tractor width vs mower width

[The Red Tractor]

Good evening tractor fans. I'll cut right to the point. My Mahindra 4025 is 82" wide with the industrial tires. The rotary mower I'm buying is 74 inches wide. I'll let you do the math, but all that to say, my brush hog is thinner than the tractor. Is that bad? Will that effect the mowing job? I suppose this question pertains to ALL implements. My tractor only has 31 HP at the PTO so running anything that's 84" wide seems pretty impossible. Would the solution to this issue be to just put on AG tires? Then I run into the question of whether these tires will tear up anything near and dear to me that's green? The advice on this forum is second to none. Thank you for your help. Sorry about the name. I knew I didn't own a green tractor, or a blue one, or an orange one.

 

[RickB]

How ever you do it, you are going to run over the grass before you cut it.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Is there a way to move the tires inward on your tractor? 82" seems wide even with industrial (R4) tires. Look at your rims to see if you can adjust the width of the tires.

I don't think you will be happy with the mower being narrower than the tires. And, I agree that an 84" mower will be too big for a 31 hp tractor.

 

[mikehaugen]

Biggest problem is you won't be able to get as close to stuff, other than that you should be fine, unless maybe you are finish mowing. I'd try to keep the wheels wider unless it's not practical.

 

[The Red Tractor]

I'll have to check the owner's manual on moving the tires in. I went with the industrials thinking they'd be more friendly on grass than the AG tires. But using the AGs would be the only way to make the tractor thinner than the mower. I guess the wider tires would only be impractical if I were using a finish mower. And you're right RickB! I'll be running over a lot of grass. Hmmmmm.

 

[RoMad]

My tractor is about 64" wide and my rotary cutter is 52" wide. It is really noticeable when you are mowing beside fences and things. One good feature is you can travel pretty fast when mowing. I got this set up by buying a bigger tractor and keeping my old cutter. I think overall it is a pain in the but and I am actively looking for a 72" cutter. It seems odd that your tractor width to HP ratio is so high.

 

[CobyRupert]

Your tractor is 4" wider on each side? I'll let Bob say it:

 

[boggen]

on some tractors you can swap rear tires (one for the other to keep tread pattern going in correct direction) and either obtain smaller or wider width. (its all in the rims and were they mount / offset from very center of the rim)

get a bat wing mower, and only keep one wing down at anyone time while mowing.


R4 and swaping to R1's normally means also buying new rims as well.
if tractor is 4x4 / MFWD it may mean also getting new front tires as well to keep the correct ratio for front/ rear tires.

i haven't looked at "pull behind" rotatory cutters in some time. you might find one that "offsets" some to one side.

then again rotatory cutting, tall weeds. is not meant to leave the cleanest mowing.

 

[The Red Tractor]

Touche CobyRupert. Ryan, the tractor is 4x4. Sounds like swapping could be a costly switch. I think I'll make the best with what I have until I NEEEED the R1s. Thanks for the help.

 

[J35]

This year when using a bush hog to mow the pastures I started leaving a 2-3 foot strip between swaths and then I come back and let the ponies run while mowing the strips.

I found I got much nicer looking field when done, and the tracks left by the R 4's when mowing the normal way are gone.

I actually think it's faster and easier on my tractor, been well pleased with the outcome so far.

-----J