sub compact for mowing

[Ricn]

Please don't flame me for another new thread but having thoughts now of what I REALLY want. Had started a new thread the other day about getting a new JD rider mower but after some thought have decided I'd prefer a small SCUT, maybe the Kubota bx1880 with 48 inch mid mount rather than the much more costly Bx2380. I only need to mow for the most part, but the FL would really be useful, especially for the wife who would not lift much weight nor will she use our bigger tractors so thinking a small SCUT is just the ticket for her and I both.

Area I mow is not an issue, flat, no hills but with trees, barns plus the house area. I just need something small that our large tractor with flail mower can't get to and with the prices of high quality riders these days to get a real good hydro/transaxle reaching over $7000. I can about justify the BX1880 or similar from another maker.

For me, I don't look at total cost so much but DO look at reliability, platform comfort for us big guys. Dealer support has been very good on our Kubota tractors so Yesterday I drove the 1880 and 2380 both and liked the comfort of the 1880 better, not sure why and although it has fewer features and smaller tires I don't need arm rests when mowing although cruise control might be something I might use but rarely, never used it on my rider. 18hp diesel should mow just fine especially with a 48 inch mower, don't want the bigger 60 inch sticking out on the sides as I need to get through 60 inch gates in several areas.

Have about convinced myself on the 1880 but should I be considering other brands is my main question? Kubota is close by, LS 60 miles, Kioti, massy 30 miles. The 1880 is not that popular as most buyers think HP is always better and opt for the 2380 which I understand for rear PTO uses or heavier lifting and in many cases a true statement, but we mow with 20 HP gas on riders that do just fine so 18 diesel is as good or better IMO for our specific uses. Would not use rear PTO and do not plan on buying any implements for that, but the 3-point would be useful though for maybe a sprayer, tool box or garden disk. Yes the 1880 is high priced for mostly mowing but the added feature of FEL makes for happy wife plus I can get through all her gates with 1880 and 48 inch mower. The super quick loader detachment is pretty cool as well when mowing.

My apologies for being lengthy but TBN is my source of great information, a place where we all can sift suggestions and from many end users having similar experiences.

Any suggestions or food for thought would be great plus hearing from anyone owning the 1880 or similar tractor.

Ricn

 

[RonSwanson]

For mowing I’d want more power. I agree about the diesels not needing as much power because that torque really helps a lot but I’m sure some will chime in that has actual experience.

 

[TripleR]

Yes you can and no you don't need more power. A zero turn will be faster as it's more maneuverable, but mowing is all it does. We mow with a BX2660, but we use a tiller, rotary cutter and box scraper. We also use a John Deere 1025R on another far. I really have no experience with the other brands.

 

[Diggin It]

You probably won't like the ride of a SCUT as a primary mower. I feel every bump, divet and acorn with mine, but I have loaded R4s. Turfs might be different, but you'll sacrifice loader capability to some extent.

 

[Ricn]

good point - How can a SCUT ride any worse than a rider? mine current JD rider beats the crap out of me sometimes due to rough ground in places, and has for 20 yrs.
Ricn

 

[Diggin It]

good point - How can a SCUT ride any worse than a rider?

Twice the weight, no springs.

 

[4570Man]

With the loader on they’ll ride worse than without. Without the loader they’ll ride as good maybe because than a regular rider. I’ve used a B7100 with a MMM to mow with and it has plenty of power.

 

[RickB]

Tire pressure influences both ride and traction. Feel free to adjust yours as necessary according to axle loads and ride expectations. You can run the rears on the soft side for ride and the fronts a little harder for the FEL. consider a 54 inch deck if it will fit through the narrow spaces, the extra width will be handy on curved borders and for reaching under shrubs & trees (a little). I have a zero turn with a 48 inch deck and borders with an inside curve are problematic when they have a tight radius. The 1880 will have plenty of power for the 54 inch deck unless you are mowing hay fields. My former employer almost always paired the BX1880 with the 54 inch deck and I never fielded a low power complaint.

 

[RickB]

Twice the weight, no springs.

Few tractors have suspensions. Lighter tractors ride rougher than heavier ones.

 

[Ricn]

Rick B - Good points. My current rider has a 42 inch deck and no issues with boarders and trees. Can rethink the mower width to 54 as that would fit the gates ; happy to hear the 1880 is enough power for one. Tire pressures are important too, my rider has more up front for ease of turning, less in back for softer ride.

Ricn

 

[4570Man]

The B7100 was like 16hp and a 60” deck. I complained about the lack of power steering but I never complained about not enough power. I think either the gasoline lawnmowers are over rated or the little diesels are under rated or probably both. There’s definitely not a 50 percent power difference between them.

 

[RickB]

The B7100 was like 16hp and a 60” deck. I complained about the lack of power steering but I never complained about not enough power. I think either the gasoline lawnmowers are over rated or the little diesels are under rated or probably both. There’s definitely not a 50 percent power difference between them.

Torque.

 

[4570Man]

Torque.

That definitely helps but the little diesels are high rpm so they’re not torque monsters. I’d still be very surprised if the lawnmower gassers could Dino at a continuous duty rating of 50 percent higher than the little diesels.

 

[RedGeminiPA]

We recently went through this, but decided more features and power could help with more around the property. After looking at nearly every SCUT on the market, we eventually went with the new Massey GC1725M TLB with 60 MMM. Massey offers a 54? as well, which would help with fitting through your 60 openings, though you may have to strap up the discharge chute or remove it. Even the base GC1723E has cruise control and tilt steering wheel, though the tilt wheel isn稚 the best piece of engineering on it.

The Massey is a massive little tractor. Very well made, and plenty of power. The Massey GC is engineered and made by Iseki of Japan, similar to Kubota and Yanmar. The GC has a cast iron rear end, which really helps even out the weight and stability when using the FEL for bigger jobs. The biggest turn-off for the BX1880 was the hydro pedals. Since you値l be primarily using this tractor for mowing, you may not like the pedal layout of the BX. That was one of the major turn offs for us.

My only real complaint, so far (about 35 hours on it), is the disconnects for the hydraulic lines for the FEL.

Massey was offering great finance offers when we purchased a couple months ago. We got 0.99% for 84 months. There was no cash down requirement (that I recall), though we did put $1,000 down. Kubota and JD (for sure) wanted 20% down for their finance offers ($99 per month... LOL), and wanted to tack on extra money to buy better finance rates. No thanks. Ours is $302 per month for everything (tractor, FEL, MMM and backhoe), including about $13 per month for the finance insurance. Yes, you have to insure the finance, which Massey dealers were the only ones who even mentioned this when talking payments. Others just throw it out there when youæ±*e signing the papers. Our dealer even liquid filled the tires for no additional charge. Our Massey dealer was also the ONLY dealer to offer a test drive. Yes, we have a great dealer, which was icing on the cake.

I知 not sure if you have a Massey dealer within reason, but theyæ±*e definitely worth a look. Also, I seem to average about 9 hours of use per 5 gallons of fuel. Most of that is running at around 2,700 RPMs.

 

[TripleR]

A lot of people don't adjust tire pressure when using the loader and running without.

 

[skipperbrown]

Get a 60" deck. Makes life so much easier when mowing around objects and improves your turning radius. Gates can be widened!

 

[searcyfarms]

had a 2wd gt75 shibaura with 60 inch deck, loved it, more than enough power, never lacked for any - only reason i sold it was to have a loader for landscape work and 4wd - had a 2210 hd it was ok but had issues with it so down the road it went...........it road horrible compared to my 2wd gt75, the deere was longer and heavier but the stiff R4 tires must have been the issue, i ran lower as possible air pressures and it helped but still not as good at the turfs on the gt75 - i have a 2038R now and i have lowered the pressures and it rides much better than the 2210 although its much heavier - better seat/suspension on the 2038r also -

u wont regret the lil diesels they are pretty much bulletproof in my experience - not sure what brand massey uses i have only used shibaura and yanmars, my neighbor has a kubota b2300 and he loves his, i got a 72inch MMM on my 2038r i have more grass now - widen gates and get bigger mower would be my vote

 

[RedGeminiPA]

The Massey GC1700 Series are made by Iseki of Japan - engine, trans, hydraulics, basically everything. Same as Kubota and Yanmar. Massey sells Iseki SCUTs (branded Massey), and Iseki sells Massey bigger tractors (branded Iseki) in other global markets.

 

[BAP]

I would take your wife to the dealer and let her try out the various models and see what she likes. If she is going to be using it, keep her involved in the decision making and things will go much better. For what you are describing for your needs, I would think that the BX1880 would be a great choice. Not everyone needs a big mower tractor or a zero turn.

 

[Ricn]

Being that we have two Kubota tractors now, my preference is to stay with that brand if possible as BX models are a proven commodity and for a long time now. Massy was huge here years ago but are no longer and when the family business closed and a new dealer opened things really changed. Other than Kubota and JD the other brands do not sell well around here. Lower cost at times yes but still they struggle against JD and Kubota. Not adverse to other brands but Kubota's have been very good for us besides being close. LS I hear makes a nice SCUT so I'll drive the 60 miles and look at those. As for mower size, I can go 54 inch but the 60 gives us lots of extra work I don't need like rebuilding chain link gates and fencing just for 6 more inches.

Ricn