MMM Performance in Heavy Grass

[TedBell]

How does the MMM operate in heavy coastal bermuda, say on a B7800 or B2630 tractor? Does in bog down much? Would I be better off using a brush hog? I'm looking at mowing maybe once every three weeks. This is a 5 acre lot.

I'm mowing now with a ZTR mower and it bogs down to the point of loosing the traditional benefits of a ZTR - speed! Even when sharpening the blades and avoiding wet grass, it creeps along when the grass is thick.

I have several trees so a MMM would be more maneuverable than a brush hog but I don't want to be creeping along at 1 MPH.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

 

[crbr]

The 60" MMM that I use on a B7800 does an excellent job. I mow KY 31, Fescue, Bermuda, and crappy field grass in east TN. It never bogs as such. The cut can get a little shabby in thick, tall weeds so I slow up a bit, but never down to 1 - 2 MPH. I'm quite pleased with it.

Sharp blades are a must for me. I hoist my machine up at the front with an electric overhead hoist and pull the blades in a jiff, for sharpening.

 

[ronjhall]

The MMM will not cut any better than your ZTR. In order to use a finish mower at high ground speed you will need to cut when grass is shorter.

 

[SDT]

Finish mowers are just that-finish mowers. They are not designed to cut tall heavy cover. When the grass is too heavy the mower cannot clear it quickly enough unless ground speed is reduced. Attempting to travel too fast in heavy grass produces poor results because the mower cannot pick up the grass and clear it fast enough. It makes no difference whether the finish mower is a mid-mount finish mower, a three point finish mower or a ZTR. Rough cut mowers are designed for those jobs.

If you want to cut heavy grass at a relatively fast ground speed you will need to use a good (not cheap) rough cut mower with adequate grass clearance. The results will not be the same as a finish mower operated in conditions for which it was designed.

SDT

 

[wushaw]

Finish mowers are just that-finish mowers. They are not designed to cut tall heavy cover. When the grass is too heavy the mower cannot clear it quickly enough unless ground speed is reduced. Attempting to travel too fast in heavy grass produces poor results because the mower cannot pick up the grass and clear it fast enough. It makes no difference whether the finish mower is a mid-mount finish mower, a three point finish mower or a ZTR. Rough cut mowers are designed for those jobs.

If you want to cut heavy grass at a relatively fast ground speed you will need to use a good (not cheap) rough cut mower with adequate grass clearance. The results will not be the same as a finish mower operated in conditions for which it was designed.

SDT

I will agree with this to a point... what I mean is I had a RFM ( BH brand rear discharge ) that I could cut fairly tall grass 1 - 1.5 ft tall with and get a pretty good cut, if I did this with my ZTR it will look like I took a BH through it.

Now the RFM was a rear discharge design which I think had something to do with it...like you said... The mower cannot pick it up and clear it fast enough since it is a side discharge deck.

A rear discharge doesn't have to cut it several times so I figure that is why I got a better cut in high grass than with my ZTR.

 

[JPinnell]

I now have a B7800 with the 72" MMM. Previous to this I mowed 5 acres regularly with an eXmark 72" ZTR. The ZTR mowed better in most conditions and definitely a little quicker. If the grass was that thick I would just mow twice, the 2nd time 90ｺ to the first and catch the stragglers. I had Gator mulching blades on the ZTR. That was about as top of the line ZTR as you could get and it showed in the quality of cut.

Now the B7800 isn't "quite" as fast nor is the cut as good. It does a great job, but not to the level of the eXmark. I can't find Gator blades for the 72" MMM, but they may have them for the 60" MMM? I still mow 5 acres, but I now mow in stages, close to the house is done weekly and I get a great cut and the back 3 acres every couple of weeks and I don't stress over the stragglers.

A CUT does many things well and all good enough for me, but a purpose built machine such as a commercial ZTR should do an excellent job for what it was purpose built. Tire choice, weight, blade type and tip speed all factor in on grass cutting quality.

 

[easygo]

I cut about 2 acres with a 60" MMM and I'm happy with the results. Previous to using the tractor I had a commercial walk behind mower that certainly produced nicer cut. As others mentioned before the MMM is good enough and is faster for me. As for tall grass. I cut about a 1/2 acre of 1-1.5 ft heavy field grass on a neighbors property to use as mulch and I HAD TO GO SLOW. It did a good job but certainly not like mowing 5-7" stuff that I can breeze right through. If I had to do the same thing regularly on 5 acres it would be a punishmnet of a job if let it grow up too high.