Rear Finish Mower Rear Finish Mower

[Kelvin]

For what it's worth: I believe that the JD sales brochure indicates that the 670 will handle a 5' or 6' rear finish mower.

The most "popular" and typically most expensive finish mower brands are Woods, Bush Hog, and Land Pride.

Befco, Caroni, Buhler/Farm King are other name brands. There are others, but I can't remember their names right now.

I can't remember any specific complaints about any of the afore-mentioned brands being mentioned on this board.

I have a 72" Befco (rear discharge) and a 60" LandPride (side discharge Air Tunnel model) that I like.

Other arguments...

Rear or Side Discharge? I like the rear discharge better. There are lots of people here that don't like the rear-discharge, though.

Solid or Pneumatic Tires? I have pneumatic tires on both of my rear finish mowers. I think I like them better than solid tires. The common complaints are that the pneumatic tires are always going flat. Each of my finish mowers have a slow leak on ONE tire out of the four. I find that if I fully inflate the tire before each use then they don't give me any problems. If I don't fill that ONE tire that has low air pressure then it will roll off the rim and break its seal and it is nearly impossible to get it to re-seal.

Hope this helps,
Kelvin

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> Each of my finish mowers have a slow leak on ONE tire out of the four </font>

That sounds like a perfect place to use some tire sealant. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Just a thought... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gatractorman]

Psssttt, try some used engine oil in that tire with the slow leak, works great on things that the tires dont have to be balanced on, couple ounces is probably all you would need.

 

[gatractorman]

I bought a 4' Maschio new for $850 a couple weeks ago (5' would have been $900) and it works great, very well built, grease fittings on everything that moves, rear discharge, solid, soft rubber tires, and heavy, my little 16 pto hp Hinomoto works well with it but dont go up a hill with the mower raised, works like a see-saw then LOL.

 

[tld]

I have a Bush Hog RDTH 60 (read discharge 5 footer) It works great behind a JD 4110.

 

[shady1701]

before i learned how heavy my rear finisher weights 652# i started up a hill with it lowered but decieded i'd lift it up to keep from catching in some loose dirt.. I jerked up on the 3pt lever right quick and the front of my hino 2004 raised up quite a bit and slammed back down.. never have had that happen agian but these things are far more powerful for there size engines and hydralic wise..

 

[LuvMy670]

Thanks for your ideas!!!!!

Ok, I looked at new RFMs and used ones. Saw some beater Woods RM59s which looked like they had been through the amazon--and then mowed all the way back to Ohio. Also saw a used King Kutter, in good shape, but it looked as though someone had sawed the PTO shaft in half, and it needed new blades. Obviously, it had some issues, but the owners of this place are service-geared, and I am sure would give me a good price on making it ship-shape. The casing was good, hardly any rust. Bottom side looked OK, the mower was on two pallets so it was easy to look under it. They wanted 400 for that.. which is less than a new one (always looking to save.. IF.. it is a bargain).

Not sure about the KK, although a friend of mine has one and he loves it... got it new, though. I called TSC and they said a new one was 979. It is also a side discharge.. on the left. I never saw a left sided discharge. But then I don't shop for mowers frequently.

The First Choice (new) is probably my second choice right now, although I need to check out the Ohio mowers as they are closer. I am somewhat leary using a 72 inch because I am using this in my pasture. I like the look better than the rotary cutter, but the grass can be thick in spots and my 670 is rated 16 HP on the PTO. Would rather have more mower power than less in that situation. Although-- I have mowed the pasture with a heavy duty lawn tractor.

Also, I checked with John Deere. The JDs are now made by Frontier. I don't know who Frontier is.. but a new Woods at Equipment Superstore in London was 1755 and the JD from across the street from the Superstore was 2000!!!!! After I mentioned he could call across the street and get a Woods for 245 less, he got the price down to 1800. Those are last on my list, though. This is for a pasture, not a lawn. The JD dealer I use had Buhl mowers. They were closed so I didn't get a chance to talk to them. But I bet they are more than the First Choices, which people on the TBN seem to like a lot.

Any other ideas? Or suggestions? I am not in a hurry to get something.. the rains have subsided for a bit here and the pasture is mowed, did it last week with our yard mower. I just don't want to subject the yard mower continuously to something that really is almost beyond its capability, though.

 

[yellowsocks93]

I would look at a genuine JD mower a 261 would be a perfect fit for your 670 as it is a 60 inch cut side discharge probably about 2 grand new or a little less and better built then the Frontier and Woods IMO.

Nick
990 4x4 turf, 272 RFM, 430 loader, 25A flail

 

[HayDR]

Look at the rear discharge mowers or you will have to wait for the grass to dry and mow in the heat of the day, if you purchase a side discharge finish mower.

 

[WVBill]

Do rear discharge finish mowers have counter-rotating blades? Side discharge mowers' blades all turn clockwise (viewed from above) so I'm wondering if on rear dischsarge mowers the left blade turns cw and the right blade ccw. Just curious /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif