Mowing Mower opinions for 4310

[jcmseven]

I am a new forum member and thusly full of questions. I recently purchased a JD 4310 tractor. I realize this is the dead of winter, but have a springlike question. In a few weeks, I am planning to buy a mower deck for my new tractor for spring. I previously owned a 595 with a 62 inch mid-mount mower. As has been noted, that combination yields a very high quality cut. Currently, I have no grass on my property, but mow about 3-4 acres for my elderly parents, who live about two hours from me. I also mow for the town arts center on occasion. My total mowing amount is about 5 acres and I do it about twice monthly. My question regards the benefit of a rear mount mower v. a mid mount for my machine and sizing. I have to haul my tractor to all mowing sites. Quality of cut IS important, but I do not feel it overrides ease of installation/removal. My father is pretty picky about the way his lawn looks though. My dealer's initial thought was the Economy Frontier rear discharge mower due to my relatively low mowing volume, but I have childhood recollections of our neighbor's Wheel Horse lawn tractor RD expectorating clumps of wet fescue out the back. I have no experience with RM finishing mowers; and of course, no experience on a mid mount for a 4310 and what size of either would be appropriate. Thanks for the help.

 

[cef2lion]

I had a 4310 and now own a 4410. I had the 60 MMM on the 4310. On the 4410 I went with the 72 MMM. Both decks cut very well. I mow about 5-6 acres.

Nothing against the 60 but after using both I feel the 72 is a better fit for this size tractor. The 72 deck extends out past the tractor and allows you to cut closer to things. You can also cut more grass in a shorter time. Both decks will leave clippings in wet or high grass. I found I hardly ever had to clean the under side of the deck during the season and I cut some high grass. I leave my deck on most of the summer unless I need to take it off while using the BH. The deck doesn't need to come off for the backhoe or loader but at times I didn't want to be dragging the deck in the dirt. It takes about 15 minutes to remove the deck.

I have no experience with rear mowers. Much quicker to take off and put on.

Craig

 

[DK35vince]

One thing to keep in mind with a MMM is what type trailer you have if your trailoring it to mow.
I have a 72" MMM on my JD 850, and it gets hung up on the trailer ramps real easy when loading and the mower deck with discharge shoot is to wide to fit between the trailers fender wells.

 

[JeffSpencer]

I am on the other end of the spectrum. I use a 72" RFM to cut 4 acres. My neighbor uses a RFM on his sod farm. I could not imagine using a MMM. I can back up easily under low limbs, instead of having to drive the tractor through and get beat up by them. The RFM is extra easy to remove too! However, I have never used a MMM.

 

[755inNY]

Lots of good comments. I had a 60" MMM on my JD 755 and now have the 72" MMM on my 4310. I've never used a RFM but I have used a bush hog. The RFM is definitely easier to take on or off if you have a need to do that. The RFM is much cheaper and is easier to sell used. Based on comments from TBN members, a quality RFM should give you every bit as good a cut as a MMM.

The RFM is more challenging to operate if you have a lot of things to mow around or near. The RFM is behind you and swings wide with each turn. That could be a deciding factor depending on your mowing conditions.

I find myself considering selling the MMM on my 4310. I like it a lot and it does a great job even in my horse pasture. I find the tractor a little heavy for the lawn and the R4 tires leave marks. It doesn't tear up the lawn. The marks are just tire imprints in the grass and they go away after a day or 2 but I don't like the appearance. We did have an unusually wet summer last year and it was my first year with the tractor. I'm thinking of getting a ZTR but they have their drawbacks as well.

Jeff

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've never used a RFM but I have used a bush hog. The RFM is more challenging to operate if you have a lot of things to mow around or near. The RFM is behind you and swings wide with each turn. That could be a deciding factor depending on your mowing conditions. )</font>

The rear finish mowers do swing out somewhat on the turns. But they are much shorter in length than a brushmower so the swing out isn't nearly as bad.
I have 1 tractor with a 72" mmm and 1 tractor with a 72" rear finish mower.
If I need to load one on my trailer to mow somewhere else I take the rear mount, because its much easier to load, and my mid mount will not fit between my trailer fenders

 

[Tractors4u]

A POSITIVE thing to consider in regards to the rear finish mower; if you have trees that have low hanging branches you can back the RFM in to do the cutting. Today's MMM are much easier to remove and replace than they use to, but the RFMs are much easier to remove. OK, that is two POSITIVES.

 

[dmp437]

When I was purchasing I was torn between a 84" rear mount or a 72" mid mount. After much reading here on TBN I went with the 72" mid mount and have been very happy. The quality of cut (after it's properly adjusted) is as good as any mower out there and the ability to get in close around trees and such is a plus. As far as being too wide for a trailer, I've got a homemade tether for the discharge chute that gets it up and out of the way and reducing the width for cutting between rows.