Looking to replace finish mower....opinions welcome

Mark Headley · Jul 3, 2012

I'm replacing a 72 inch Kioti (Italian made) finish mower. I have a Kioti CK30HST. The land I mow in western WA is fairly rough, yet I keep it mowed so it doesnt get above approx. 6".
What's your opinion on LandPride FDR2572 compared to the FDR1672. I'm not looking to go cheap. I like quality.
Landprides flails are prety spendy compared to Caroni.
Is Caroni pretty good? They have an optional ram kit that cam offset the flail for fence rows etc.

Regards Mark

whistlepig · Jul 3, 2012

I have owned a Caroni 72" RFM. I will never buy another Caroni. And yes, I will get beat up for saying this. I have a Land Pride RCR 1860 rotary cutter. I don't think there are many rotary cutters made better. I have used 72" RFM's for over twenty years now. Wood's is by far the best that I have ever used by a long shot. I presently own a PRD7200. I have also owned a RM660. I have done commercial mowing with the RM660 and presently mow a seven acre yard with the PRD7200. There are features on the Wood's RFM mowers that none of the other RFM mowers have.

rbargeron · Jul 4, 2012

Another good RFM is the Woods RM990. It cuts 7-1/2' so in wet or dense going the CK30 may need to go slow. Buy if you really mow often enough to maintain short grass it should manage ok. After a few months using my first 990 I bought a bigger tractor for it. Great cutter.

mikehaugen · Jul 4, 2012

+1 on the woods mowers

I have an older version of the rm990- an rm90. It appears to be very similar except mine has a large pulley driven off of the pto to drive the 3 smaller pulleys for the blades, instead of using a gearbox. I don't have experience with any other mowers but am impressed with the weight and thickness of the woods compared to what I have seen elsewhere (at least at the farm supply stores). They are pricey, I looked to see what it would cost to replace mine and it was somewhere in the $3500-4000 range. Like rbargeron said, it takes some hp to run in thicker stuff. My 35 pto hp tractor will struggle a little in 6"-8" grass and have to slow down. Not sure how much power you have but if it is significantly less I am not sure it is the best choice.

That being said there are some smaller version, as mentioned before an rm660 is similar construction but 60" wide instead of 90". The nice thing about a smaller one as well is that it will follow contours better. The 90" being so wide will scalp much easier and will leave long grass in low spots unless you spend a lot of time following the contours correctly. There may be one in between the two but I'm not sure.

RoyJackson · Jul 4, 2012

Another Woods recommendation. My Woods is badged Frontier and is basically the same mower whistlepig has. Very good quality...quite a heavy unit for a 72" mower.

Mark Headley · Jul 4, 2012

The Kioti I have is 30 hp.
I have been studying picts & literature only so far.
I have been considering the FDR2572 Landpride and the PDR7200 Woods.
It appears the Landprides gussets and caster support bars 'look' beefier- such as continuous construction, full length caster arms on the FDR2572.
The Woods looks like it's built in pieces in that area. My ground is lumpy in spots or I wouldn't care so much. I'd rather it doesn't crack out over the years.
What are the features Woods has that others dont? (as whistlepig said) :~)
The specs and picts show them prety neck and neck...
Do both of these models discharge the FULL length of the back deck- or are they necked down and leave a windrow look?
Thanks for the info!!
ps... I think my current mower is a clone or re-badge of this:
http://www.everythingattachments.co...Discharge-p/ph-mower-fin-72-ptorear-m72-s.htm

mikehaugen · Jul 4, 2012

I would be closely comparing weight and gearbox hp rating on the two. I don't know the specifics of the 2 you are looking at but weight usually indicates thicker deck, so especially if you are storing it outside and not keeping it clean underneath won't rust out at quickly. Mine is I believe 3/16 thick, is at least 20 years old has always been stored outside and doubt that it had ever been cleaned underneath before I bought it 3 years ago and is not even close to rusting through anywhere. It also weighs close to 1000 lbs.

I have always heard good things about land pride and you have a good point if you are right about the gussets. Again I can't compare to what you are looking at but I know on mine anywhere something is welded to the deck it is very long to distribute the weight along a long weld and a lot of sheet metal. I also like woods for parts availability and dealers around me. I don't even know where a landpride dealer is around me, woods are everywhere- basically the standard around here and any part I have needed I have been able to make, find a standard replacement, or if I have had to get from woods has been in stock or I've been able to get in a couple days.

Also, mine discharges the full width of the deck. Maybe instead of speculating I will look up the mowers that you are talking about.

Mark Headley · Jul 4, 2012

We have some dealers of both LandPride and Woods, not where we live in town, but 'on the way' to the rec. property where we use the tractor (Packwood WA). Western WA is pretty light on tractor dealers even though we have a fair amount of farming going on.
We're not USA's 'midsection' however, where everyone has tractors.
:~}
It appears both these mower decks top the scales at around 700#. I know what you mean- more weight means more steel.

whistlepig · Jul 4, 2012

I like Land Pride stuff but this is why I would choose a Woods over a Land Pride. Land Pride has stamped castor arms. I have had stamped castor arms metal fatigue on other mowers. Woods castor arms are solid steel. Land Pride has roller spindle bearings. Woods has tapered spindle bearings. Land Pride doesn't have anti-scalp castors. Woods has anti-scalp castor wheels. This stuff makes a big difference to me. The older rear discharge RFM's were bad about wind rowing. They have fixed this on the new rear discharge mowers. I would recommend solid tires.

Cub 7274 · Jul 4, 2012

I have a 72" Buhler Side Discharge RFM and it has been a great mower
However I really wish it was rear discharge every time I use it
I use it with a 7274 Cub Cadet