No more MMM

[dmftoy1]

Wow, I guess I must just be lucky because I can swap the FEL and MMM in less than 5 minutes each way. (probably closer to 2 1/2 or 3, and I'd be much faster if I didn't shut the tractor off for safety reasons. I take my mmm on/off for each mowing session even if it's only going to be 3-4 days until my next mowing session. Without the FEL it was a major pain as I had to chock the mmm to driver over it, but with the FEL it's simple.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Henro]

I've had both a RFM and MMM.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Both are good and neither is that big a deal to take off and put back on...but I would say the RFM is a little easier.

In my case, the slight extra effort required for the MMM pays for itself in better ability to cut close/around things. But that is in MY case.

If one buys the right mower to begin with, he need not worry about resale. He can sell the mower with the tractor if it comes to that...

A RFM that you can sell easily is not always the best if it does not work well for you. Ask me, I know... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I don't have a RFM anymore...even though it cut great, it was not appropriate for my needs...the MMM is. So I lost on the RFM deal...granted, I may have lost less than if I had started with a MMM that did not suit my needs...and tried to sell that.

The way not to lose is to buy right the first time... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ByronBob]

I was new to tractors like the Bota and I got the MMM without even knowing any better. I mow 7 acres of grass which is our yard. I use the FEL now while the yard is getting completed for grass. I think by the comments here that I should have got a RFM? Hmm. I guess it's easy to second guess yourself to death huh?

I haven't put the MMM on yet. The yard has rocks, dirt clumps ect... still in it. My old Craftsman has taken the abuse but I'd rather damage that vs the MMM on a new tractor if necessary. The MMM costs more than the whole tractor did so the sacrificial lamb one way or the other was the Craftsman. And it's still going strong 2 belts and blades later.

 

[Curt]

I'm surprised and pleased that my post got so many comments. Remember, I liked my MMM. It did a nice job, and was much stronger than I ever would have thought. After I got my loader, it wasn't right for my situation.

I was totally ignorant when I bought my tractor (before I found TBN) and didn't know enough to really think through the purchase, which is my fault. I have used my cutter three times already and am really happy with the results. It's good ballast for the loader,also.

The MMM deck was used throughout the MF 1200 line, but the linkage was only appropriate for the 1205 and 1215, both limited run tractors. That limits the market value compared to any 3PH attachment.

I just wanted to urge new buyers to put more thought into it than I did.

Curt /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[eTEXMan]

Back in 1980 we bought a Ford 1500 and a 5' "belly" mower. We called it a belly mower, but I don't remember what the brand name was, other then it was green. We bought the combo for mowing between the 25,000 Christmas trees we had just planted.
This mower attached via the Cat1 3pt hookup just like a regular mower. It had a short pto shaft that went to a gear box that was about one foot behind the 3pt hookup. From the bottom of the gearbox a big belt ran up underneath the tractor to the mowing deck and where the three blades were.

The point to all of this is... to hook up to the mower, you backed the tractor tires up onto and over the mower deck and hooked up the three point hitch and pto shaft. Used the same 3point lift and pto that a rear mower would. When we were finished mowing, just drop the mower to the ground, unhook the 3pt and pto and drive up and over the mower and go hookup to what ever else we needed.

I don't see anyone mentioning this type of mower, anyone seen something like this lately?

Thanks

Adam

 

[rswyan]

I'm with dmftoy1 - I can attach or detach my MMM in probably 5 minutes or less (I'm a little slower - only had the tractor for 2 months now) - and it's a rather large unit - 72 inches and almost 500 pounds. I have a 2 ton chain fall in the shed that I use to pick up and hold it vertical when I need to get to the underside of the deck.

I was leaning with going with a RFM but the dealer I bought the tractor from talked me out it (he could have sold me a Woods RFM), saying that the Kubota MMM would be easier for my wife to use, easier to mow around things with, would give a better cut, and that the Kubota OEM MMM's were some of the best built mowers he's ever seen. Of course he is a salesman /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I was concerned that it might windrow, being a side-discharge (have an older 44" Simplicity commercial ZTR that is just horrible about windrowing) - I haven't let the grass get real long since I got the tractor, but even with the chute/deflector down it doesn't windrow if it's not real tall (he said it wouldn't) I cut the upper field with it today and the clippings were 1 1/2" to 2"+ and with the chute/deflector up it just blew the grass out in a nice even plume, spreading it over the 6' pass I had just made. I was really impressed with the quality of the cut. FWIW.

 

[dmftoy1]

Yup, that's been my experience too . . .a particularly fine experience is with the discharge chute up, mowing heavy grass on a slight sidehill with the wind blowing back towards the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Have a good one,
Dave