still trying to decide on size

[TripleR]

Thanks Chuck....if it as simple as that why do people make such a big deal about having to keep "bumping it up"?

For me at least, I will mow lower in some places than others in the same day and much prefer the ability to change and maintain height in any given area from the seat. I also think being old and lazy may be a factor for me too

 

[DiezNutz]

Well I am new at all this (obviously) and have never owned a tractor, just driven one. That's why i am trying to learn as much as I can before purchase.......

Of course - that's what this place is for! :welcome:

It sounds like w/ a mmm, the added maintenance plus costs might outway the benefits versus a RFM (or is there just as much maintenance w/ rfm?)

I think rswyan put it fairly, you should figure that MMM vs. RFM vs. dedicated mower maintenance is a 'wash'. ALL require something, the degree of hassle/difficulty will vary somewhat between each type.

There's another maintenance aspect I alluded to in my earlier comments but didn't explicity point out, and that's the added maintenance of the tractor itself when used for mowing, along with a MMM or RFM. In other words, you know how you said you didn't want to maintain two machines? Hours are hours - the hours spent on the 2nd mower are hours not spent on the tractor. So does it make any difference if you maintain two machines half as often, or one machine twice as often? Typically your 2nd mower maintenance is going to be less involved and cheaper than your tractor maintenance, for a given # of hours.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, "nobody ever wishes they'd bought a smaller tractor".

I'm not trying to push this idea on you or anyone else, I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do. Just wanted you to consider all the angles in making your decision. :thumbsup:

.....guess thats why so many use a RFM over a MMM, or is it that alot of tractors don't have the mid pto?? (I thought it was the latter)

The two main reasons I see are 1) as you said some tractors don't have mid-PTO, and 2) RFM cost is considerably less than MMM (even if less manueverable)

 

[DiezNutz]

BTW, in hindsight I wish I had done what you are advocating - put the $3K I spent on the MMM towards a Kubota F-series Front Cut ..... I use the B2910 constantly for a variety of work around the property ..... I'm always looking at the weather when I start to consider removing the MMM:

How soon will it rain ? (which means the grass will be growing ..... fast) .... and how soon will I have to screw around putting the MMM back on ?

What it usually means is that I try and sneak by without taking it off when I really should - which ain't good ...... so far I think I've had it off only once this year ....

We're on the same page for sure. I've pinned the MMM up with the FEL & BH on in a few cases where I probably shouldn't have (even though the extra weight down low was beneficial). The not wanting to constantly 'screw around' with MMM config vs. TLB config is what drove us to buy the ZTR. Plus being able to tag-team the property with 2 mowers, once the TLB needs have diminished.

What drove our decision at purchase time (we were buying for the long haul) was the idea of what would eventually be the best fit once the majority of the work was done (is it ever ? :laughing, and the primary use of the tractor would be mowing ....

I opted to go with the smaller machine, thinking that less weight would be easier on the lawn ... in those terms, I have no doubt it was the right decision ....

That's exactly what drove my decision too... at the time the tractor was to be the primary lawn mower and an L was just too big for that.

If I had it to do over now, I'd think harder about getting the L, skipping the MMM, and putting that money toward the ZTR. :confused3:

 

[ChuckinNH]

For me at least, I will mow lower in some places than others in the same day and much prefer the ability to change and maintain height in any given area from the seat. I also think being old and lazy may be a factor for me too

I agree since the stop is kind of a trial, and error thing, and takes some "fiddling". I don't do much of that kind of mowing so I usually set it for as low as I want it to go anywhere, and fiddle with the 1/4 inching to adjust from there. About the best thing I can say about it is that it keeps it from eating dirt by surprise.

 

[riptides]

I had some pretty slopes on a 10 acre lot that I originally sized my B7800 for. I opted for the B7800 due to size and manuvering ability.

I pulled a 5 foot 'hog, a 6 foot RFM, a 6 foot rake and a 5 foot blade. I had intended to purchase a 5 foot belly mower. After I tamed the "yard" with the 'hog, I used the RFM maybe twice. Once on a newly seeded pasture of about two acres.

I only cut with the hog after that. Even today on the farm, I cut with the 'hog in High Gear. It gives a nice cut, pictures maybe later.

My point is, the 'hog is attached "all" the time in the cutting months. It gives a good cut, I don't have extra equipment laying around, and I am not working to put stuff on or off the tractor. It is turn key and go.

Oh, If I need to venture in the woods, I am not too concerned about banging up the 'hog.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

More options.
First tractor for mostly mowing, I thought when Ibought it 6 years ago on untamed hillside rocky, treed and gullied property.
1. BX2200 MMM FEL to small and to low to ground
2. B7800 FEL 6' RFM just right for 3 years
3. BX1500 MMM for wife to help with mowing 3 years
4 L3240 HST to replace B7800 L was to big, yeah that exception to the never to big people.
5. BX2350 MMM to replace BX1500
6. B3200 to replace the to big L3240
7. BX2660 MMM FEL to replace the jerky BX2350
8. BX25 to replace the eventually B3200 after big jobs finished
9. F3080 4wd to replace BX2660 MMM FEL since I'm now into 90% mowing on cleared hillside but have BX25 when needed for tractor work.
10. A Gas Kubota mower for rental property. Sold it.
11. F2680 60" cut to replace gas Kubota for rental property.

Buy what you need then trade or sell when you need some thing else.
My B7800 handled the 6'RFM fine but the RFM would swing the tractor at the bottom of the hill but no problem, made the steering easier. The L was to big for my hillside residential 5 acres. It would have been great for flat farm land which I don't have.
It's also hard to get one machine to do all jobs great. There are trade offs but a B and a BX are great all around tractors that also will mow.
After almost 7 years it's interesting to read about the maintenance of the MMM. I've done very little maintenance of them and the 10 hour part is almost funny. Maybe I'll start doing it now more often but I'm a bit skeptical that I'll do it that often. Also don't grease FEL that often or haven't. Maybe another one of those I'll ponder doing but doubt I will.
Those that do, keep doing it.