. Great machine, heavily built. Ill step up to the 307 eventually as it is a better match to our new 5085M. Also in need of a batwing but can't have it all. We put hundreds of hours on our mower each season and have ended up with the bush hog heavy duty line. That Frontier mower is lighter built, but may work fine for you with a property adjusted slip clutch and your land leveled out some, even though it is overpowered.

Hopefully you'll have better results next time through. Good Luck-

Yeah it was a rough first cut, I do know the mower did mow down the hills as it went over it (I had the mower set for 6".) so getting those hills down did put a massive demand on the mower. With the slip clutch properly adjusted it did go a lot smoother and hopefully with the mower having mowed the hills down lower it will make the next mowing a lot easier. If I have the 1000 pto installed by the time it's time to mow again I will try my neighbours 15' batwing.