Mowing Let's talk fiinsh mower.

[KennyV]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Bartley:
I now have a Land Pride 84” rear discharge, grooming mower, on the back of my L4200. All I can say is WOW… What a machine /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. KennyV.

 

[jackl]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

I have Kubota B7510 with a 60" Bush hog side discharge finish mower and my lawn looks better when I mow with it than with my Cub Cadet and its mid mount 42" mower. The Bush Hog is easy to grease, attach/detach and modify the cutting height by adjusting the spacers on the 4 caster spindles. In fact, the height can be changed in 2 minutes with no tools. I use it on my 1.5 acres of lawn, around my fruit orchard and in the fields which I mow less frequently. I think its a fantastic piece of equipment.

 

[gduff]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

You might want to check the outside width of your rear tires. The book gives the minimum tread width. Depending on the type of tires and where you have them set you can calculate your outside tire width. For example my L3830hst has r4's and the tires are set at the middle position. The centerline tread width is 54.3 plus the width of the tire is 17.5" making the outside width 71.8". (See page 62 in your manual.) This would explain why it is hard to get close to anything with a 6' rotary cutter.
I have a woods RD7200 3ph finish mower, which works well for me. I like the rear discharge, which spreads the clippings more evenly over the width of the cut. It has 4 gauge wheels, chains, and the anti-scalp roller. (I think the roller was optional, but the dealer recommended it if the area being mowed isn't entirely level.) If you don't have many obstacles to mow around you might want to check out a wider unit. Sometimes I wish I went with the 84" unit, but I am happy with it overall.

 

[TonyV]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Yeah, Kenny.....I have a Land Pride FDR16 Series 72" rear mount finish mower. I've only used it once....in the rain...and the L3400/mower combo didn't care. It did a great job, rain and all, but of course we're talkin' brand spankin' new sharp blades. Normally I wouldn't cut the grass when it was wet, but hey, they just delivered the tractor and a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do. Overall the cut was way better than my 42" side discharge on the garden tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

...Tony

 

[philc]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Bartley, I have an L3830, too, with an 84" Befco finish mower. Use it to take care of about 14 acres in total, 11.5 pasture/swale and 2.5 lawn (with the help of a garden tractor, push mower and string trimmer...). Does an excellent job, but being in Florida, the land is pretty much flat.

 

[frank_f15]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

I use a Befco 60" RFM for keeping my fields cut and find it to be an extremly well built unit. Very easy to work on wheres as my old unit was PIA just to adjust the belts.

 

[Bartley]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Wow, I just check the price of a 7 footer, to a 6 footer. That extra foot cost almost $1000. Now that makes a person think about how much the foot is worth.

Bartley

 

[ncengr]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

I have used a 5' Sitrex behind my B2710 for about 3 years and it has a great cut. This is an Italian made mower (very similar to Caroni), is generally priced lower than some of the others, parts are available (Agri-Supply carries virtually all parts), and does a good job. Other brands are probably very good also. I am sold on RFM and would not go back to a MMM.

 

[Scrounger]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Have you looked at the Midwest finish mowers? I was admiring one that a neighbor purchased and if I needed a big one it is one I'd be going to. www.midwestequipment.net Check them out.

 

[jcmseven]

Re: Let\'s talk fiinsh mower.

Bartley,

I echo the thoughts about the Woods and Befco brands. I find them to be the top of the heap in RFM's. That said, a lot of companies make really nice mowers and the prices are highly variable. The single MOST important thing to quality of cut with a RFM is the blade speed. Because these mowers operate behind the tractor, the tractor wheels run over the grass before cutting. To give a nice cut the mower must be able to suction up the grass and cut it. Most higher quality RFM's have between a 14,000 and 18,000 fpm blade speed. The higher this number is, the better. Most manufacturers know this, and thus, list it in the specs. I have had both the high end and lower end of this range: a Woods RFM with a 16,750 fpm speed and a Befco with a 14,200 fpm speed. By far, the Woods mowed better, but Befco makes a mower with a higher speed. This just means a cleaner cut quality and the ability to mow a little faster. Also take advantage of the extra antiscalp rollers. They are not always included in the price, but most dealers would throw them in if you buy a nice RFM. I have heard testimonials from many brands, but I have never personally heard anyone not happy with a Woods, Befco or LandPride RFM, so those would be at the top of my list (in fact I just ordered a new Frontier--JOHN DEERE branded-- RFM for my new tractor). It is made by Woods, and is consistent with their new Premium line. I expect it to cut really well.

John M