My Hoe
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2010
- Messages
- 560
- Location
- NYS--Various Parts
- Tractor
- Kubota B3000HSDCC, BH77, 5' Belly Mower, 6' Hyd. Angle Plow
Is the "5hp. per Mower-foot" Rule Inviolate? Want a 6' MMM on a B2630 vs. B3030
Hi all,
I have read that one should have 5hp. for every foot of mower-span--but I'm not sure if this applies just to THP mowers, or to MMM, as well?
I am a fan of the "old" (discontinued in, I believe, 2012) "Premium B" series, comprised of the B2630 and the B3030 (and it's cabbed variants).
I prefer the B2630 because I tested one, and it's 3-cylinder engine was even smoother than the BX25's 3-cylinder I tested. (IIRC, the B2630 I tested--at 67 hours--went into service about 2007, and the BX25 was newer, but not the 2014 BX25"D", with all of it's improvements, like Kubota's proprietary "QA", etc...) I tested these tractors in 2010, IIRC.
I am leaning toward the B2630, but have never tested a B3030. However, I've read that some B3030's might suffer from the four-cylinder vibration problems reported in some of the B3000 and B3200-series machines (no offense to those owners, and I understand that reports vary, and that there are many of these B3000, B3200 and especially, B3030 owners, that have NO vibration complaints).
I just do not like excessive vibration. It's a personal quirk/failing/idiosyncracy and I've accepted it, so I hope you all can, too.
I also like the B2630 for it's smaller displacement (68.5 cu. in. vs. 98.5) as most of my usage will be FEL, BH and forks. However, I will have to mow the portion of our 1.8+ acres that are not covered by our 36' x 38' barn, four-car garage, house and outbuildings. Most of it is quite flat, but there are trees, the aforementioned buildings, and 2-3 additional outbuildings, which is why I prefer the MMM, despite the mounting hassles. IOW, I feel I'll hit less buildings, with a MMM setup, than I would with a TPH model. Plus, my neck doesn't turn around backwards as far as the rest of the humans.... :laughing:
However, I believe I want the 6' MMM, instead of the 5' MMM, for quicker mowing time, and possibly being able to get in closer to obstacles, with the wider mower.
I have seen B3030's with 5' MMM's, and B2630's with 6' MMM's--and vice versa.
My Questions:
1. Is the B2630's 19.5 PTO hp. enough for a 6' MMM, given that I want to mow infrequently, at the 12"-14" stage?
2. Should I go with a B3030, given it's 23 PTO hp. if I want a 6' MMM?
Please keep in mind, before you answer, that I am not "precious" about my "yard/lawn" and, given that I will have to remove the FEL and BH to mow, I don't want to mow every week--I'd be happy not mowing for 2-3 weeks, until it gets tall enough to worry about the Town's Code Enforcement Unit--I just have too much to do in my life to manicure my lawn for others to look at. And I don't see it--it's just green. When it gets too tall, so that it wets my shoes with dew, or risks getting ticks on my dawg, then it's time to mow.
So...is the B2630's 19.5 hp enough for a "high grass mowing" (think 12-14" or more) or do I need the B3030's 23 PTO hp. for this duty, to run a 6' MMM?
And I do realize that, at 23 PTO hp., even the B3030 does not match the "5 hp. per foot" rule, as it would have to have 30 PTO hp. to do this--and it does not.
Also, does a MMM require MORE, or LESS, hp. per foot, than a TPH-mounted mower, all other things being equal? Or doesn't it matter?
And please--don't spare my feelings--if I've overlooked something in this calculus, please "fire away"--I'm here to learn, not make myself feel good.
Thanks, very much, in advance.
My Hoe
Hi all,
I have read that one should have 5hp. for every foot of mower-span--but I'm not sure if this applies just to THP mowers, or to MMM, as well?
I am a fan of the "old" (discontinued in, I believe, 2012) "Premium B" series, comprised of the B2630 and the B3030 (and it's cabbed variants).
I prefer the B2630 because I tested one, and it's 3-cylinder engine was even smoother than the BX25's 3-cylinder I tested. (IIRC, the B2630 I tested--at 67 hours--went into service about 2007, and the BX25 was newer, but not the 2014 BX25"D", with all of it's improvements, like Kubota's proprietary "QA", etc...) I tested these tractors in 2010, IIRC.
I am leaning toward the B2630, but have never tested a B3030. However, I've read that some B3030's might suffer from the four-cylinder vibration problems reported in some of the B3000 and B3200-series machines (no offense to those owners, and I understand that reports vary, and that there are many of these B3000, B3200 and especially, B3030 owners, that have NO vibration complaints).
I just do not like excessive vibration. It's a personal quirk/failing/idiosyncracy and I've accepted it, so I hope you all can, too.
I also like the B2630 for it's smaller displacement (68.5 cu. in. vs. 98.5) as most of my usage will be FEL, BH and forks. However, I will have to mow the portion of our 1.8+ acres that are not covered by our 36' x 38' barn, four-car garage, house and outbuildings. Most of it is quite flat, but there are trees, the aforementioned buildings, and 2-3 additional outbuildings, which is why I prefer the MMM, despite the mounting hassles. IOW, I feel I'll hit less buildings, with a MMM setup, than I would with a TPH model. Plus, my neck doesn't turn around backwards as far as the rest of the humans.... :laughing:
However, I believe I want the 6' MMM, instead of the 5' MMM, for quicker mowing time, and possibly being able to get in closer to obstacles, with the wider mower.
I have seen B3030's with 5' MMM's, and B2630's with 6' MMM's--and vice versa.
My Questions:
1. Is the B2630's 19.5 PTO hp. enough for a 6' MMM, given that I want to mow infrequently, at the 12"-14" stage?
2. Should I go with a B3030, given it's 23 PTO hp. if I want a 6' MMM?
Please keep in mind, before you answer, that I am not "precious" about my "yard/lawn" and, given that I will have to remove the FEL and BH to mow, I don't want to mow every week--I'd be happy not mowing for 2-3 weeks, until it gets tall enough to worry about the Town's Code Enforcement Unit--I just have too much to do in my life to manicure my lawn for others to look at. And I don't see it--it's just green. When it gets too tall, so that it wets my shoes with dew, or risks getting ticks on my dawg, then it's time to mow.
So...is the B2630's 19.5 hp enough for a "high grass mowing" (think 12-14" or more) or do I need the B3030's 23 PTO hp. for this duty, to run a 6' MMM?
And I do realize that, at 23 PTO hp., even the B3030 does not match the "5 hp. per foot" rule, as it would have to have 30 PTO hp. to do this--and it does not.
Also, does a MMM require MORE, or LESS, hp. per foot, than a TPH-mounted mower, all other things being equal? Or doesn't it matter?
And please--don't spare my feelings--if I've overlooked something in this calculus, please "fire away"--I'm here to learn, not make myself feel good.
Thanks, very much, in advance.
My Hoe
