Pulling a finish mower with a S470D

[Botetourt]

still tinkering with my new toy, considering if it would be better to use it to mow with, instead of my Cub Cadet GT2550 (hydrostatic, 50" deck). Initial research looks like a 48" mower is about as big as I can go. I mow a little more than 2 acres in about 2 1/2 hrs with the cub, yard is kinda rough, hilly, only a few trees to mow around. Would I be able to mow faster with the Satoh and a 48" deck? Anybody use a 54" deck?

My Satoh has Ag tires on the front and the diamond tread turf tires on the rear. Has extra weights on the front, maybe 100 lbs. 18.5 hp, supposedly 14.6 hp at the pto.

Thanks

 

[284 International]

I think you'll be hard-pressed to justify the purchase of a 48 inch 3 point finish mower to replace a riding mower of the same cutting dimensions. I have a 15 PTO horsepower Yanmar tractor, and with a 42 inch cut brush mower it's about the same as my 17 hp 42 inch cut riding mower, because I have to be much more careful at property margins and around obstacles, which slows me down, but I can get a little higher ground speed on my real tractor vs the riding mower.

Behind my 20 PTO horsepower tractor I can go much faster, and leave the perimeters and tricky spots to just cut closely with my riding mower and weed eater.

Since your riding mower is bigger, more powerful, and likely faster than mine, I wouldn't bother. You'll probably notice improved fuel economy if you used the S470, but not double or anything. If you've got the mower available to experiment with, then give it a shot, but I don't think it will be an improvement, personally.

 

[oliver28472]

I don't have anything else to mow with but my grey Mitsubishi 1450. My Buck is the same tractor with a little bigger engine. I have used other mowers here and there and would agree with 284. Get a blade and carryall for the Buck, haul in some dirt and smooth it out. Use the CC to mow with, it will be a lot faster.

 

[evan price]

I use a Woods RM48 on my Buck and that's about as big as you want on a Buck unless it's a pull-behind or you put a lot of weight on the nose and then power in tall grass would be an issue.
I cut noticeably faster than I do with a regular old MTD riding tractor mower with a 46" deck, but it's probably because I have more torque and can keep the ground speed up faster with the Buck compared to the Briggs powered MTDs.

 

[oliver28472]

It does fine going straight but if you have to turn a lot you will lose time.

 

[Botetourt]

it seems like a wash. Maybe I'll just keep my eye out for a deal on a 48", no hurry, and at least I'd have a back up. Then I can decide for myself.

 

[Dsavage]

it seems like a wash. Maybe I'll just keep my eye out for a deal on a 48", no hurry, and at least I'd have a back up. Then I can decide for myself.

I just purchased my Buck, with a Woods RM48, I've cut my grass with it.
Compared to my 26HP Husky with a 54" deck, there's no comparison..
I can do it much quicker with my Husky. BUT.. Its fun to play with the Buck..
OH, and I have AG tires on the Buck, I can see if its wet, or early spring, I won't be able to get that on my lawn.

 

[TractorRob]

I agree with the others that you probably will not be any faster with the tractor, but it may be more enjoyable, especially if you get a rear-discharge mower for it. Personally, I much prefer mowing with a tractor and rear-discharge mower than a riding mower. First of all I feel it looks better because I don't get as much windrowing. Additionally, and this is especially true when windy, I don't get as much grass on me.

 

[Botetourt]

I agree with the others that you probably will not be any faster with the tractor, but it may be more enjoyable, especially if you get a rear-discharge mower for it. Personally, I much prefer mowing with a tractor and rear-discharge mower than a riding mower. First of all I feel it looks better because I don't get as much windrowing. Additionally, and this is especially true when windy, I don't get as much grass on me.

There's some good points. I think the larger diameter wheels are more comfortable on a rough yard, especially after I mount a new seat with springs in the back. I doubt I'll find a deal on a rear-discharge mower, but even a side-discharge would be less grass on me, as it's frequently windy on my hill. Looks like I'd pay $2K and up for a new one, $300-$500 for a used 48", so far.

 

[evan price]

There's some good points. I think the larger diameter wheels are more comfortable on a rough yard, especially after I mount a new seat with springs in the back. I doubt I'll find a deal on a rear-discharge mower, but even a side-discharge would be less grass on me, as it's frequently windy on my hill. Looks like I'd pay $2K and up for a new one, $300-$500 for a used 48", so far.

I paid $300 for my used, good shape Woods RM48 on Craigslist. The deals are out there but they are better before the season starts when people are buying new machinery and selling the old.

 

[oliver28472]

Look for RM400 also, it has the gear box instead of the big pulley. I passed on one at an auction several years ago when it went for $485 and it looked like new. Have seen one since then on CL but don't remember the price.

 

[Botetourt]

Look for RM400 also, it has the gear box instead of the big pulley. I passed on one at an auction several years ago when it went for $485 and it looked like new. Have seen one since then on CL but don't remember the price.

Thanks. I saw a classified online the other day, I think from some tractor forum, for a RM48 and RM400 up in Winchester VA. The RM48 "looked rough,works fine" for $350 and the RM400 "nice" for $500. I was wondering about the RM 400 but hadn't looked it up yet. Anyway, the ad was from April, but I emailed the guy anyway. Both were sold. I'm not in any hurry, since I've got a good mowing setup and really it only makes sense at a good used price.

 

[Iron Chief]

I have been pulling a Woods 3 pt. PTO driven RM500 60" finish mower with my S470D Satoh Buck for over a year now. Does a wonderful job. I keep the transfer in Low, 3rd gear, and the RPM's about 2700 to keep the shaft spinning at 540 RPM's. Never had any problems covering 1 1/2 acres in a couple of hours.

 

[Botetourt]

So I mowed for the third time with my new 54" Woods rear discharge. TractorRob was right. Much more pleasant mowing, with all the action/grass/dust behind you. Interesting that the Buck gets NO grass on it, and the finish mower gets only a little on the back, vs the Cub Cadet, which got grass all over it, and me. Also the ride is better due to the weight and tire diameter. The rear discharge spreads the clippings better than the Cub, and it never bogs down. Takes about two hours, so slightly faster than the Cub. When the grass is thick and high, the difference will be even greater. Right now, I do a lap around everything with the Cub, takes 15 minutes, then do the rest with the Buck. Mostly in 2WD, 5th gear, but some in 4th, and the steep part next to the driveway in 4WD. Nice having the differential lock available in one or two spots. So maybe not worth the price of a new finish mower, but much better overall. My lower back says it's worth it.

 

[Dsavage]

So I mowed for the third time with my new 54" Woods rear discharge. TractorRob was right. Much more pleasant mowing, with all the action/grass/dust behind you. Interesting that the Buck gets NO grass on it, and the finish mower gets only a little on the back, vs the Cub Cadet, which got grass all over it, and me. Also the ride is better due to the weight and tire diameter. The rear discharge spreads the clippings better than the Cub, and it never bogs down. Takes about two hours, so slightly faster than the Cub. When the grass is thick and high, the difference will be even greater. Right now, I do a lap around everything with the Cub, takes 15 minutes, then do the rest with the Buck. Mostly in 2WD, 5th gear, but some in 4th, and the steep part next to the driveway in 4WD. Nice having the differential lock available in one or two spots. So maybe not worth the price of a new finish mower, but much better overall. My lower back says it's worth it.

So, what would you recommend for cutting a 10-12 acre field.? Letting it get to about 2ft tall before cutting.? Will the 470 Buck do anything with that.?

 

[evan price]

So, what would you recommend for cutting a 10-12 acre field.? Letting it get to about 2ft tall before cutting.? Will the 470 Buck do anything with that.?

I cut my neighbor's place when the grass was taller than the Buck with my RM48. Low range first gear, pto in 2nd position. Took a while and it needed a couple passes to get it to not look shaggy but it got the job done.

 

[slvrpkr]

new to the forum but not the Buck. i pull a 60" finishing mower over 2 acres with no problems at all. i keep the radiator clean so i have no overheating issues. i also keep the blades sharp. to make it turn sharper i take it out of 4WD and use the left/right brake pedals for tight turns. not too thight as the ag tires can scuff up the turf a bit. turf tires are needed for mowing a steep slope with the brush hog so they stay on the tractor. there is no way a gas powered rider can keep up with me.

JG