Mowing Mowing: With your loader on or off?

Bob_Skurka · Jun 29, 2004

I almost always (70% of the time) take my loader off when I go mowing becuase I have a lot of trees and shrubs, and because I really don't have much flat open land. So having the loader off the tractor makes it easier for me to get in, out and around things.

I'm just curious, who mows with a loader attached? Who takes it off? And did you used to do it one way and now do it the other way, if so what made you switch?

RobS · Jun 29, 2004

For me, mowing is brush-hogging. I take the loader off only because my fields are still pretty bumpy and the loader bounces around a lot in it's mounts. Picked up some front weights and really enjoy the "naked" feel of cutting without the FEL /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jwstewar · Jun 29, 2004

I'm about like you most of the time I do take it off, but also depends if I'm mowing or cutting the grass. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif If I'm mowing I'm going to be doing it all in one shot, I'll take the loader off. Now if I'm cutting the grass just because it is getting high and I'm going to do part of it because I've got an hour, I'll leave it on. Though I must admit it is much nicer with it off. When the garage is finished with a floor and everything the loader will probably be off most of the time.

Now if I'm bush hogging, the loader is/will always be on. Gives me extra weight out front. I can use it to throw stuff in that I "find". I can also use it to push trees/bushes down that could hurt the front of the tractor. I can also use it if I get stuck to help get me out.

hazmat · Jun 29, 2004

off 100% of the time

Keith_TN65 · Jun 29, 2004

When using the rotary cutter with my TN65, I leave the FEL on. My fields are somewhat hilly so I leave it low to help lower my center of gravity plus it also helps harvest my crop of pumpkin size rocks before going under the cutter. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
It is also nice to knock down small trees and push fallen logs out of the way near the tree line.

Since I don't have a FEL for the JD790, and it has basically become a dedicated lawn/yard mower, that is not an issue. But I'm guessing if I did have a FEL for it, I would remove it just to keep the mower as light as possible.

Keith

kensfarm · Jun 29, 2004

I never take the FEL off.. so I always mow and bushhog w/ the FEL attached. I like to have it on.. when I come across a big branch or rock.. I throw it into the bucket. I use the FEL all the time for hauling feed, straw, hay.. manure. Almost every evening I hit some tall grass/clover w/ the sicklebar mower.. and use a pitch fork and load up the FEL and feed it to the cows.

DocHeb · Jun 29, 2004

I've never taken the loader arms off, but for the close in work, I drop the QuickTach bucket and mow with just the loader arms in place. It is, however, convienent to have the bucket in place to carry the "stuff" that always seems to need carrying when I'm mowing the pasture paths. I do have SuperSteer, whicn decreases the turning radius, but the front and back end still "swing out" when making turns.

Maurice · Jun 29, 2004

I have yet to take the loader off, however I do remove the bucket if I'm using the finish mower. Like some of the others, I like the bucket handy while brush cutting.

jimg · Jun 29, 2004

I mow w/ the loader on...plenty of open space and nothing around the perimeter of the mowed area to run in to.

OTOH my dealer said I should only drop the loader on a hard even surface. Otherwise Id have considerable trouble getting it back on. I dont have any place that qualifies so thats another reason it gets left on.

markie61 · Jun 29, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( OTOH my dealer said I should only drop the loader on a hard even surface. )</font>

If your loader is like the one on the TC40D, I take it off and on in the woods all the time. It's easiest to deal with if the tractor and the loader are on the same plane. Also, putting a scrap of wood or a brick under the "kickstand" will keep it from sinking into the ground.

BTW, last year I took my loader and wheel weight off when I mowed. This year I got lazy and just drop the QT bucket (even though I can get the loader on and off in about 2 minutes.)

Mark