Rear Finish mower?

[buckeyefarmer]

My King Kutter RFM has worked very well for over 10 yrs. Parts have been easy to get, either direct from KK or via TSC store.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is my experience. I bought a TSC mower in 2003 for $899. In 4 years of use I had to spend $800 in parts. The wheels fell apart and replaced with a heavier wheel that was airless at a cost of $250. Also had welds brake, gear box leak, multiple belt breaks @ $50 each and idler pulley failures @ $25 each. They had sealed bearings and were junk. I sold it in the spring of 2007 on CL for $450. It was a happy day.

I replaced it with a $1200 Caroni built just like the one Sweet is showing you. I have spent about $.15 on repairs. Thats it, just one bolt fell out and needed replacing. It has 1/3 the moving parts and is bullet proof.

When looking at a RFM look for as few moving parts as possible and make sure the ones that do have the ability to be greased. My Caroni has just a gear box with a pulley and 3 spindles. 2 belts drive them with each belt driving the center blade and one outer. So even if you have a belt failure you would still have 2 still turning and allow you to finish the job and then you can fix it when done.

Chris

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I have made a video of the Phoenix (Sicma) Finishing mower in action as well as going over all the right features you will find in a quality finish mower.

Check it out. Hope it helps!

 

[AndyG]

Do rear discharge mowers handle tall grass as well as a side discharge?

 

[sweettractors]

Do rear discharge mowers handle tall grass as well as a side discharge?

Rear discharge handles it better. Ken Sweet

 

[52Redbelly]

I have a new Chinese RFM with maybe 20 hours. It does a good job of cutting but for how long? One weld has broken, a wheel fel off, and the gearbox is so loud I have to wear earphones. I got it cheap and cheap is what I got. Next time I'll buy a good one even if it's used.

 

[Soundguy]

what oil ya got inthe gearbox. if it's what came in it.. I'd drain it and run some 85-140 in there if it howls good. and if real bad.. put in a 50-50 mix of 85/140 and ep 0 or 00 ggrease. I have a 10' mower that calls for 140 or 0/00 grease... big heavy duty noisy sucker..

 

[52Redbelly]

It is original oil. I am going to put in the thick Lucas synthetic. Hope it quiets down. It really screams.

 

[handyhershey]

I have a buehler farm king 84 inch that does a good job on both short and tall grass. It is rear discharge. Paid 1400 this spring on cl for it. Great shape and seems to be very well built.

 

[Storm56]

I just picked up a Woods RDC 54 to run behind my Bolens G152. Local dealer was a BIT high at $2400!!!! Next day found a very clean lightly used one in a CL ad for $1000, only 15 miles from my home too. Pretty easy to figure which way I went! Works excellent, quiet, effecient, nice cut. It has the solid wheels, anti-scalp roller and rear chain options. I also have an RD 72 which I bought about 10 years ago when I was mowing 5 acres a week but it and the JD 4700 are too big for the area I am now doing. The RD 72 NEVER gave me a lick of trouble so it was easy for me to want another Woods. I also had a 6 ft Caroni for a while, gave a beautiful cut. Had to replace a seal in the gearbox and it was a bit noisy but overall a very good mower.

 

[sweettractors]

I have a buehler farm king 84 inch that does a good job on both short and tall grass. It is rear discharge. Paid 1400 this spring on cl for it. Great shape and seems to be very well built.

Farmking makes a good mower. You got a good buy. If you ever need parts support, we are a Farmking dealer. Ken Sweet

 

[pclausen]

I brought a used Woods RM990-3 (90" cut) 8 years ago. Never had an issue with it. Leaves a great cut and the only noise is from the 6 blades. I really like the way the blades are real easy to remove for sharpening.

 

[Soundguy]

It is original oil. I am going to put in the thick Lucas synthetic. Hope it quiets down. It really screams.

IMHO.. I don't trust any fluids coming from china. I've seen other people drain 'green' fluid out of a radiator and froze it in their freezer.

wasn't antifreeze I guess.. just green colored water!

no telling hwat their oil is.

in the chinese forums I heard stories of oil drainings that should be 30w and came out like a stiff grease almost!!!!!

 

[whistlepig]

What options are important? I want a 72" im thinking solid wheels and a clucth pto would be nice. Any other features are better than others?

Anti-scalp spring loaded wheels are nice. I prefer solid tires. An all fabricated deck and mowing arms. Not stamped stuff. Spindles that are machined from one piece cast iron castings and not machined from soft steel fabrications. A Kevlar belt. Some good weight on the mower so it follows the ground instead of bouncing over it. I have never had a slip clutch PTO on a RFM finish mower.

 

[sparc]

What options are important? I want a 72" im thinking solid wheels and a clucth pto would be nice. Any other features are better than others?

Here's an interesting comparison of four popular models.

 

[pclausen]

Ich Bin, Du Bist, Er/sie/es Sind!

 

[Hilltop Hillbilly]

Ich Bin, Du Bist, Er/sie/es Sind!

Danke für die lektion grammatik, aber ich glaube das war Spam.


HH

 

[whistlepig]

Always nice to have a reply in German. Why didn't I think of that?

 

[mikesloane]

I used to work for a farm equipment dealer that sold Woods equipment. When customers would ask me why they shouldn't buy a RFM from Northern (or similar, not to pick on Northern), I would say "compare the weights". That will tell you a LOT about the difference between mowers. I regularly use a very old Wood 6' RM306 to cut about 5 acres of grass every week, and it has never missed a beat in the 10 years since I picked it up when the customer traded it in on a new mower. Aside from the overall weight, look for a slip clutch on the PTO, sturdy castor wheels, heavy blades, etc.

Mike

 

[Soundguy]

used to eat that pan fried up with a piece of american chees on toast.. of course that was a few years ago befor ethe chest pains started..