SCUT vs ZTR Mower Cut Quality - Kioti CS2530

[vlcakc]

I realize you asked specifically about MMM's, but you might want to also consider a flail mower for the tractor. For a time I mowed with a 60" Hustler Z and a tractor mounted flail mower. No one could tell the difference in cut quality. Not all flail mowers give this cut quality. Look for one specifically set up for residential lawns. There is a long running flail mower thread on this forum that may answer many of your questions.

 

[MIAG]

Thanks all - appreciate all the comments. Maybe I need to reach out to the local dealer and see if they have a demo unit of something similar I could try mowing the lawn with once or twice before deciding one way or the other.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Thanks all - appreciate all the comments. Maybe I need to reach out to the local dealer and see if they have a demo unit of something similar I could try mowing the lawn with once or twice before deciding one way or the other.

Even if they've got a CS2220 or CS2520 you'd get a feel for how the deck does.

 

[generic farmer]

So I bought a 1025r with mmm. It was fun, it was comfortable, it was also slow. My yard eventually destroyed the mower deck. I then bought a zero turn. I will never cut with a tractor again. I recently purchased a 2038r that will be delivered soon. I did not buy the mower.

 

[Cdash]

The one big thing you are not thinking about is with a tractor, you have to change out implements. Not a big deal when switching from a back blade to a brush hog or removing or putting the loader back on. BUT most real tractor work will result in you taking off the mmm to not damage it, then putting back on when you have to mow within the next week. Doesn't sound like much, but it does get old having to take off, put on, take off.......

I have a JD 4100 with a mmm, I'm not picky about my lawn and I think the cut quality is so so. I expect you'll be happier with a lawn machine for the grass and a tractor for everything else. But if you decide tractor only, I'll come pick up your zero turn!!

 

[tradosaurus]

I've never understood the appeal or need of a tractor with MMM.
Buy a tractor to do tractor stuff and a mower to do mower stuff. A hybrid will just be poor at doing both.

 

[mxf62759]

I have always prefered front cut mowers with a steering wheel, my go to for quite a while has been a toro groundsmaster 223d 4x4 with 62" deck and a large hydraulic dump grass catcher. also allows other attachments, ( broom seeder aerator, scarrifier, snow plow ect.) and a cab option also kubota front mower, steiner used and ventrac used similar . bobcat has a new compact that uses front attachments

 

[RB5]

I've mowed with a lawn tractor with a steering wheel. Never again after switching to a Gravely ZT with a 60" deck. I mow way more than 3 acres with mine. I would not try using a CUT to maintain the lawn on such small acreage. If you have very many obstacles like trees or buildings you will get tired of turning around to mow, and it will take much longer to mow than a ZT will. A tractor is for mowing acreage. Unless your lawn is so rough that you can't run a ZT on it you will be better off with 2 machines.

 

[stevem5215]

You could just buy a used machine that's older for lower $$ invested. That's what I did when I bought the 1994 Steiner 420 with a full loader, dirt/snow blade (which I never used and sold),48" mower deck (backup in case of lawn tractor at the time failures) and a leaf blower. I added a snow/dirt/leaf brush later for cheap that I found locally and it's been a good machine for the smaller jobs a 4 acre area needs handled. Snow in the winter, small loader operation in the spring, summer, fall and sometimes blizzards in the winter every 10 years or so around Western Pa. It works and it was $8500 at the time in the 2002 time period. I've had it for 20 years myself and have had it only serviced at Henry Hartman's in Hanover twice after the original purchase and service there. They are a small workhorse machine with full time AWD that won't tear up the turf in muddy conditions or spin the tires even on ice on the driveway that you can't even walk on without falling. It's truly an amazing machine for the size being a sub compact. You should at least consider something like that as well.

 

[Ken45101]

A zero turn really excells at mowing irregular areas, around trees and shrubs, etc. And it mows faster than most trctor mounted mowers. If you are going to be mowing between trees in your woods, a tractor mounted mower will be slower to maneuver and will not get into spaces a ZT can do.

A tractor with mower will handle steeper hills than a ZT.

I have a Kuboto B2710 with MM and a ZD323. The ZD gets the most of the mowing duty.

Ken