We have close to 2 acres of lawn to keep ahead of this year. Were currently running a 13yr old 48 cut lawn tractor that may go forever but in the likely event that it doesnt whats your thoughts on a 3pt finish mower for a compact tractor? I still use the loader and dont really want a belly mower on the compact, but Im not against hooking on a 3pt once a week if theyre half nacky and make a nice job. The tractor is 35 hp with hydrostatic drive. The other option would be possibly zero turn but for 1/2 the cost of a decent zero turn I could get a finish mower for the compact. Tks for any opinions.
- Thread starter Philip d
- Start date
crsutton81
Member
I have had a Woods model RM 990 rear discharge for awhile now as a backup mower for the home yard and also for mowing the yard lots on the futher away farms that we tend. It does a good job and has been dependable. A 35 to 40 hp tractor is perfect for it.It has a little bit of bushog characteristics to it about being able to cut taller growth than the old Woods RM 59 finish mower that we have also. I will say that both of these mowers leave it more finished looking if it is mowed on a regular basis as far as spreading the cut clippings better, and not leaving them balled up in clumps.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
A lot depends on the trees and obstacles.
But if it's mostly open, the finish mower would speed things up. It would also take a load off the riding mower, which could be used for touch up.
But a lot of trees would justify a zero turn. That's what they are made for, quickly do a manicured job. A good residential duty mower will last many years doing 2 acres. However they do not like slippery slopes.
But if it's mostly open, the finish mower would speed things up. It would also take a load off the riding mower, which could be used for touch up.
But a lot of trees would justify a zero turn. That's what they are made for, quickly do a manicured job. A good residential duty mower will last many years doing 2 acres. However they do not like slippery slopes.
I have 2 3pt finish mowers that I've used with a JD4100 and a JD2305, They mow OK, but getting close to edges is a bit difficult and they simply will not mow corners. We didnt like the 3pt finish mower so had a mid-mount mower on the 2305. And because we have trees and other obstructions to work around we also got a zero turn mowers. The combo of the mid-mount and the zero turn have worked very well for us. If we had a big square patch of grass without trees and shrubbery a 3pt finish mower would be ideal.
casecollectorsc
Well-known Member
- Location
- E central SD.
I bought a Husqvarna 54 inch zero turn 4 years ago for under $3000. Use to take 4.5 hours to mow here with a 60 inch lawn tractor. Cut my time to a little over 2 hours with the zero turn. Probably more expensive now but the Kawasaki 24 hp engine is a smooth runner...love the Husqvarna.
Bruce from Can.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Woodville, Ontario, Canada
I bought a zero turn a few years ago, best way to cut grass. Tractors are for field work. If you want to cut grass buy a lawn mower.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Guess it depends on whether you have 10 Grand to toss in to cut grass or not to buy a good Zero turn.If it was me I'd be adding about 1 3/4 acres of goat pasture.
bradley martin
Well-known Member
I would suggest keeping your eyes peeled for a good used commercial duty zero turn. Fast, handy! When we switched from a lawn tractor to a zero turn, it cut our mowing time on approximately 3 acre, well treed yard by over a third. Good used ones turn up periodically but they sell quickly, so be prepared to act.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
I bought a ZTR a few years ago and no longer use either my lawn tractor or the flail mower on my big tractor. The main advantage of the zero turn mower is its maneuverability. On open ground the flail mower is just as fast if not faster, but around trees the ZTR if much faster than either the lawn tractor or flail mower. I might still use the flail if it wasn't so much aggravation to attach and detach. The biggest disadvantage of the ZTR is its tendency to get stuck in soft ground; I have to be much more careful how close I get to our pond than I do with my big tractor.
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
If you have lots of dough and want another machine to maintain buy a zero turn.
If you want to use what you have buy a 6' finish mower. A finish mower is not as nimble for getting around trees, etc as a ZT but it is a heck of a lot cheaper and you have the lawn tractor to clean up around the obstacles.
If you want to use what you have buy a 6' finish mower. A finish mower is not as nimble for getting around trees, etc as a ZT but it is a heck of a lot cheaper and you have the lawn tractor to clean up around the obstacles.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
Mark
Might as well go all out and buy a mower with an AC.
Nothing runs like a DEERE..
Only a cool $38K.
My Kubota is a cheaper option and it has a loader. The finish mower is a woods RM660, 6 ft.
We are both allergic to grass mold, so cabs are important.
I do my trim work first with a 48 inch Husky Varny. I only have 2 trees so mowing around trees is no biggie.
Both JD and Kubota are finish mowers are 6 ft.
I've seen a few John Deere ZTRs with the Michelin flex tires. The driver is flying and not bouncing..
Might as well go all out and buy a mower with an AC.
Nothing runs like a DEERE..
Only a cool $38K.
My Kubota is a cheaper option and it has a loader. The finish mower is a woods RM660, 6 ft.
We are both allergic to grass mold, so cabs are important.
I do my trim work first with a 48 inch Husky Varny. I only have 2 trees so mowing around trees is no biggie.
Both JD and Kubota are finish mowers are 6 ft.
I've seen a few John Deere ZTRs with the Michelin flex tires. The driver is flying and not bouncing..
RobCons
Well-known Member
- Location
- Central Alabama
I would keep my eyes open for a used zero turn. A good JD, Husky, Toro, etc can be had for a couple thousand. Just like a tractor shy away from a high hour unit.
Richard G.
Well-known Member
A zero turn kills my back and will not stay on our hills.
5 foot King Kutter on a 70 year old 8N for me.
Rear discharge on the one I use now.
First 5 foot King Kutter lasted me 25 years.
This one will outlast me.
5 foot King Kutter on a 70 year old 8N for me.
Rear discharge on the one I use now.
First 5 foot King Kutter lasted me 25 years.
This one will outlast me.
I have a Farm King 3pt. finish mower 84 and it has been a tough machine. It does a pretty decent job. A zero turn would do a nicer job but not by much and that's only because the 3pt. has to mow after the tractor has run over the grass. They are best in wide open areas. The don't do so well around obstacles. If you go that route keep you present mower for the fussy bits.
CLYDE MASON
Member
- Location
- connersville, ind
i have a woods 990. very happy with it.
new lots of $. i got mind for $300.00
new lots of $. i got mind for $300.00
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
I would make some of it become part of the field so I could work it and less to mow. Part of problem solved then plant some garden in more of it and more problem solved then just a wee bit to mow and mower last longer. I mow a portion of mine with the hay mower when I mow hay.
danofarming
Member
get a rear discharge, the clippings will be spread out more.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
I paid $650 for this well used finish mower 15 years ago and have been very happy with it. I got the 1145 two years ago for $1,300 and haven't had the Landpride on the tractor since. That said, my primary mower is the F2000 behind the 8n.
Ken Macfarlane
Well-known Member
I picked up an old Perfect orchard mower to try, did a good job on their open lawns, not so great on humps/mounds in terms of scalping.
It's personal preference. Depends how fussy you are with your lawn. I had a Farm King 84 rear discharge on a New Holland TC45DA with super steer and large turf tires, but the mower did not have the lift required to mow the wheel tracks, tractor compacted the ground too much and keeping the deck clean from the sticking grass was a real issue. Neighbor has a land pride 72 and is always complaining on how grass sticks to it as well. Once it started to cling the lift of the mower got worse. At that time, I had a little L120 48 along with a 21 push to do the tight spots. So, went to the Deere dealer and brought home a 930 zero turn with a 54 deck, a 920 with a 48 deck and X734 with a 60 deck to demo. The zero turn are nice, but you can't just kick back and relax, two hands required, and i didn't like the tearing up the lawn in cornering on the side hills. With a zero turn I still would need something else for snow, spraying, etc. Ended up with a X739 60 deck, all wheel steer 4wd, turns extremely short, no scuffing and I can kick back and relax. I have mulch placed 4' wider than my trees so I have no trimming to do anymore. Mowing a little over 3 acres, takes about 1.5 hours per time, mowing twice a week when we have the moisture. I have the vacuum/bagger/cart, a broom, a snowblower, a front blade and a mulch on demand kit on the mower. I have yet to have anything stick to this mower deck, and I have had it for 3 seasons now. They're not exactly giving them away, and it does seem to like its fuel, but up until now, I never really complained about that, but heck who's not, right? Can't beat it. One machine to maintain, multitasker.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
> A belly mower or zero turn is not at all in the equation, for those using a 3pt finish, how are they?
I haven't seen a conventional finish mower that didn't leave windrows. Flail mowers, though expensive, do a great job of chopping up mulch and leave no windrows.
I haven't seen a conventional finish mower that didn't leave windrows. Flail mowers, though expensive, do a great job of chopping up mulch and leave no windrows.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
> Might as well go all out and buy a mower with an AC.
But does your 'bota have a heated seat and heated steering wheel?
But does your 'bota have a heated seat and heated steering wheel?
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
Nice machines but does the loader not come off of the Kubota?
I can not imagine mowing with that contraption on the front of my tractor.
I can not imagine mowing with that contraption on the front of my tractor.
I ran a 60" finish mower with side discharge on a Ford 860. I mow about 2.5 acres. Very few trees so maneuverability was not a big problem. Even with sharp blades and a clean deck it did not pick up very well and left windrows. I converted the mower to rear discharge to help with the latter and the blade on the discharge side bogging down in thick wet grass. At the end of the day it got the job done.
I got the opportunity to pick up a low hour 52" Exmark zero turn with the Kawasaki engine. It was a stretch at the time, but well worth the investment. I figured in what my time is worth and came out ahead with the increased speed of the zero turn.
My neighbor used a Woods 72" finish mower with rear discharge on a JD hydro with turf tires. He mows 5 acres with few obstacles. He got tired of the clippings clumping and parked the finish mower for Kubota ZTR. He also values the time savings.
This post was edited by ThadS on 04/25/2022 at 08:57 am.
I got the opportunity to pick up a low hour 52" Exmark zero turn with the Kawasaki engine. It was a stretch at the time, but well worth the investment. I figured in what my time is worth and came out ahead with the increased speed of the zero turn.
My neighbor used a Woods 72" finish mower with rear discharge on a JD hydro with turf tires. He mows 5 acres with few obstacles. He got tired of the clippings clumping and parked the finish mower for Kubota ZTR. He also values the time savings.
This post was edited by ThadS on 04/25/2022 at 08:57 am.
Bought this finish mower used for $1,200.00 and the area where it's sitting was just mowed but I don't let the lawn get to tall before I mow it. I like it and it works great. However, if you don't want and bunching and want to let the grass grow longer a flail mower is the answer.
I have had a 72 inch BrushHog brand finish mower for about 25 year currently on a Massey Ferguson 50. The 50 with the original muffler system is pleasant to drive. It does a nice job as it rides on the four casters. I go a lot slower then the zero turn guys but mowing at 72 inches a swath I eventually get it mowed. Because they set on the four caster they are one of the easier pieces of three point equipment to hook up.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
I've been cutting my yard with various 5' and 6' side discharge belly and 3 point finish mowers for 37 years and none of the leave a windrow unless I let the grass get way too long. I had a Mott flail behind my 8n the first 2 years I lived here and it didn't hold a candle to the quality of a rotary finish mower.
I mow about 7 acres of woods / yard / reclaimed pasture.
I started out with a 48" garden tractor, went to an 84" finish mower, tried a 60" mid mount sub-compact, and have ended up at a 60" zero turn.
So I've tried just about everything (minus the Farmall/Allis with a belly mower scenario). All of the ways worked - for me the zero turn has been the best compromise.
I started out with a 48" garden tractor, went to an 84" finish mower, tried a 60" mid mount sub-compact, and have ended up at a 60" zero turn.
So I've tried just about everything (minus the Farmall/Allis with a belly mower scenario). All of the ways worked - for me the zero turn has been the best compromise.
Briar Hill Brittanys
Well-known Member
- Location
- Near Jasper, MO
Got a 6' LMC rear discharge finish mower 3 years ago to pick up the major open area mowing chores. Riding mower is a 48" JD X350. I really like the combo, I mow as much as possible with the finish mower and the remainder with the rider. Less time on the rider, and the tractor has power steering and a canopy. No issues with windrowing. We have about 2 acres for "lawn", and another acre or so around the Christmas tree patch and gardens.
Rag-packer
Member
I cut 3 ac lawn with 5 ft finish mower on the back of my 8n.Takes me 1 hour on the tractor and 1/2 hr with string trimer around the house and pump house.
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