Mowing Kubota Mower for BX or B: belly or rear grooming mower?

[BeezFun]

I'd take my ZTR over my B for any kind of mowing except rough brush hogging. The ZTR cut is much better, it mows about twice the speed of my B, maneuverability is far better, easier to see what you're cutting because mower is out front, easy to cut under low hanging branches, leaps tall buildings with a single bound. Downside is you've got another engine to maintain, but you only use it in the summer so it's not so bad.

 

[michahicks]

ZTR doesn't work worth a darn as a base for a FEL though....

 

[TripleR]

We own MMM and RFM, for the BX or B, my choice is MMM. As to durability, the blades are not keyed and will slip if you hit an immovable object, I hit a boat anchor and only had to replace the blade. The RFM may well be more durable, but I've cut some might tough stuff in addition to hitting T posts, rebar, rocks, stumps etc...

 

[Gary Fowler]

There is always some trade off when attempting to get a multi-purpose machine. You cant beat a lawnmower for cutting lawn grass, nor a tractor mounted bushhog for rough stuff like tree saplings and head high weeds and grass. Buying a tractor with either RFM or MMM to cut grass is going to be a little trade off from a dedicated grass cutter like a ZTR. You as owner and operator have to decide if you can live with the small difference in quality of cut between the two and if the versatility of a tractor with FEL is worth the sacrifice. Personally, I use a Ferris ZTR mower to mow lawn with and the tractor for dirt work, pasture mowing etc. The Ferris is much smoother riding and travels faster than a BX or B tractor and is much more maneuverable. I think it would take me all day with a tractor to cut my 6 acres of lawn due to all the obstacles I have to mow around where it takes about 1.5-2 hours with the ZTR. With the coil spring and shock suspension on the mower, it is way, way smoother than any of my tractors.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I run a 48" mmm on my BX1500, I'm happy with the cut, would have liked to try a 54" just for kicks, but the setup is very nimble around the yard and effective out back. I run a 42" LP rough cut on the 3pt for the unruly stuff to initially knock it down. The 3pt mount deck is nice to back up and under trees etc. to get to stuff the mmm can't.