Mowing Mowing a Family Friend's Field

[Rosher18]

It had been a year or two since this 2 acre field was mowed. Blackberries and white oaks had popped up everywhere, but our 72-hour L2501 with 6' Land Pride rotary cutter put it to bed in about 2 1/2 hours.

Spent most of the time in 3rd Low, but in most of the thicker dry grass, blackberry and white oak I dropped down to 1st gear. The whine from the mower gearbox was nice to have audible, and I was surprised how even the thicker dry grass was able to start dragging the motor RPM down at times.

The most helpful thing I was able to do was to keep the loader bucket low to kind of pre-deflect the brush and avoid it dragging all the way down the length of the tractor.

I'll upload a short mowing clip and share it in an additional post in this thread.

 

[Rosher18]

Here's the link to the mowing video. It's about a minute and eighteen seconds of incredibly satisfying grass and small tree leveling.

 

[RjCorazza]

Nice job!
I've been wanting to try my new flail mower on something like that.

 

[EddieWalker]

The most helpful thing I was able to do was to keep the loader bucket low to kind of pre-deflect the brush and avoid it dragging all the way down the length of the tractor.

I agree that there is something very satisfying when mowing an overgrown field.

We have totally different versions on keeping "the loader bucket low".

I like to take off the bucket, and then I keep the loader just at the top edge of my front grill so I can see where it is while mowing. Any lower, and I can't see it. Any higher, and it's in the way of my view.

 

[old and tired]

I used to destroy acres of cotton plants so it couldn't be harvested. Experimental plants that were under development...

Great seat time... Also, once we harvested our plots, we would have to burn hundreds of pounds of "picked" cotton. One match and the pile burst into flames...

PS. Lower your bucket, first it knocks over the weeds, if you have it set a few inches above the ground - you can use it to find rocks or other things that you don't want to mow. Also, if your tire falls into a hole, you'll be more likely to roll your tractor over if it's up.

 

[oosik]

That is a real satisfying video. Every 3-4 years I will go to my next door neighbor - 2 1/2 miles away - and clean out his feed pens. His tractors are just too big. Besides - none have FEL or rear blade.

However - I always ask for payment. His wife makes the most delicious berry pies I've ever laid a lip to.

 

[Rosher18]

I agree that there is something very satisfying when mowing an overgrown field.

We have totally different versions on keeping "the loader bucket low".

I like to take off the bucket, and then I keep the loader just at the top edge of my front grill so I can see where it is while mowing. Any lower, and I can't see it. Any higher, and it's in the way of my view.

I'm regards to keeping the bucket low: I took this video before I'd started keeping it a few inches above the ground as another forum user mentioned.

 

[Rosher18]

I used to destroy acres of cotton plants so it couldn't be harvested. Experimental plants that were under development...

Great seat time... Also, once we harvested our plots, we would have to burn hundreds of pounds of "picked" cotton. One match and the pile burst into flames...

PS. Lower your bucket, first it knocks over the weeds, if you have it set a few inches above the ground - you can use it to find rocks or other things that you don't want to mow. Also, if your tire falls into a hole, you'll be more likely to roll your tractor over if it's up.

That looks like some great seat time, especially with the weather a bit cloudy like that!

I did wind up having the bucket much closer to the ground, about 5 or 6 on average. I'd taken this video just before I discovered the benefits of a low bucket.

 

[CalG]

Just in counter situation:

I talked to my cousin in South Dakota the other day. He had just got home from helping a neighbor mow 80 acres of alfalfa. Took him four hours.

Was going back the next day to ted and bale.

When things are right, operations run smoothly and quickly.

 

[oosik]

I always plan for things to go smoothly. Some times they actually go that way.

Like many of us here - I've had a whole lot of "learning experiences".

Fortunately - I've survived with only bumps and bruises. Also - no close neighbors - so nobody to watch me and make critical comments.