rear vs side discharge mower

loud · May 3, 2004

thinking of buying a rear discharge mower ppl say it is a better mower than side --i have some concerns --one is that i do a lot of reverse mowing and wonder if any have experience with rear discharge mowers --i will be putting this on the rear of a 4115

thanks

Bird · May 3, 2004

( i have some concerns --one is that i do a lot of reverse mowing )

What's the concern? I can't say that I did a lot of reverse mowing, but some. In fact, when I cleaned up under my pecan trees in the Fall to make it easier to pick up the pecans when they fell, I'd mow in reverse and back all the way across, under a tree, pull forward, move over and do another strip, so the mower would keep throwing everything out the back. Of course, if grass were tall enough, I guess it would eventually build up too big a pile, but I never had any problem.

ipwanab · May 3, 2004

I currently own a rear discharge mower. I previously owned a side discharge.The rear discharge does a very good job and seems to stay relatively clean undneath.The part I don't like about the rear dischage is the inability to "rake leaves" or "sweep the drive". While you can actually back up with the RD and do these things, it is much more inconvienient. I don't think it's possible to use a collection system with anything but side discharge.As an added note- when my solid trubber tires wear out I will be replacing them with air filled tires.Others have warned that the non solid tires will jump the rim (and I definitely believe they would) but the clanging and jumping from the solid tires on my bumpy ground causes more grief. I cut approximately 4 acres of grass on a gently sloping area and it takes me about
three hours. I hear a lot of stories about people cutting grass at a tremendous amount of acres per hour, but that's about as fast as I can manage without a kidney belt.

JClark · May 3, 2004

Hey Bird, what brand, model, size rear discharge mower are you using? Does it spread the clipping evenly? Does it handle high grass (6-8") O.K.?

I recently sold my 72" tunnel deck Landpride which worked very well. With my new smaller tractor I am looking for another RMM for cutting my vacant 3 acre lot. The lot has moved beyond the bushhog state to the point where my son uses it as a ball field. I want something to keep it cut at about 2 - 3" with the clipping spread out evenly.

My local Landpride dealer has a stack of the 16 series rear discharge mowers. He and another dealer say they outsell the side discharge 10 to 1 one now. I suspect that is because of price, not performance.

Bird · May 3, 2004

( what brand, model, size rear discharge mower are you using? )

None now, since I had to come back to town. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif But I was using a Bush Hog RDTH60 (60") behind a Kubota B2710.

( Does it spread the clipping evenly? )

Pretty much so, although you'd get some windrowing in tall and/or wet grass.

( Does it handle high grass (6-8") O.K.? )

Yes, if you go slower. I'd normally mow at an estimated 4.5 mph, but would slow down for the taller grass.

JClark · May 3, 2004

Robert, your comment about the solid tires caught my attention. Everytime I went to use my old RMM at least one of the tires was flat so I was determined to get solid tires this time.

Some people swear by sealant but it was not very effective for me. Others swear by inner tubes, maybe that is the way to go. I think there may be some kind of foam filler also.

As for wearing out your tires, don't hold your breath. I expect the mower will be worn out before the tires will be. My bushhog tire never wore out and it took a beating for 14 years.

RalphVa · May 4, 2004

Gravely bush hog mowers are front discharge. They are mounted on the front. Therefore, they are very much like running a rear-mounted hog in reverse with its discharge in the rear.

Ralph

DAP · May 4, 2004

For finish mowing: in my opinion there are 2 good reasons for a side discharge

1. For right hand discharge (never seen a lefty) you can do clockwise patterns and keep blowing/mulching/cutting the clippings into a last row for cleanup. I simply do not have the time to cut more than once a week even though it needs it. As such, I get a lotta grass and windrowing. I find this clockwise pattern saves a lot of cleanup time. A rear mower in my case would leave lottsa a clippings to deal with.

2. Maneuverability ... as the deck is fixed to the machine and is 6 inches wider than the machine's foot print, I can get a left side cutting edge up close to about anything ... the blades go where the machine goes 100% of the time ... not so with a pull behind.

I won't make a list of the CONS for MMM but the biggest one is attaching and detaching. A collosal pain. Even for a puny 4' deck, which for one man to manhandle is not so puny.

my dos centavos /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bird · May 4, 2004

( the blades go where the machine goes 100% of the time ... not so with a pull behind. )

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifOne (of several) of the things I liked about the rear discharge mower was the fact that I could get right against fences, trees, etc. with either side.

DAP · May 4, 2004

Understood bird ... but I will still make the minute points that you had to point both the tractor AND the mower to do it AND your total mowing unit (say on your old 2710) was about 18 ft long.

I got real good at makin right turns!

For a larger mowing deck though, the MMM detach and attach effort is reason enough to go with the rear mowers though, I'll give you that.

Just some pros and cons for each .. you know how this works. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif