Advice re rear PTO mower for Super A

scott1953 · Aug 10, 2014

I recently bought a Farmall Super A, now it's time to get a mower for it.

Here are my choices...if you don;t mind sharing you thoughts...I'm looking to just mow a regular house lawn. about 1.5 acres. Not much in the line of trees or steep slope or anything unusual. Just thinking I might as well use the Super A to do it. New to tractors and these kinds of mowers. Although I am finding this tractor coming in very handy..anyway.

My 2 choices at this point

1) A 59" Caroni spa finish mower. He asking $650. Looks to be in ok shape, but I'm just looking a a pic on CL.

2) a Woods RD 6000 . Asking price is $850, will consider reasonable offers. This also looks good from the CL pics.

Some specific questions
1. The woods weighs 625 lbs. Is that too much to the Farmall? I do haul firewood around with the carry-all, but 600 lbs? I don't know? The Caroni is 426 lbs. Does it matter much?
2. I have a 3 point hitch on the Farmall, but what about the mower drive shaft length. Is that something to consider.

Thanks for any suggestions you have.

Scott

WellWorn · Aug 10, 2014

Hi Scott,

I have a SA with a 3pt conversion, and use a Servis/Rhino 5' PTO finish mower for the lawn. Compared to the options you list, it's light (about 250#). It works great.

Also use an antique JD 5' brush hog that weighs in the neighborhood of 450#, and while the SA will pick it ok, it's about the limit without front wheel weights. Carrying that kind of weight will readily sink the tractor rears on soft ground. You probably don't want to do that on a lawn. I'd be on the lookout for something lighter.

The PTO shaft will probably have to be shortened, especially if you are using an overrunning clutch adapter (highly recommended), but that's a lot easier than making one longer. Another thing, is the PTO being 'offset', I lock the 'sway bar' hard to the left to reduce the U-joint stress.

Hope that helps.
Well Worn

BhB · Aug 11, 2014

I have a "A" and a super A, both have woods mid mount mowers. One is a L59 the other on the super A is a L306 both are mid mount mowers. I also have a rear mount finish mower on a Ford. The mid mounts are easier to cut with, easier to turn and better to see where you are cutting. The rear mount swings outward when turning, I get a sore neck when using it. This may be just me because I am not use to watching behind me. The only drawback of the mid mount is it is harder to put on and take off the tractor. Mine are left on and have become lawnmowers. The good part is you get to buy another tractor.
Bill

scott1953 · Aug 11, 2014

Thanks so much for the advice. And from a previous poster, sounds like a 625# woods may be too heavy for just a lawn and my tractor.

JRSutton · Aug 11, 2014

Yeah - I'd agree 625 is way too much for a super A.

Remember that's not just weight at the very back of the tractor, but a lot of it is several feet out from the back - that much weight, with that much leverage - I can guarantee your front wheels will spend more time in the air than on the ground.

Even with my a12 sickle mower, my super a is a little light in the front, and that's with front wheel weights. No idea what that thing weighs, but I doubt it's anywhere near 600, and it only sticks out about feet from the back.

JRSutton · Aug 11, 2014

a21 - not 12

scott1953 · Aug 11, 2014

(quoted from post at 11:47:25 08/11/14) a21 - not 12

Any thoughts on a max weight. I see a few rear mowers but they are in the 425# range. I have rear wheel weights but no front wheel weights. Do have a snow plow on the front. I leave on all year.

Thanks guys. Couldn't do this old tractor thing without the help you all have given me

notjustair · Aug 11, 2014

Get a belly mower from Woods. I have an A that is ready for
lawnmower duty 24/7. I really like it and it makes the yard look
like a million bucks. I've got one that is a right discharge and
one that is a left. I prefer the left.

WellWorn · Aug 12, 2014

(quoted from post at 15:25:40 08/11/14) Any thoughts on a max weight. I see a few rear mowers but they are in the 425# range. I have rear wheel weights but no front wheel weights. Do have a snow plow on the front. I leave on all year.

If your primary intended uses for this tractor are moving snow and mowing lawn, find a belly mower. You'll be much happier, as will the tractor. If you cover rough ground (fields and woods), or need one or both Touch Control rockshafts frequently for other work, go with a rear PTO mower that can be more easily dropped and hooked.

I don't have a belly mower, but I believe they lift from the same rockshaft as the front blade, so you'd have to drop the blade if you go that way, and drop the mower for winter - a good idea anyway.

As for weight? Keep it as light as reasonably possible - you're cutting a lawn, not chopping buck brush. For reference, I would guess the Woods belly mower weighs about 225#. Someone who has one (or a faster internet connection) can give you the exact weight.

Of course, you could get a Cub with a belly mower for the wife/gf/SO - smaller, lighter, more manuverable, and makes everything it touches look good (lawn included). Just remember to ask before you use HER tractor.

JRSutton · Aug 12, 2014

You can add pretty much anything you want to the back, as long as it's offset by weight in the front.

Theoretically there's no real limit as long as it's well balanced from to back. But in the real world it'll get harder and harder to steer the more weight you add, and your tires are only so wide so they'll start to sink more and more, and your brakes will work less effectively - especially on hills.

So I don't think there's a hard and fast number to give you - the answer is more "it depends". Err on the side of lighter.

Aside from the weight - there's the torque required to spin a big mower. Sure an A could spin a 6' mower - but through what? 6" high Kentucky blue grass? probably. 1' high wet pasture - probably not so much.

I wouldn't go more than 5' - and that's assuming you're doing grass - not using it as a brush hog.

keep in mind too that a big mower is going to continue to drive the tractor even with the clutch in - that surprises people, often at a very bad time to be surprised!

If you're using it just for grass - I'd also consider turf tires to avoid leaving tracks everywhere.

Nawlens Gator · Aug 13, 2014

I have a IH 140 with a 6' woods RM 600 on the rear. Been wowing with it for 20 yrs and it works great. My 3 pt hitch is good for at least 850 lbs (use a disk that weighs that much).

Advice re rear PTO mower for Super A

scott1953

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