TripleR
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 18,084
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M8540HDC, L5740HSTC, BX2200, BX2660, John Deere 425&1025R, Case, Massey Ferguson, Ford
I have been doing the same for about 35 years and I haven't torn a mower up yet. Now that I have the L5030HTC it is even better, can really ease that mower into a lot of heavy growth. No way will I use my tractor to run over things to protect the mower. Mower parts are a lot cheaper than tractor parts. I have a cousin that is in the equipment repair business and I see a lot of examples of how using the tractor to "size" things for the mower that don't turn out too good for the tractor. Only way I would run over it first is using tractors like a friend has for mowing right of ways. He has full skid plates and cages on his tractors and even then he sometimes has issues because things get up in the engine compartment.
I use a M8540 HDC with a Woods DS1260 pull type cutter and a L5030 HSTC with a Land Pride RCR2672. I put a hydraulic top link on the 5030 and often use it to lift the back up the cutter up to angle in to the really heavy stuff then lower it. It is also really handy mowing levies and backing into and over ditches.
I do sometimes drive through the heavy stuff tractor first and have the torn boots to prove it and a couple other things. By going "nose first", I have been able to get out of some washouts with my FEL.