Kubota 7800 or 2910 plus mower question

[Blee]

I drove a 7800 last Saturday and fell in love. FEL, 5' Bush Hog, 60"mmm, Toothbar, grading blade @ 19,600. Good price?

I am getting conflicting advice on MMM vs. 5' Finsher. I have a dozen trees to mow around and one small hill on a non-drivable incline -- but might be reached with a rear-mount.

Please help this very excited, yet anxious 1st-time buyer.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am getting conflicting advice on MMM vs. 5' Finsher )</font>

And you always will because it's mostly a matter of personal preference. I prefer the rear (3-point) mower because (1) it's cheaper, (2) it's easier to hook up and/or remove, (3) it's not brand specific; i.e., if you ever want to sell it or you want to change tractors, it'll work on other models, (4) easier for me to raise it with the 3-point to clean the bottom side and/or remove blades (blocked up of course, not just held up with the tractor hydraulics), and (5) I could back it into places the mid-mount mower wouldn't go; e.g., under bushes, up slopes, etc.

But others prefer the mid-mount mower because (1) they can look down beside their feet to see where it is instead of having to look behind them, (2) overall length of the tractor and mower is less providing a little better maneuverability, (3) it doesn't swing out in the opposite direction when they turn, and maybe some of those who prefer the mid-mount can give you some other reason for their preference.

So buy the one you like and can afford. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[art]

In some areas I've seen it is wet enough that a rear mount will not have enough suction to pick up the grass to cut it well after the extra axle went over it. We had people in our area this past year that had to remove the loader to keep from leaving wheel tracks from the front wheels. Three points were worse even with the loader removed due to the fact they were running over it twice. Many stated they had never had the problem before as it was an exceptionally wet year.

 

[riptides]

Well I bought the 7800 with the intention of getting a mid-mount mower. Never happened. Borrowed a rear a few times and added that to my wish list. Why? I did a lot of work around the woods, and moved and graded stuff. The MMM would have had to come off doing that work. And I got into the habit of NOT wanting to change things out too often.
So to me, the MMM just does not fit into my plans anymore. The combo of the 7800 and an RFM are sweet.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[heehaw]

i want a MMM because i had neck surgery a couple years ago, and looking back is really uncomfortable, plus, i can always go to a rear finish mower, but a couple years from now, would probably find it hard to go to a MMM...i doubt anyone supports older models with a MMM. plus i have seen how fast a compact tractor sells around here, when it has a MMM on it.
heehaw

 

[KubotaSteve]

I have a 7800 with the 60" MMM. The cut is better than the rear finish mowers I have used. It is stored inside with the tractor. If it was under the tractor I wouldn't be able to store it inside unless I would stand it up like I do for winter storage. One of the old problems were MMM removal. On my old 7200 it would take about an hour to remove it using wrenches and sockets, carter keys, etc. On the 7800 I can have the deck off in around 5 or 10 minutes and no tools are needed. It shortens your machine up considerably also. I take the FEL off when I mow and I can get very close to trees, house and other obstacles and I only have the 60" deck. With the 72" deck you could get a little closer.

 

[kenta]

Dear HeeHaw. I have a B-2910 with a rear woods finish mower and I really agree with you about the turning of the head. I too have back and neck problems and the idea of anything that requires turning head is out. I have 2 outside mirrors that I added to my Curtis soft cab and I added the inside wide angle mirror so I can see what is going on. I graded my staymat road in Vermont 5 weeks ago and wished I had listened to my helper who said, "are you sure"? One hour later turning in my seat and watching the work messed me up seriously for 5 weeks. Bruised a disc or something like that. So from here on it is from mount. That's why I bought the B-2910, because it had the mid-mount PTO. Also I liked the seat and that's what made the sale. 62 years old and still at it. Hope to be doing it a long time. Kubota makes a good tractor. Good luck, Kenta

 

[Blee]

These are great comments. Anything on the price?

 

[ronjhall]

I have a B2910 with 72" MMM. It is a great setup for mowing fast. Saves the neck and back. If you get the folding ROP's it can be folded to clear tree limbs. I find with this size tractor that is the limiting factor for using it to mow lawn around trees.
Price is almost list. Does it include tax?
Have you check price on this site? B Series price check.

 

[Henro]

The others pretty much summed it up...but I will add my experience anyway.

First, buy the widest finish mower you can live with. Getting between things that you have to go between tells you what you can live with. The wider mower lets you more easily cut close to things. I think this is even MORE IMPORTANT if you end up with a RFM. Also with a MMM, wider mower = smaller uncut circle radius when turning.

I had a 5' RFM with my B2910 and that was probably the main reason I now have a BX2200 with MMM, and no longer have the RFM. It was too hard to cut around things like my pond edge, where the mower kept wanting to move away from the edge as I followed the edge around. And with only a few inches sticking out beyond the rear tires, cutting close to a fence was a chore too.

I think things would have been a bit better with a 72" RFM, but still like a MMM better myself. As far as quality of cut goes, I was very satisfied with my wood RD6000 (pretty sure that was the model number).

With wide open spaces both a MMM and RFM are equally effective I believe. The RFM makes the tractor a lot longer, which can be an issue if you are turning a lot.