Mowing Mowing with the loader off?

[keving]

I had a big discovery this past weekend. I took off my 853FEL when I mowed my 10 acres. What a difference! I could actually mow faster, see better, less weight and less bounce/rattle on the loader when I hit the bumps. The loader took about 5 minutes to take off and the same to attach when I was done.

Anybody else do this?

 

[thcri]

I never mow with the loader. No matter what brand you have for a rig most loaders come off and back on pretty easy and fast. The only reason I would ever have the loader on if for counter weight with a brush hog, but even then I don't like the loader up there.

murph

 

[Fredex]

Always & for the very reasons you mentioned. One good reason for leaving the loader on is to have the bucket 3-4" off the ground as a stump & rock finder. If you don't have stumps or rocks, I think mowing is much easier w/o loader

 

[thcri]

One good reason for leaving the loader on is to have the bucket 3-4" off the ground as a stump & rock finder.

I would never use the loader to find stumps. Even at a very slow pace that is hard on a loader/tractor. That is a lot of weight to bring to a dead stop. Just my opinion.


murph

 

[MrSteve]

thcri... Chances are very good you wouldn't come to a stop, the loader would rise up over the problem and hopefully give you the time to stop before the mower hits that problem... That is if it is 6" or so off the ground AND you are looking for things higher then that.

I take my loader off also when mower, make a big difference getting around fencing.

 

[_RaT_]

Its the only way to mow even though some folks seem terrified at the thought of taking it off. I can have my loader on my L3830 off in 38 seconds, on in 1 min 40 sec.

 

[PineRidge]

Whenever the 40D pulls the RFM the FEL comes off. With the SuperSteer the 40D handles like a sports car without it and the FEL is so easy to remove and reinstall it just doesn't make sense to mow with it on.

 

[shvl73]

I prefer to cut the fields with my loader off as well. Less scars on the trees that I want to keep. It can be a tight turn between sometimes.

 

[Egon]

Loader on or off kinda depends on the situation.

On new areas with higher grass bushes it can be used to locate stuff. Usually with the bucket curled up and the speed at slow it will make a fine locator.

Another is on a soft area or very rough ground. If high centered the loader can help you get out. Nothing like getting a green stump caught under the mower deck and just can't get off of it.

For established well know areas and lawns it's definetly better with the loader off.

 

[GeneD14]

I mowed our field last summer with the loader off and it was a joy! It made it very easy to manuever around trees.

Whenever I am in a field with unknown objects I keep it on.
I believe if your not familiar with the area "wear protection".