MMM vs. PTO mowers

[imported_MiserblOF]

I wonder how much of an advantage having a MMM under you is. The Mahindra gear tractors do not have mid PTO's, so if I went that route, I'd have to use a rear mower. It seems like a much more complicated setup. Anyone here used both? I use a garden tractor (incredibly long-lived Wheelhorse) now, and a belly mower seems the most natural and easy way to cut grass, though I would imagine that the rear machine would be easier to put on and take off. Is the rear mower only sensible in very large settings? Would it be worth my while going to a hydro drive just to have the mid mount mower feature?

The Mahindras are all very good looking tractors, though all much bigger than I expected. The 3510 was on my "possible list", and when I saw it, I almost died laughing.. That thing is humongous. I had considered it because it offers the dual speed PTO, which is a plus if I ever wanted to run a chipper/shredder off it, but I'd have to buy a farm to justify buying a tractor that size.. all of which is a possibility if I hit the Lotto, but that's about it.

Anyway, what say you about the MMM? My feeling is that it is a much easier to use implement than a rear PTO finish mower, particulary on modest sized sections of grass. Is that about right?

 

[Taylortractornut]

The thing with a mid mount mower is your clearance over obsacles. Dad does comercial finish mowing in a couple large fields and also light brush hogging. A mid mower would have to be taken off to do some of the hogging and we also have to use a 3 point hitch gearbox type mid mount mower as we dont have a mid pto. We also spread alot of gravel and straddling piles is also a bad thing with a mid mounted mower. Dad and I have had several antique farm tractors with belly mowers that doo good but sometimes they are a pain trying to mow to the edge of a flower bed. Dads 3000 Yanmar has a 6 foot King Kutter floating finish mower and its a great mower and its easy to remove.

 

[BigBob]

I've had both on my Kubotas, started with mid mount, ended with rear mount. Little easier trimming with mid mount, but as far as the finish cut there wasn't enough difference to be concerned with. The reason I switched to rear mount was the 6' mid mount was one heavy son-of-a-gun to take off and move around, if I wanted to use the tractor for something else. I use a 5' tiller,loader,5' bushhog,6'finish mower. The only thing bad with a rear mower is if your wife uses it, you may be missing some flowers when she turns. My wife mowed off her Tulips and got mad at me for it. "Why didn't you tell me the mower would swing like that when I turned?" Go figure.