Test Drive Error

[Nuru]

Gee "FC", you have provided some good inputs and supporting information, Thanks. Now you got me wanting to go get the 60" I found one dealer willing to part with on for $2150 including free installation. That makes it quite close in price to the 54". BTW, does the 60" have a mulch kit? I like to mulch!

Nuru

 

[TerryinMD]

forestcreature,

How does the 60" MMM make the 4100 more stable and better control around obstacles? A 54" has a little less to bump into things.

Just trying to understand the why's....

Terry

 

[Knight9]

Can't comment on the JD model specifically, but I think many folks feel a "heavier" mower makes their compact more stable. It also can make manouvering a little easier as you can stay away from the obstacles a little further with the tractor body since the mower extends out a greater distance.

Kevin

 

[Nuru]

Terry, I think it has to do with the weight difference and exactly what "FC" is saying in his response. But all the dealers talk about that weight difference and the fact that it apparently helps with the lowering of the overalll CG.

Nuru

 

[tbarber]

You can get closer with the 60" deck next to the trees/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
then you duck for the branches/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
then you smack the branch with the ROPS/w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
im a slowwwwwww learner/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Okay, that makes some sense.

Terry

 

[bigpete]

Hey, Nuru...Here are a few deck specs right from the JD Grounds Care Purchasing Guide.

Cutting Width:__________ 54"_____ 60"
Overall Width:__________ 65.9"_____ 72.5"
Overall Length:________ 35.7"_____ 37.25"
Cutting Height (both):_____ 1"-4" Adj. by 1/8"
Deck Thickness:_________ 11ga._____ 10ga.
Tip Speed@ 3,200 rpm:___ 15.5k fpm_____ 14.9k fpm
Mower Wheel Dia.:________ 5"_____ 8"
Acres per hour @ 4.5mph:___ 2.0_____ 2.125
Tri-cycler Mulcher: Both Compatible
Shipping Weight:______ 185lb_____ 302lb

The 60 is identical to the one that I run on my 445 except for the drive shaft length. The deck guage and weight says it all (4200 and up use 7ga/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif). You've got the tighter cutting radius correct. The lowered center of gravity (300lb ballast) will smooth your ride a bit. Consistent and medium-firm tire pressure is critical to a good cut with a MMM, so you may want to stabilize that during the mowing season. I have never had scalping problems with my 60. The JD design suspends the deck with a four-point lift and you set your guide wheels a smidge above the ground on a flat surface. The design also incorporates anti-scalp rollers under the nose. Any size deck will scalp if not calibrated well. Bumps and berms can be scalped by the best equipment. You will learn your "flat-top" spots and cut them with the outboard blades

Just anther quick thought: Unless you are doing a high % of your work with the loader/blade/3PH implements, you may want to look at those <font color=green>$$expensive$$</font color=green> wheel weights, suitcase weights and/or a ballast box for convenience. Loading and unloading tires seems like a hassle and you don't want to mow frequently with that kind of weight. As someone mentioned, you will end up with a hardpan lot and you won't need that MMM after mid-summer. Just my $0.04 worth (inflation, you know...pun intended/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif)

Regards,
Pete

 

[Nuru]

LargePete; thank you for sharing. If I can get a better price on the 54" or 60" MMM, then i have got it made. I will be looking to purchase in March 2002, so I can cut in april.

Nuru

 

[TresCrows]

You will not regret the 60 inch unless there is something specific about your lot that precludes the 60--like narrow areas. The 60in because it sticks out farther beyond the wheels allows a tighter inside cut radius--yes--it does--it is true and it also allows closer trimming along meandering flower beds and driveswalks etc and can be stuck into tight places/corners more easily. It is worth the extra dough. I prefer the suspended type like the 455 and 4100 and Kubota BX. My 2410 has the ground contact type--it appears to work great but still I prefer the suspended type. Neither type work very well on rough (read as rough!) ground (it beats them up) which is why they make brushcutters I suppose. I would not mess with the 54.
J

 

[Nuru]

Tres, well that appears to be 10 for the 60" and 2 for the 54". My current leanings are favoring the 60" because of the following:

heavier weight, will help lower CG and increase stability

wider cutting width, may make enough of a difference in my yard as some areas that would require multiple passes, probably can be made in fewer passes.

JD mechanics are saying it is just overall much more rugged in nature than the 54"

Any more opinions?


Thanks

Nuru