Mowing Rear 3PH Grooming Mower

[Oldtink]

I run a Land Pride FDR 2584 (812 Lbs.) on my 3520 without any additional weights or front loader. It handles it just fine and mow about 6 acres. I've never seen it loose power or RPM in thick wet grass at 4~4.5 mph Another vote for rear discharge!

 

[RoyJackson]

Deere's Frontier brand is strictly marketing. They don't actually manufacture, just resell. My 72" "Frontier" was actually a Woods RFM...just as my "Frontier" 72" snow blower is actually a well known Canadian brand.
I have no complaints about either the RFM (which was sold last year replaced by a flail mower) or the snow blower (still got this).

FYI, I sold the RFM since I had purchased a Deere ZTR mower a few years ago...the RFM was relegated to mowing a field and, although a great mower, just wasn't a field mower (hence the flail mower purchase).


Both of my Frontier implements were purchased used, so I didn't pay a premium. If you do want to buy Frontier, I'd suggest getting a package deal from your dealer.

 

[Oldtink]

My JD dealer told me the same thing Roy. Woods made Frontier RFMs. Lots of used RFM on the market around here as people opted for a zero turn instead.

 

[sunnyside360]

FYI, I sold the RFM since I had purchased a Deere ZTR mower a few years ago...the RFM was relegated to mowing a field and, although a great mower, just wasn't a field mower (hence the flail mower purchase).

Haven't decided on a finish mower yet for the yard. On different note, can you mow faster with the flail mower than say a rotary cutter or finish mower? Reason I'm asking is I'm currently using a 3008 Bush Hog (8 ft) rotary cutter for mowing about 100 plus acres of fields here on this old farm and it goes verrrry slow when the hay is high and heavy.

 

[sixdogs]

I've owned several over the years but for the past 20 years I've mowed with a 7' Woods rear discharge RD8400 and it's terrific. I do grease the wheels before every use and other fittings on schedule. It's mowed maybe 500 acres in it's life and when I took the wheels off recently to rotate, the wheel bearings and shafts looked near perfect.

On rear discharge mowers, I think it's important to run at rated speed to reduce windrowing of clippings. As well, sharp blades with sharp corners also helps distribute clippings. At 540 PTO with sharp blades and sharp blade corners I get little or no windrowing. I pull the mower with a Kubota B7800.

Also, mow high at 3 1/2" if you can. It's easier to mow, you hit fewer obstacles and there are fewer clippings to deal with. I'm happy with Woods.

 

[jthibodeau89]

Here's a pic of a trial cut with my JD 25A flail. 5-6' tall briars and miscellaneous weeds. Tractor is a JD 4300 HST. Second pic is where my wife cut with 5' rotary on Saturday while i was prepping the 25A. I ran a pass or 2 with the 25A beside on the left for comparison. I think i can cut a little faster in the high stuff with the flail. Thick grass is about same speed as rotary. Not sure of my ground speed, but I run until i see RPM start to drop and then back off the go pedal a touch. If you have thick hay that isn't too weedy, can you get someone to bale it and take it off for you? We let a neighbor bale a couple of the better (more level, less weedy) fields to keep the weeds down. The side hill was not cut for several years and the briars took over. No one was interested in bailing it. Farm was an estate sale that we bought in 2016, and moved in last year. Endless projects to repair and reclaim. Never a dull day.

 

[Brown Dog]

... I'm currently using a 3008 Bush Hog (8 ft) rotary cutter for mowing about 100 plus acres of fields here on this old farm and it goes verrrry slow ...

You need a 15ft Batwing Cutter :banghead:

 

[sunnyside360]

You need a 15ft Batwing Cutter :banghead:

Or, maybe a disc mower. Can go fast as seen here R Series Disc Mowers: Taking the pain out of hay making - YouTube :cool2:

 

[sunnyside360]

..... If you have thick hay that isn't too weedy, can you get someone to bale it and take it off for you? We let a neighbor bale a couple of the better (more level, less weedy) fields to keep the weeds down. The side hill was not cut for several years and the briars took over. No one was interested in bailing it. Farm was an estate sale that we bought in 2016, and moved in last year. Endless projects to repair and reclaim. Never a dull day.

This old 300 acre farm has been in the family for over 100 years and hasn't been farmed since 1960's. First thing I did when I retired 15 years ago was lease a Cat D4 to clear brush and small trees that were taking over the fields. Only about 1/3 of propery is open fields and the other 2/3 of property is forest. Let a local dairy/crop farmer take the hay/weeds a couple times but the hay isn't much good. So, I now just mow the fields once a year to keep the brush from taking over. Thought about tilling the fields and planting timothy but..... Yep "never a dull day" .

 

[CADplans]

I got a RD72 Woods used last summer,,

it cut so perfectly, when I found a new PRD7200 Woods at a great price,, I bought it,

The new mower was an unsold 2015 leftover,,
I have mowed more than a dozen acres with the new one this year,,
it is the nicest 6 foot cut mower I have owned.

I have had 4 totally different 6 foot cut mowers, I always thought the Gravely was the best,,,

until I got the Woods,,,
The Woods taught me the rear discharge is FAR superior to the side discharge,,, :thumbsup: