Mowing Saving Fuel

[Rich F]

Have a Kubota BX 1500 with a 54" mid mount mower.I am mowing approx 2.5-3 Acres.Looking to reduce the amount of time spent cutting the grass.Taking me on average about 2.5 hrs.
What is the best option? Offset mower to widen the cut?Pull behind finish mower? Thought about a zero turn but have a bumpy lawn & don't think I would be able to use it at its full capabilities.Also want the diversity of the tractor.

Any suggestions??

 

[bigtiller]

I like the idea of an off-set pull behind, rear discharge finish mower to widen the cut. OR hire the neighbor kid every other time. I mow about 3.5 acres and I split it up into a two day job. That way it doesn't turn into work and I can still enjoy mowing.

 

[dodge man]

I always thought a offset mower would work well if you had a lot of fairly open ground. I imagine you could get pretty close to 10' of cut with an offset mower. I've seen them used and they work well.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

It all depends on how loaded the engine is with the current MMM. If you're already taxing the engine with the mower in your specific mowing conditions, you are not going to gain time by adding an additional rear mount mower because you will have to slow down to keep from stalling. You may be cutting a path twice as wide, but at only half the speed erasing any gains in time and your wallet too.

On the other hand, if you have at least half of your hp/tq left after engaging the MMM, then adding a rear mount offset mower might be doable. Your current speed of one acre per hour is mighty slow, and from the sounds of it you're going that slow to get a good cut. In other words, you're taxing your machine to its full potential and won't benefit from a rear mount mower.

For comparison, I cut 3 acres/hr in pretty bumpy and tough conditions on my Bobcat Procat 52" zero turn. It has a suspension seat and rides as well as my tractors.

 

[RoyJackson]

By going to a wider mower, you may reduce your mowing time...doubt if you see any fuel savings though. The bigger mower would put more of a load on your Kubota.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You will NEVER save fuel. The cost upfront will never offset it. Don't kid yourself. If you want to make it less time that is fine but don't look at it as saving fuel.

You want to do it quick spend $12,000 and get a Ferris 3100 with the 37HP motor. Can easily mow 8 acres a hour at 2.5 gals per hour with the right operator.

Really though, just sit back and enjoy the ride. With todays hectic world I love my seat time.

Chris

 

[Andy in Gap]

How about a gang mower? I'm sure you could pull one of those with your tractor and get more cutting width. Might take some getting used to with a bumpy lawn, though.

 

[Wayne_H]

I pull this seven gang mower with a 28 HP John Deere B. It cuts many acres per hour! This is my friend Robert riding the tractor!

Wayne

 

[Andy in Gap]

I pull this seven gang mower with a 28 HP John Deere B. It cuts many acres per hour! This is my friend Robert riding the tractor!

Wayne

That looks like a blast! I love the way a tractor feels when it's pulling something. I can only imagine what a rush it is to see the grass clippings flying off of those reels. :thumbsup:

 

[LBrown59]

I mow the lower half of my yard on the 10th 20th and 30th of the month .
Mowing this section on this schedule instead of weekly reduces mowing it 4 and 5 times a month to only 3 times per month.
The upper half is mowed on the 14th and 28th of the month thus reducing mowing it to twice a month instead of 4 and 5 times a month .

This schedule saves my time plus hours on the tractors and fuel .

 

[dodge man]

The offset mowers I'm talking about have an engine on them, and yeah, its not going to save any fuel, but it will be faster.

 

[Wayne_H]

That looks like a blast! I love the way a tractor feels when it's pulling something. I can only imagine what a rush it is to see the grass clippings flying off of those reels. :thumbsup:

Andy: You are right! Nothing better than waching all that grass fly and hearing the 2 cylinder engine pulling. IMHO, the 48 B has way more torque than my JD 4400, and the B will pull mutch better. Guess it is the torque from two large cylinders!

Wayne

 

[Short Game]

Mowing is my biggest fuel use. My 1996 27 HP Cub Cadet did pretty well on fuel with my 72 inch groomer, but it beat the tar out of me on our bumpy mole and elk conditioned hilly ground. My new 2010 41 HP LS with the bigger wheels and suspension seat makes the ride way better on my 5th lumbar disc, but the fuel consumption is the price I am paying. Just got my annual off road diesel delivery (three months early). $621.39 -- ouch!