More Rear Finish mower questions...

[orlo]

Hi:

Questions for those of you that own rear finish mowers:

1. What do you do about the clippings?
Do you just mow often enough that it's not a problem?
Do you mulch?

When you do get clippings how do you get rid of them? Is
there a PTO vacuum available somewhere?

Currently I (only when needed) use a Cyclone rake
(5hp Vacuum trailer) attached to my 62" MM deck on
the 2305. I generally just leave the clippings when I can
but if the grass is high I need to get rid of them.

2. How fast can you mow? 7,8,9,10mph?
I usually mow (I'm a madman) when I can at 9+
mph with a 62"mm on a 2305. Would a
RFM (on a larger tracter) let me mow that fast or
would it bounce with the smaller mower wheels?

Thanks for any advice

I'm still leaning toward a 990 but if
I have no solution for the clippings that idea may not
cut it since I can't put a MM deck on it. (The thought of a MMM
AND a pull behind has occured to me for other tractors - MMM for slow clipping collection/leaves, pull behind for fast mowing).
I could do this nicely with a 990 but I from what I hear it sounds like a 72" RFM is about the most I'd want to put on it.

 

[orlo]

Hi:

Questions for those of you that own rear finish mowers:

1. What do you do about the clippings?
Do you just mow often enough that it's not a problem?
Do you mulch?

When you do get clippings how do you get rid of them? Is
there a PTO vacuum available somewhere?

Currently I (only when needed) use a Cyclone rake
(5hp Vacuum trailer) attached to my 62" MM deck on
the 2305. I generally just leave the clippings when I can
but if the grass is high I need to get rid of them.

2. How fast can you mow? 7,8,9,10mph?
I usually mow (I'm a madman) when I can at 9+
mph with a 62"mm on a 2305. Would a
RFM (on a larger tracter) let me mow that fast or
would it bounce with the smaller mower wheels?

Thanks for any advice

I'm still leaning toward a 990 but if
I have no solution for the clippings that idea may not
cut it since I can't put a MM deck on it. (The thought of a MMM
AND a pull behind has occured to me for other tractors - MMM for slow clipping collection/leaves, pull behind for fast mowing).
I could do this nicely with a 990 but I from what I hear it sounds like a 72" RFM is about the most I'd want to put on it.

 

[orlo]

Wow, hundreds of reads and no replies... ;O(

I just need somebody to talk me into a 990... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If the finish mowers (rear or side) evenly distribute the clippings I won't have an issue. Which is better side or rear discharge?

 

[orlo]

Wow, hundreds of reads and no replies... ;O(

I just need somebody to talk me into a 990... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If the finish mowers (rear or side) evenly distribute the clippings I won't have an issue. Which is better side or rear discharge?

 

[BillyP]

A rear discharge RFM will more evenly distribute clippings then a side discharge. Whether it will do it to your liking, I don't know. It suits me fine but I'm not too picky. It all boils down to how often you mow, to how much clippings you get.

With the side discharge you can mow towards the center and mulch. It's what ever you want to do the most.

 

[BillyP]

A rear discharge RFM will more evenly distribute clippings then a side discharge. Whether it will do it to your liking, I don't know. It suits me fine but I'm not too picky. It all boils down to how often you mow, to how much clippings you get.

With the side discharge you can mow towards the center and mulch. It's what ever you want to do the most.

 

[Bird]

I, too, didn't respond because I didn't do anything about the clippings; just left them where they fell. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I used a rear discharge Bush Hog finish mower. The salesman said a few years earlier everyone wanted the side discharge, but by 1999, he said he couldn't hardly sell a side discharge at all. Everyone wanted rear discharge. As for speed, I mowed in mid-range, which was up to 5 mpg. I didn't try to run fast because I had many trees, buildings, and fences to get close to in addition to the borrow ditch along the road.

 

[Bird]

I, too, didn't respond because I didn't do anything about the clippings; just left them where they fell. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I used a rear discharge Bush Hog finish mower. The salesman said a few years earlier everyone wanted the side discharge, but by 1999, he said he couldn't hardly sell a side discharge at all. Everyone wanted rear discharge. As for speed, I mowed in mid-range, which was up to 5 mpg. I didn't try to run fast because I had many trees, buildings, and fences to get close to in addition to the borrow ditch along the road.

 

[jcmseven]

Orlo,

I would say the 990 with a 72" rfm would be faster than the 2305 mowing, as long as it is pretty open. The newer, non-economy RFM's will mow at 5-7 mph and leave a great cut. They will mow a little faster if the cut quality is not important. The RD RFM's that have higher blade tip speed will chop the clippings into little bits which are not noticeable. To achieve this, you will need a RFM with at least 16,500 FPM blade speed, and faster if possible. The economy lines (from Frontier, etc.) are much less, so they are not as good at the clipping fragmentation. I would say a 990 would power a 72" or an 84" and would do fine. A 790 would not do as well larger than a 72". As far as bouncing, most of these mowers are quite heavy (500 lbs) and should not bounce around much unless you are really flying. As for brands, I recommend the non "E" series Frontier, the Woods Premium, and the Befco.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Orlo,

I would say the 990 with a 72" rfm would be faster than the 2305 mowing, as long as it is pretty open. The newer, non-economy RFM's will mow at 5-7 mph and leave a great cut. They will mow a little faster if the cut quality is not important. The RD RFM's that have higher blade tip speed will chop the clippings into little bits which are not noticeable. To achieve this, you will need a RFM with at least 16,500 FPM blade speed, and faster if possible. The economy lines (from Frontier, etc.) are much less, so they are not as good at the clipping fragmentation. I would say a 990 would power a 72" or an 84" and would do fine. A 790 would not do as well larger than a 72". As far as bouncing, most of these mowers are quite heavy (500 lbs) and should not bounce around much unless you are really flying. As for brands, I recommend the non "E" series Frontier, the Woods Premium, and the Befco.

John M

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I could do this nicely with a 990 but I from what I hear it sounds like a 72" RFM is about the most I'd want to put on it.
)</font>

A 990 should have no problem running an 84" or 90" RFM..

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I could do this nicely with a 990 but I from what I hear it sounds like a 72" RFM is about the most I'd want to put on it.
)</font>

A 990 should have no problem running an 84" or 90" RFM..

 

[gizmo]

I run a 72" RFM on my 990 with power to spare. On typical grass there is no noticable loading of the tractor.

 

[orlo]

Thanks for all the information. Too bad I can't try before I buy... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm thinking a 790 with a 72" RFM might still beat my 2305. The only thing holding me back on the 990 is no Mid PTO for (just in case) a mid-mount or to put a front mount blower on it. I probably don't even need to consider these... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif