Mowing Mowing with the loader off?

[Doc_Bob]

Why yes, I do. It takes me 15 seconds to drop my loader and I don't even have to get off the tractor. Watch a video of that here.

But seriously, on my old traditional tractor, I found the loader just gets in the way in tight spaces and also is hard to see over. On the plus side, it was useful for knocking down brush before having to run it over with the tractor to get it under the brush hog.

This works much better Watch another movie and then watch this last one. Much easier to mow over the stuff before driving over it.

Why, that is why wild machine! My ground is too rough for it, but it looks like a terror.
Bob

 

[Nasty135]

Keving, Yes with the loader off it is much quicker especially in the tight spots....You don't have to worry about it being too high or too low up or down grades branches etc.and visually it makes it very easy to see everything (well most everything)

 

[wolc123]

I prefer to just drop the bucket. This takes under 15 seconds, on or off, if you have a quick attach (standard on most JD's and available as an option on most others). This has some other advantages over removing the whole loader. It provides nearly the same visibility and totally eliminates the bounce. Enough weight is maintained on the front to balance a rear mower and you don't have to worry so much about finding a level spot to remove. You might be able to put a loader on in 5 minutes on a concrete pad but try it on some slightly uneven ground.

 

[MossRoad]

Moss that thing really is a mowing machine. Is that you in the movie?

Ya! Dat's me... I use an old 8mm camera in case I chuck something from the brush hog.

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

I mow my pastures with my 5ft bush hog on my L3830 with the loader off. I put four suitcase weights on the front bumper (55lb. each) to balance out the weight of the mower. It is a lot kinder to the fences without the bucket out front.

 

[shane]

Mowing with the loader off is like sleeping in the nude. Oh, what freedom.

 

[_RaT_]

I mow my pastures with my 5ft bush hog on my L3830 with the loader off. I put four suitcase weights on the front bumper (55lb. each) to balance out the weight of the mower. It is a lot kinder to the fences without the bucket out front.

Another nice thing about a finish mower if you can use one is the weight of the entire mower is on the ground resting on the 4 tires. No need for suit case weights. I would never mow with the loader or even the loader without a bucket, its just to easy to pop the loader off and without a doubt, you get much better visibility even over a bucketless loader. I mowed very steep ground and unlike some, never have a front end pop up.

 

[GeneD14]

Mowing with the loader off is like sleeping in the nude. Oh, what freedom.

And without safety chains on it's like having unprotected s_x.

 

[pharmer-phil]

While mowing witht he loader on, I stupidly hit a tree while turning. My left arm was stretched across my body in the 2 o'clock position and when the loader hit the tree, my upper body lurched forward and the wheel snapped back. I slightly dislocated my shoulder. Ain't worth it.

In my defense, I might add that, although I knew there was a tree in there, some brush around it had the trunk totally hidden and I could not judge the distance correctly.

Pharmer Phil

 

[N80]

I mow with the loader on. I've mowed some with it off and it is really nice but only a small percentage of what I mow is 'safe' mowing. All the rest is prone to rocks and stumps. I also mow slowly in this type of situation. I keep the bucket low but curled so anything it hits it will ride over. I'm not sure I understand the argument of not using the loader this way. If the obstacle was so big that it would stop the tractor if you hit it with the loader, just think what it would do if you hit it with the mower or your front drive train?

In any case, I don't have anything that big that I have to worry about. Its mostly low stumps or rocks. The mower might even make it over some of these unless there is a dip that causes the mower to squat. When the bucket hits these, you hear it and feel it and make the appropriate adjustment.

But if I had open, safe fields and low grass, I would take the loader off too. I've only had my loader off a couple of times. I don't have a great place to take it off. No concrete pad or anything. I have some level spots in front of the cabin, but then the loader is in the 'yard'. And, if it is damp, the loader stands sink down a little, then its a real pain to get back on.