Simple solution that saves dollars

[RalphVa]

You should be able to run a 60" deck on your 23 hp diesel. My 12 hp Gravely ran a 30" one and never bogged. They were actually sold with 50" decks for the 12 hp gas engine, too. Some on the Gravely forums run the 50" decks with 12 hp and say it's okay as long as you don't let the grass get too high.

If you have many obstacles to go around, a ZTR will cut faster. They're expensive though.

If it were my 2 acres, I'd let about 1.5 acres grow up and brush hog it about twice/year when it gets about tractor high or just before weed seeds dry up.

Ralph

 

[LBrown59]

We just bought a Massey Ferguson GC2300 with FEL and a tiller. There is a post hole digger in the future also. But, after some deliberation, I doubt if there will be a MMM or rear finish mower.

We are rather wet where we live and it is quite easy to make tracks on the lawn much of the time. The mowed lawn is about 2 acres. There are times when even the $899 special leaves trails that have to be rolled out later. Figure what the tractor's extra weight could do - even with turf tires.

The lawn tractor cuts 42" and we do the entire job in about 2 hours - by design, all trimming is done from the tractor. There is probably no real time savings to be garnered by putting a 60" deck on the tractor.

The heavier tractor WILL leave more ruts on the lawn than I care to level out with the roller (water filled drum type).

We can cut a total of 84" by spending only $899 for another disposable lawn tractor. Wife and I can even have tractor races! That is a lot less than a new MMM would cost.

Seems to me this is both practical and saves dollars. Anyone agree?

My wife and I have used my bx23 60'' and my PowerCraft 48'' at the same time .
Don't take long to mow 2.33 acres with a 9 foot swath!

 

[daTeacha]

My neighbor has a large Deere lawn tractor, maybe a 48 or 54 inch deck. He has a lot of open expanse lawn to mow, but also some close quarters stuff.

Solution? He rigged two walk behind mowers to a shallow Y shaped steel yoke which then attaches to the hitch of the Deere. When he has it hooked up, there are three engines running, mowing close to 10 feet wide. Then he unhooks the "trailer" and uses the Deere or a walk behind for the trimming. Two walk behinds are cheaper than another rider.

 

[sandman2234]

I pulled two push mowers like that,behind a craftsman rider, back in the early 90's. Only cutting about 90" at a pass, but that was great considering the small investment I had in them. I was bidding on a Swisher only a couple hours drive from here, but got busy out in the garage and missed the ending. Somebody just picked at my bid till they found the top, and bounced over it. Wish I had of sniped it, they wouldn't have gotten it so easy.
A couple weeks ago, the wife suggested we mow my M-I-L's yard, since she was having problems getting a good job done by her hired lawn service. She called him and told him that she wouldn't need him that week, since the lawn had been done. He got mad, started fussing at her, and she told him not to come back. Now the wife and I get to do her two acre yard along with ours. Sure glad I bought that Steiner...
David from jax