Larger finish mower

[Overtaxed]

I started out with a 6 foot rotary cutter and a Craftsman riding mower for my place. The Craftsman was slow, but comfortable with a nice finish. The rotary cutter was great for taller stuff and getting an area under control. A client had a 7 foot finish mower for sale at a great price, so I bought it and was amazed at how much nicer it cut then the rotary cutter. The extra width was nice too, but it kept getting flat tires and I had to mow more often in areas that I was trying to keep nice then compared to the rotary cutter that I just mowed a few times a year. I was spending a lot of time sharpening and replacing the blades on the finish mower. I changed out the tires to solid ones, and that really helped!!! Then I got a zero turn and haven't used the rotary cutter since then. I should probably sell it since it's been sitting for about five years now.

Unfortunately, I am going to wind up with all of the above. I have a ZTM for around my house, tractor is too big to get in there, no matter how nice the cut is. I already have and need a rotary for my trails and the "rough stuff", that a do a few times a year. And, while I could mow my fields with the ZTM, I would much rather be in the cab of my tractor with AC and no bugs, so... Finish mower it is.

I just put a deposit down on the side shift Woodmaxx unit above. Crossing my fingers that it's a good machine, I have their chipper and I've been very happy with it, so hopefully my luck holds with the Chinese machinery.

 

[EddieWalker]

I understand completely. My next mower is going to be a 15 foot batwing. Of course, I need to get a bigger tractor to pull it before I can get the batwing!!!

 

[Overtaxed]

If I could justify the cost, I certainly could see myself having one. Those big batwings are ridiculous; yes, I'm sure they last a lifetime, and amortized that long and the time saved, they are clearly worth it. But man, they cost more than my first car, and I'm not that old! It's just some steel, a few hydro rams, some gearboxes and some shafts for Pete's sake! I don't see how they can charge so much more than 3X the cost of a rotary for a batwing, but, holy moley, do they!

 

[Msamt]

I love my kioti RFM, 72" made by Caroni I think. Makes the 5acres I mow look reL nice.

 

[TractorGuy]

I just put a deposit down on the side shift Woodmaxx unit above. Crossing my fingers that it's a good machine, I have their chipper and I've been very happy with it, so hopefully my luck holds with the Chinese machinery.

Did you get this mower? What do you think of it?

 

[leonz]

If its not too late for you you can order a tractor tools direct mower that is a Maschio flail mower or
have you considered a larger width of cut side shift flail mower for your mowing at all???
The folks at Iowa Farm equipment offer and have in stock very reputable Italian made
flail mowers from the Berti, Mascio and Peruzzo companies.

A boom mounted ditch/orchard/vineyard flail mower can mow directly in back of a mule or off
to the side if needed.

If you really want a bat wing a Peruzzo folding flail mower is an option as well

 

[RjCorazza]

If its not too late for you you can order a tractor tools direct mower that is a Maschio flail mower or
have you considered a larger width of cut side shift flail mower for your mowing at all???
The folks at Iowa Farm equipment offer and have in stock very reputable Italian made
flail mowers from the Berti, Mascio and Peruzzo companies.


A boom mounted ditch/orchard/vineyard flail mower can mow directly in back of a mule or off
to the side if needed.

If you really want a bat wing a Peruzzo folding flail mower is an option as well

The Peruzzo offset verge mower is on my short list. I have a stream bank that I cut by backing up a 7' rotary finish mower. Very time consuming, and not really the best choice for the job - but better than a weed wacker! Currently I am debating an old school sickle mower or the offset flail. Since the sickle mower doesn't seem much cheaper (which surprised me) I will likely bite the bullet for the peruzzo flail mower. I REALLY wish I could find one used, but this type of mower in general doesn't seem to be very popular in the US. I get the idea you can't throw a rock without hitting one in Europe.