Think I need a better tractor - B6000 with slasher puts front wheels off the ground

newbury · Sep 20, 2017

Looking at that picture I would just take 2 lengths of rebar and bend a hook in 1 end so they fit over the bar in front. Then run the other ends to an appropriate sized box which I would fill with concrete to get the weight I desired. Then after the concrete set hook it on to the tractor.
It's not rocket science.

But if you want to get into buying new equipment a sickle bar mower would fit the bill.

Spanner · Sep 20, 2017

MortOz said:
If you can spend some money, you could look into an offset flail mower or verge mower, depending on how far away from the tress you can run the tractor as they mature. A bit of money, but probably the only mower you would need - something like Flail Mower Verge Mower Heavy Duty 1.4m Working Width PTO Powered Bush Cutter | eBay or one of the Hayes ones that offset: FLAIL MOWER - Hayes Products - Tractor Attachments and Implements (Hayes import, probably from China, but it seems to be good stuff - I have a round bale grab from them, and am very impressed with the quality and strength of construction.)

For the orchards in our part of the sunshine state (citrus, mangoes, tree nuts), most growers use a glyphosate herbicide in close to the trees when weeds are small, and an offset slasher or flail mower to do the bulk. Flail mowers are popular, as when you prune, you can throw the prunings into the inter-row spaces and then run over with the flail mower to mulch them up. A single good flail mower with hydraulic offset would cost a bit now, but would be the only mower/mulcher you will ever need (well, except for the lawns around the house!).

Good luck, and let us know what you decide

Mort, from your first link - that's a big mower requiring 40 Hp min and weighs nearly half a tonne:

Product Features:
Suitable with 40-85HP tractors.

Supplied complete with 3 Point Linkage Frame and PTO drive shaft for easy connection and safety.
Fitted with Heavy Duty Forged Hammer Blades for extreme durability (especially when hitting sticks or solid objects)
Working width of 1.38m
PLEASE NOTE : COLOUR MAY VARY (Green or Red)
Product Specifications
Model FIEFAGA140
Working Width 1.38m
PTO Speed 540rpm
Tractor Power 40-85hp

Weight 490kg

Dimensions 1800 x 2225 x 1020mm
Shipping Dimensions: 579kg x 180X112X94cm

This tractor is a Zen-Noh version of B6000.

Wagtail · Sep 20, 2017

powerscol said:
How far are you from Perth. I have a friend there.

Perth, Western Australia or Perth, Tasmania?

Have you considered consulting Google Maps. The OP lives in Queensland.

powerscol · Sep 20, 2017

Its Australia, but sometimes I wonder based on the stories he tells. He worked on heavy mining equipment (retired now), so he has been just about everywhere or so he says.

MortOz · Sep 22, 2017

Spanner said:
Mort, from your first link - that's a big mower requiring 40 Hp min and weighs nearly half a tonne:
...
This tractor is a Zen-Noh version of B6000.

Yes, fair comment - did see the tractor model, and the eBay link was just the first pic I found. The second link has flail mowers down to 15hp, but I didn't twig just how small the B6000 was.
Info on the "zen hoh" branding: 1 Myths about Kubota Gray Market Tractors | OrangeTractorTalks
The B6000: TractorData.com Kubota B6 tractor information

I was more thinking of the side shift or verge-type flail being put on the Mahindra 40hp machine Graham mentioned in the OP, and he could then do away with all other mowing/slashing equipment - especially with a verge mower, it would be easy to reach under the trees even when they get quite large. I expect the cost might be prohibitive, though.