Can a Zero Turn mow high weeds in a bumpy pasture?

[plowhog]

I’ll add that I find it’s less ‘jolting’ on me than my bush hog. It rides gracefully on the 6’ wide rear roller close in vs. a small tail wheel dipping into holes & flipping around on turns.

That is very helpful. Any ideas how big of a flail mower I could push with a 44hp PTO?

I did look at the ones that shift to the side, but I have such a small need for that I don't think it would be worth the added complexity and expense?

 

[plowhog]

The flail mower roller smooths out the gopher mounds nicely

Well that is a huge benefit right there.

 

[scootr]

Yes it is, my bumpy field is getting flatter just mowing it regularly. Also the offset available in most flail mowers allows for only one tire rolling in the uncut grass which reduces the number of popup rows.

 

[arto98607]

That is very helpful. Any ideas how big of a flail mower I could push with a 44hp PTO?

...................snip...................

With what type of flails?

Big difference between side slicer vs. hammer.

 

[plowhog]

With what type of flails?

Big difference between side slicer vs. hammer.

I know nothing about flail mowers. Side slice? Hammer?

One reason I stopped using the rotary cutter is the tractor would push the weeds down, and they would stay down as the mower went over. But it wasn't too long and they popped up again.

The front mount mower on the Ventrac generates a much higher quality cut. Actually, it isn't really quality. The Ventrac front mower reliably cuts what it goes over, the rear rotary cutter is hit and miss. Cuts most of the time, but with patches that are missed which then pop back up.

 

[arto98607]

I know nothing about flail mowers. Side slice? Hammer?

One reason I stopped using the rotary cutter is the tractor would push the weeds down, and they would stay down as the mower went over. But it wasn't too long and they popped up again.

The front mount mower on the Ventrac generates a much higher quality cut. Actually, it isn't really quality. The Ventrac front mower reliably cuts what it goes over, the rear rotary cutter is hit and miss. Cuts most of the time, but with patches that are missed which then pop back up.

Good place to start is here:

Flail Mower - Let's talk flail mowers

It's almost 8000 posts to read!

 

[scootr]

Gopher mounds flattened while I was mowing today

 

[RadarTech]

Just bought a full 350 gallon IBC tote of expired DEF and it's sitting in the big barn waiting for me to spray it on my alfalfa along with a measured shot of 2-4-D B which is buffered 2-4-D and won't kill vernal alfalfa. It ain't cheap but today, what is? I had a heck of a time unloading the full IBC tote of DEF. I didn't realize a full tote weighs 2800 pounds. That saves me buying 2.5 gallon jugs of the stuff when on sale though the 2.5 gallon containers make dandy use oil containers among other things.

HF has their battery powered transfer pumps on sale presently. I keep a couple in the shop all the time. Very handy, especially when using rechargeable Li-Ion D cells.

far as mowing high grass in a bumpy pasture plot, you can do about anything with anything so long as your kidneys can take the abuse...lol I use my Landpride bat wing shredder for that chore.

What is the thickest liquid you’ve used that HF pump on? I’m considering that for my next hydro change…

 

[5030]

SUDT.....

 

[shooterdon]

If you're only cutting this 2 or even 4 times a year you could get a lot of years paying someone to do it for you for $38,000. And you wouldn't have to worry about finding time to do it. Just say $500 a time at 4 times a year and that covers 19 years........

$38k invested in an index fund will easily average over 6% a year yielding $2280.

The OP can have it cut without any capital investment, maintenance costs, or wasted time.

Someone spending that much money to cut grass/weeds, and not running a business at it, is not thinking straight.

The other option is to find a local guy who needs a few bucks and hire him to do it with the bushhog you alrady have. Lots of guys around here will drive a tractor 3 hours and be happy getting $150 cash money.

 

[arto98607]

The only trouble with that is the homeowner liability if they have an accident or wreck his equipment.

 

[5030]

One thing I really don't like to do is mow lawns. One, it costs money with no tangible return and 2, there are a lot of things I'd rather be doing anyway. At least Hay Dude has an impetus for mowing. I don't and it shows by the height of the grass before I cut it....lol

 

[5030]

The only trouble with that is the homeowner liability if they have an accident or wreck his equipment.

I'm in sort of the same boat with my rentals. I considered letting my renters use my mower and the wife said, no way, I asked why and she said because of the liability issue. If they want their lawns mowed more often than I do it, let them buy their own lawnmower and do it and my attorney agreed 100%.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I'm in sort of the same boat with my rentals. I considered letting my renters use my mower and the wife said, no way, I asked why and she said because of the liability issue. If they want their lawns mowed more often than I do it, let them buy their own lawnmower and do it and my attorney agreed 100%.

Tenants mow the lawn. At least mine do. At the Duplex, I am currently giving one tenant a monthly discount to mow the whole yard.

 

[5030]

What is the thickest liquid you’ve used that HF pump on? I’m considering that for my next hydro change…

The cheap battery operated HF pumps don't last forever, why I always have a couple on hand, but for less than 12 bucks each (under 10 on sale), they are still a bargain however, they are battery eaters which is why I bought 5 Li-Ion D cells (rechargeable) and keep 2 in the pump and 2 in the charger. Much less expensive than using throw away normal D cells and like I stated, I've pumped diesel, DEF and SUDT with mine in the past. No one (including Amazon) sells them cheaper and most of the ones on Amazon are appreciably more expensive.

 

[5030]

Tenants mow the lawn. At least mine do. At the Duplex, I am currently giving one tenant a monthly discount to mow the whole yard.

You must live in an urban or suburban setting. I don't and my rentals all sit on multi acre ground so I don't expect my renters to mow the yards with a push mower anyway. They'd be out there mowing as a full time job.

 

[2manyrocks]

Nashville, TN traffic has gotten so bad that it could take 30 minutes to travel between rental properties even if they were on the same side of town, and it's no fun towing a trailer there.

 

[scootr]

Commuter traffic bad here too. Not enough people left CA to make any difference. I try to schedule any hauling for the off hrs.

 

[5030]

All my rentals are contiguous to the farm so I don't really have to 'travel' anywhere to access them. Good and bad actually. Good in that they are all real close and bad that I get to observe the good and the bad.

 

[2manyrocks]

Mowing the yards also gives you the opportunity to keep an eye on what the heck is going on at your rentals.