Suggestions and do I need 4wd?

[beenthere]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

 

[Diggin It]

I can climb and descend my hills with both LTs in what I feel is a safe manner once I added tire chains. Without chains, I could slide down hill or one wheel would break loose and the machine would 'run away'. I have enough clear ground at the bottom so it doesn't really matter as far as hitting something. But it's very tough on the small hydro transaxles and I run the risk of overheating them, so I can only make a few passes at a time.


I got the SCUT late in the year, so I haven't done much mowing with it. What little I did told me very quickly that I needed to be in 4WD downhill. The MMM adds weight low to the ground which I feel helps stability.

 

[ruffdog]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

^^agree^^ At first, driving and turning a AWS on a steep grade is unnerving because it feels like the rear is slipping. Once you get past the "feeling", the AWS works quite good.

 

[dstig1]

dstig1
Too bad you didn't get to try out the AWS for that slope.. world of difference. Unfortunate that salesmen for JD do not know more about the advantages of AWS (all wheel steer) as steep slopes is one of the big plus's.

It's the physics of being able to turn on the slope when the rear wheels move down the slope a bit to get "under" the weight of the tractor wanting to slide downhill while the front wheels turn "up" the slope to hold position while mowing horizontal to the slope.
I was surprised at the improvement going from two-wheel steer older JD to the AWS newer Deere's.
Now mowing a steep slope that just could not be mowed before due to slippage going up and sliding down.

I had wondered about that, but he didn't have one and maybe doesn't know enough about it, as you say, as he never suggested it. They are a 2nd gen longtime Deere dealer in the area with a pretty good rep, but you don't know what you don't know... But I still think I needed 4wd, even though my wallet disagrees.

 

[DavidVT]

Great input continues.... thx all!

I ventured into reading up on the x7 series. Great sounding once past the pricing. If investing that much likely go for the diesel 4wd.

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

At the price of those machines I would think the mower decks would be bulletproof regarding performance? Thoughts?

 

[ruffdog]

Great input continues.... thx all!

I ventured into reading up on the x7 series. Great sounding once past the pricing. If investing that much likely go for the diesel 4wd.

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

At the price of those machines I would think the mower decks would be bulletproof regarding performance? Thoughts?

The only place my 62" deck tears up the sod is around a tree that the ground is heaved from tree growth. If the ground is flat next to the trunk...no problem. The uncut circle of the mower is something like 8". If I take the little push mower out and make one circle around the yard obstacles, then, no problem.

 

[beenthere]

Curious about several complaints regarding the JD mowing deck scalping on less than perfect lawns and the guide wheels tearing up things??

If the deck is not hanging on the tractor per the instructions, then this may happen. But if "leveled" per the instructions, then this will not happen. Cannot drop the deck onto the four deck wheels and expect a good JD cut.

 

[spitter]

That's the one good thing about simplicity mower decks it never scalps best tractor deck out there bar none. Rest of tractor is nothing special.:drink:

 

[Topcat14]

I’d wait till spring and grass is growing. Buy the X590 with HDAP tires. Without pictures of your slope hard to say, but if the craftsman did it the X590 will laugh at it. The 590 is much wider (more stable on hills) bigger tires and the locker. Personally I have a neighbor that had a hill he couldn’t do with his husky, refused to climb the hill, ran away going downhill, and slide like crazy trying to cut it sideways. So I said I’ll give it a try- with my X590 I could go up the hill, down the hill , across hill didn’t matter. Needless to say he now owns a john Deere. Anyhow I say wait till spring and grass is growing, buy the X590 – 95% chance it works fine, but if it doesn’t use John Deere promise and go with 4WD x7xx series tractor (a lot more money)

 

[DavidVT]

That's the one good thing about simplicity mower decks it never scalps best tractor deck out there bar none. Rest of tractor is nothing special.:drink:

I went looking at Simplicity Legacy options. Curious, I see no Diesels nor water cooled in new lineup. What engine do you prefer on your Simplicity?

I also briefly looked at small scut options. A low 20hp Kubota,Kioti,Mahindra comparison video was interesting. Stability on hills would still be my concern for those but the Mahindra did seem to have a wider footprint. However nobody singing any praises yet found for Mahindra mowing quality.

The scut options are all mighty little tractors. I can tell I will have to keep pulling myself back from them to stay focused on just mowing.....

 

[DavidVT]

I’d wait till spring and grass is growing. Buy the X590 with HDAP tires. Without pictures of your slope hard to say, but if the craftsman did it the X590 will laugh at it. The 590 is much wider (more stable on hills) bigger tires and the locker. Personally I have a neighbor that had a hill he couldn’t do with his husky, refused to climb the hill, ran away going downhill, and slide like crazy trying to cut it sideways. So I said I’ll give it a try- with my X590 I could go up the hill, down the hill , across hill didn’t matter. Needless to say he now owns a john Deere. Anyhow I say wait till spring and grass is growing, buy the X590 – 95% chance it works fine, but if it doesn’t use John Deere promise and go with 4WD x7xx series tractor (a lot more money)

Sensible advice. Thank you

 

[oosik]

Just a passing thought. Why do folks insist on mowing areas that may present potential dangers. There are areas in and around my house and outbuildings that are steep. I recognize this and simply don't mow these areas. I CERTAINLY don't need added dangers out here - I'm all by myself and have plenty otherwise.

If that steep area doesn't get mowed - so be it.

 

[Diggin It]

I have to mow mine. No choice. I let it grow for a few years and it got so out of control with blackberries, honeysuckle and locust saplings it was a real bear to clean up again. Several years later, it still isn't right.

I could cut back to mowing it just a few times a year with the field and brush mower, but I opted to keep at it until I get the wild growth back under control. With the SCUT now, I may be able to do it every three or four weeks instead of every 7-10 days, but I'll have to see how that goes.

 

[oosik]

Diggin it - that's a totally different situation than some grassy knoll left uncut. My tender locust bushes get proper care with my big 'ol Stihl 350 weed whacker every now and then. And on the far side of Coeur 'd Allene Lk - I've seen what blackberries, left unchecked, can do. Dare not fall when out picking them.

 

[DavidVT]

In my case fair question.
In one of my posts I mentioned the large stable Kubota and using the brush hog in areas we don’t mow.
That area is actually the grassy knoll as you describe. No mower belongs on it. Done only once a year to control the mess.

My flip the tractor hill is actually a long narrow path near the house I need to keep clear. Mowing downhill with the garden tractor that does not slip (the Craftsman) works out as the safe choice. The incidents in the past came when mowing that uphill and loosing traction due to stubborn poor choices (maybe wet, maybe blocked). The resultant backwards slide never ended well. (I finally stopped trying before hurting myself).

(In the same place I did try a walk behind wheeled weed wacker and a heavy walk behind brush hog. We wore out the underpowered weed wacker and the brush hog (while a true beast) was too heavy to control on the slope.)

So yes an option is to not mow a dangerous area at all, nor with the wrong equipment, nor with the wrong strategy.

(Honestly I do love to watch the highway mowers in places where the operators could probably stand up straight on the sides of their cabs. Crazy stuff but yes unsafe on our relatively tiny equipment.)

 

[oosik]

DavidVT - I DON'T want you to think I'm being, in any way, critical. There is just no need to get hurt while mowing. A few year back I helped get a fellow unstuck with my ATV. The ATV came over backwards and landed on me. It hurt like the blue blazes. And I WAS pulling from the ATV drawbar. The ATV rear tires got max traction and the unit simply rared up and came back over on me. Rather than pulling forward. Every time you use a piece of equipment - you are rolling the dice. Play it safe - beat the house.

 

[spitter]

DavidVT after looking at your post I looked up new simplicity line up and I guess your right no diesel or water cooled . When briggs bought simplicity lots of things changed . I have the water cooled kawaski in mine . Same engine as jd uses . They use to offer a diesel but no more I guess. Furthermore it don't seem like there is optional engines.31 carb for 2 wd and 33 efi for 4wd. I wouldn't comment on new briggs engines . But the old ones weren't up to the jap engines.:confused3::drink:

 

[DavidVT]

DavidVT - I DON'T want you to think I'm being, in any way, critical. There is just no need to get hurt while mowing. A few year back I helped get a fellow unstuck with my ATV. The ATV came over backwards and landed on me. It hurt like the blue blazes. And I WAS pulling from the ATV drawbar. The ATV rear tires got max traction and the unit simply rared up and came back over on me. Rather than pulling forward. Every time you use a piece of equipment - you are rolling the dice. Play it safe - beat the house.

Oh, my response was written with a smile. No offense taken whatsoever! This is a guy who years ago was t-boned in my brand new tractor by a speeding car on slick icy roads at a blind knoll. The tractor split and was totaled. I was tossed out of view of the driver who thought he rolled over me. I know we take a risk every time we climb onto the equipment.

 

[crazyal]

When I got my x500 the dealer told me to leave the anti-scalping wheels close to all the way up. He said that most people left them so low they were in contact almost all the time and wore out quickly. I tried that once and it was a mistake. By the time the wheel touched it was too late and the blade had already cut the grass down to dirt. Now I have them adjusted for my lawn (I think either one or two holes up from almost touching on flat grass) and they often touch the ground but scalping is a thing of the past.

As for a 2wd mower goes, I have never had any luck trying to back up a hill. If you have a spot where you need to then 4wd is going to be your best option. There's just not enough weight on the rear tires. Even going down steep hills I will back down if in doubt. I also use the diff lock but rarely need to use the brake. The hydro transmission does a very good job regulating the speed when going down all but the steepest of hills.

 

[beenthere]

As the book says... adjust the deck with tires aired to correct psi, then on a flat surface after raising deck wheels and setting cutting height (i.e. 2-1/2"), adjust right and left turnbuckles to blade tips at that same 2-1/2", adjust forward bail so forward tip of center blade is 1/8 to 1/4" lower than rear tip of center blade, then lower the deck wheels to 1/4 - 1/2" above ground level.
Should be good to go.. always works for me..