Question about 3130/3430

[pmoon]

How many folks out there use these tractors to finish mow with? I have 30cres of which I'll mow around 3. Rest is going to be for cearing brush and saplings, clearing out the underbrush from the nice trees - place was a farm maybe 30-40 years ago so the back lot (old wood lot) is large trees, but stuff in between old wood lot is big brush scattered with some nice trees. I want to get rid of a lot of that kind of brush - which makes me think 3130/3430 might be a good fit? B-series seems ideal for mowing but not for the grunt work. Trying to find a machine to do both - not real picky about finish mowing - old farm not a golf course.

 

[ksmmoto]

I finish mow with my L3430. Do most of the yard and trails that I have prepped. I use my rider on the tight areas around trees.

Going to remove the loader this year for mowing. Everybody says it works mush better. Less tearing up with the front wheels on tight turns.

ksmmoto

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> Going to remove the loader this year for mowing </font>

I remove and replace my loader sometimes several times a day depending on what I am doing. It goes on and off that easy.

 

[pmoon]

ksmmoto and rat - rear or MMM?

 

[_RaT_]

RFM type.

 

[pmoon]

Rat (or anyone for that matter) - how much more difficult is a MMM to take on and off than a RFM - would you want to do it often??? How much time/effort is invovled? Thanks

 

[wushaw]

RFM is much easier to install and remove.
Backing up to the implement as opposed to dragging it under the tractor is much easier and faster.

 

[_RaT_]

I think you drive over the mmm for the L30 series.

 

[travelingman]

I finish mow with a 72" rear finish mower and an L3130. Mow about 2 acres. Use a 60" cutter in the other 6.5 acres when needed. Does a great job.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[coveredbridge]

I've been finish mowing with a Woods RM660 72" rear finish mower for about 12 years, about 3 - 4 acres all together. I pull it with a JD 820, about 30 hp at the pto. The Woods provides an excellent cut, as long as I keep the blades sharp and the underside of the deck clear of buildup. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Problem is, the 3 acres is broken into about 4 different plots of irregular shape, which means lots of clutching and shifting and running over grass that is already mowed. So, it takes me about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to mow all 3 - 4 acres, which seems like a lot of time for a 72" cut mower. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

One of the pleasant surprises I've found with my new bx1500 is that because of the mmm setup and hydrostatic transmission, as well as the tight turning radius, I can mow these 3 acres in about the same time even though the 48" mmm is 1/3 less cutting width. And without all the clutching and shifting and wasted travel. The power steering is nice too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Makes me wonder if I still need the Woods. Plus, I can get at the other areas with the trees and shrubs that I used to mow with my Cub Cadet that are too tight for the Woods.

To answer your question, I think that if the three acres you're going to mow is a rather open regular shaped space, the L series with the rfm will do just fine. If it's chopped up into smaller pieces like mine, you'll still get the job done, but it will probably take longer than it would with a mmm. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif