need some advice/suggestions

[logan97]

our snapper riding mower as of this afternoon needs work. The mower shop in town charges $85 per hr the closer incompetent shop charges $50 per hr I am guessing to get it up and running again might be at least $200 if not twice that much.So I am thinking of just purchasing a rear finish mower for our K B-7800 tractor. ?? How much tall grass will a rear finish mower handle without abusing it ? maybe a random stick or small rock but for the most part it is grass. :confused3:

 

[Western]

My neighbor bought a finish mower for his little Kabota, he mows some rough areas with grass up to 10" at times, I've never used a finish mower, always a brush hog, or a small mower, so I don't know if that would be abusive. His little setup seems to take it without a "hic-cup"

 

[mostly_gas]

I have an old finish mower that I have used as a brush hog. Problems have arise only when I have not properly cleared the lot prior to mowing. It does not knock down 3' grass as well as a rotary cutter. I would guess the RFM will hold up better than the Snapper. :2cents:

 

[dmccarty]

A few years ago I saw a guy with a Nordtrac tractor using a finish mower to cut full grown Thistle in a lot. The lot was a couple of acres in size and completely covered in Thistle 5-6 feet tall. He was BEATING the heck out of the finish mower. I rotary cutter should have been used. Having said that, he was using what he had and it was getting it done. He was having to make multiple, slow passes, with the mower at different heights. It was not pretty to look at, both the finished cut, or watching him use the finish mower, but it was working.

The mower did not break while I was watching and it may have fallen apart by the time he was done but it seemed to work. :laughing:

It does not seem like you are looking to mow Thistle, :laughing:, so I would think the RFM would work but the taller and thicker the grass the more you will push the mower. Any rocks and maybe sticks you hit might damage the deck and will almost certainly nick the blades. I use my DR Brush mower to mow the grass and its blade is all dinged up from rocks and sticks but it still cuts. Not golf course perfect but I ain't got a golf course. :laughing: I have "sharpened" the blades once and I think I will soon just replace the blade.

Later,
Dan

 

[Pete Judd]

I use a RFM that I purchased on closeout from HF. It is the same one that Northern Tool sells just red, not black. Used it for about 2 years now, and other than dings in the blades, is holding up well. Agri-Supply has replacement blades. I have mowed grass over 3 ft tall with it without problems. The main thing about the RFM vs a riding mower is how much less fuel you will use with the RFM. I mow about 5 ac. of lawn, and with the JD rider would use about 1 gal of gas per ac. With the RFM, I mow the whole area on about 1 gal of diesel.

 

[HarryN]

I have both. I would NEVER give up my Snapper. I don't know how much area you have to cut, but in my case I can't get can't get into tight areas with a finish mower. Besides the finish mower doesn't cut as nice as the Snapper does. What's the actual problem with the snapper??? Something you can tinker with?

 

[Stimw]

If you have a lot of trees or other obstructions a tractor/finish mower is a pain to use.
I bought a 5' er and I spent as much time backing up as I did going forward!
I sold it to a friend who had open areas to mow.

 

[RobertBrown]

So..... the same lot you have been cutting with a snapper RER, you are now considering a pull behind finish mower pulled by a Kubota b7800?
I would not think twice about it. I'm assuming you are looking at a 60" mower? Your tractor is like 18 hp? catagory 0?
I would rather not let the grass get 10" cause it will slow you down considerably.
get one of those king cutter's from tractor supply......

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. a finish mower on a tractor will cut at LEAST as much as a rider mower will.

that said.. I'd have both if nothing else.

it's gett closer to winter.. rider mowers will be going on sale.... probably get an economy model in the 800$ range...

 

[logan97]

I have both. I would NEVER give up my Snapper. I don't know how much area you have to cut, but in my case I can't get can't get into tight areas with a finish mower. Besides the finish mower doesn't cut as nice as the Snapper does. What's the actual problem with the snapper??? Something you can tinker with?

general maintenance,blades will not engage,replaced the switch 2 or 3 years ago,dead battery,will not go forward in hi gear, feels like it is slipping on a belt or something of the sort.Could be the transmission?I am not a mechanic and do not like working around motors etc..
most of what I cut is approx 1/2 mile middle and sides of driveway,a little bit of yard. I like the snapper L-15 ? I just wanted some feedback on sinking more money in the thing again. Every year it is 1,2 $ hundred dollars I was thinking maybe it would be a better idea to spend it on a tractor impliment as the tractor is so versitile.

 

[logan97]

So..... the same lot you have been cutting with a snapper RER, you are now considering a pull behind finish mower pulled by a Kubota b7800?
I would not think twice about it. I'm assuming you are looking at a 60" mower? Your tractor is like 18 hp? catagory 0?
I would rather not let the grass get 10" cause it will slow you down considerably.
get one of those king cutter's from tractor supply......

have not looked @ any RFM yet. The tractor is a 30 HP. Kubota B7800 will it handle a 5' RFM

 

[raptor749]

logan97 , I have a b-7800 with a 4' rough cut mower for tall grass (1' or taller if thick) , and a 5' finish mower for the shorter grass ( less than 1' and not so thick ) and i normally mow in med. with both mowers , unless its 18'' or taller then i vary low or med. Then you have a choice of 0 % for 2 or 3 years on mowers from some companies at differant times of the year , just a thought . good luck. just my :2cents: