MMM or RFM

RoyJackson · May 25, 2005

The rear mower is much easier to use if you're not mowing around many obstructions. I mow close to a house and chain link fence and have caught the mower a few times. I'm sure this can happen with a MMM too.

I guess the biggest downside of a Mid Mount is the price...easily twice the cost of an RFM. I've never seen a MMM larger then 72" either..if you want something bigger.

And, as at least one previous poster wrote, the MMM is dedicated to one tractor model. Even with the Deere's, the mower deck may be the same, the brackets and attaching hardware is different.

Good luck in your choice!

tarious · May 25, 2005

*chuckle* You know, I never even considered that the mid PTO was used for a blower. I sure might want one in the future! Thank you!

PineRidge · May 25, 2005

I'm another proponent of the RFM. Easy on easy off, no lost ground clearance. Easy to service and less money to purchase. I also like the fact that I can back it up to my ponds edge while still keeping my tires on solid ground and it does a nice job of cutting the grass to boot.

We have lots of thorns on our property so we did foam the 4 tires on the RFM. Haven't had a flat tire on it since. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · May 26, 2005

For lawn work around many obstacles the MMM may be easier to handle. The downsides are quite a few, costlier, easier to hang up in rough conditions, usually tractor specific, may effect loader choice.

Never having used a rear mout mower I can not make any comments.

Note: My Kubota B7100 HST with 60 in. midmount and loader removed made an excellent mowing machine. MMM instalation was not difficult, about 5 min. Loader removal took about the same time.

Egon

garchib · May 26, 2005

Having owned both, I am convinced that MMM(s) do a better mowing job than a RFM / RMM. I like how I can back my RMM under brush, etc. and raise it up to work on it, but I think that having the mower centered under the tractor, instead of on a lever arm sticking out the back, creates a more even cut.

Moon · May 26, 2005

I'm a RFM convert. I purchased the bush hog 72" rear discharge unit. It worked fine. Easy on and off and cleaning, by raising the 3ph. I was skeptical but got used to it quickly.

I also recently added Pat's easy change system to the tractor. This makes changing the 3 point implements even easier. I'd highly recommend the Easy change system, like others have said on here, it's a back saver.

Congrats on your new tractor and accessories

Bird · May 26, 2005

( on a lever arm sticking out the back )

With my rear mount finish mower, there were 4 wheels on the corners, I left the 3-point lever all the way down, so the only reason for needing the top link hooked up was to be able to lift the mower when I wanted to, so I was very happy with it. Of course, having the MMM centered under the tractor means that the mower gets to the grass before the rear tractor wheels run over it instead of after, so I guess if the tractor wheels mashed the grass down and the blades didn't create enough suction to stand it back up again, then the MMM might give you a better cut.

getut · May 26, 2005

My 60" RFM (Kioti which I think is actually a Midwest) came with high lift blades already on it and has a higher tip speed, by far, than any other mower of any type I have ever had. Someone can do the math, but the thing is supposed to run at PTO speed, which is 2800RPM on my tractor. It will still cut thick grass even if I only run the tractor at 1800RPM. The way I look at it, if it is turning fast enough to cut at 1800 engine RPM, then it must be flat out flying at 2800RPM.

That translates into a great cut on my yard. The only time I run into any problems at all is not due to a RFM but is simply a fact of life the wider any deck is... which is scalping if I hit swells just right and it falls between the gage wheels. That happens with any larger deck though. Someone else mentioned dropping the 3 point hitch. Most RFM's have 4 gage wheels so you set the thing completely on the ground.

PineRidge · May 26, 2005

instead of on a lever arm sticking out the back, creates a more even cut.


I have to chime in here on this comment also. Don't know how your MMM works but the majority of the RFMs that I have seen use spacers on the wheel spindle shafts to initially set the height of the cut. Once that has been set you completely lower the 3-point hitch and the wheels on the RFM support the deck while mowing. The deck merely follows the contour of the land since the weight of the deck rests on the deck support wheels. The only time the tractor supports the weight of the RFM deck is when you lift it. The tractor basically guides the deck as you mow and of course the PTO powers the blades.

garchib · May 26, 2005

I think you guys are misinterpreting what I am saying.....the term "lever arm" was meant as a physics-like term. The mower sits at the end of the 3pt hitch, instead of being under the tractor at the center of rotation on a hill. You get a much better cut on the edge of a hill with a MMM then a RFM. I currently do not own a MMM and wish I had one. My RFM is adjusted perfectly...it is level on both axis rides on the wheels.