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

[Midniteoyl]

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.

Rural, though the Duplex is just on the outside edge of town. But ya, none of the properties have more than 1 acre.

 

[deserteagle71]

The flail mower roller smooths out the gopher mounds nicely

Around here my problem is the badgers that live off the gophers and ground squirrels. When a badger goes in to dig out a gopher he leaves a mound of dirt a minimum of a foot high - with a lot of rocks in the dirt that can be up to 6" diameter. How does the flail handle rocks?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

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.

I hear ya...

 

[scootr]

Around here my problem is the badgers that live off the gophers and ground squirrels. When a badger goes in to dig out a gopher he leaves a mound of dirt a minimum of a foot high - with a lot of rocks in the dirt that can be up to 6" diameter. How does the flail handle rocks?

I don't think any bladed cutter handles the rocks without damage. Which is why we modified an old BH last year replacing cutting edge with chain. It is now a giant weedeater that shreds everything and kicks rocks out without a care

 

[JethroB]

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?

44 PTO will run a 6’ flail and just hum along no problem. Slow down if necessary. I’m mowing a few an acres of old bahai pastures. Stems

I will say my biggest disappointment in the flail is the stems popping up quickly in the tire tracks. I have mine offset to the right (solid mount, not a hydraulic side shifter) about a foot beyond the outside of the rear tire. This helps as only the right tires push down the grass before the mower eats it. It also is great for getting close to fences, trees, etc. I only have experience with the side slicer/Y-blades, not hammers.

 

[5030]

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

It stipulates in my rental agreements that I can inspect the dwellings anytime I want to during reasonable hours.

 

[5030]

One thing I keep forgetting to mention concerning mowing with a Zero Turn mower in high grass and weeds is the vulnerability of the electric PTO clutch that is on most ZTR's. It 'hangs down' on the end end of the motor crankshaft and usually 'slots' into a torque reaction cutout in the mower frame and has a 2 wire electrical lead that plugs into the clutch itself.

Those electrical feed wires and just hanging under there and are really prone to getting snagged by weeds and such that don't get cut off and spring back up and snag the electrical feed wires for the clutch assembly and if you are not lucky they will pull out of the clutch assembly and that will mean buying a new clutch and they aren't a cheap date by a long shot. Had that happen on my sold M60 Tank and a replacement clutch assembly set me back over 300 bucks, 5 years ago. I hate to think what they cost today.

Just be aware of what is 'hanging down' on the back end of most any ZTR and what it might cost you if you rip the wires out of it by snagging them on a springback weed mowing high weeds or grass. Easy to replace. Not so easy on the pocketbook however.

 

[arto98607]

For anyone trying to find aftermarket alternatives, here is a company specializing in PTO clutches etc.
I bought a PTO clutch from them many years ago for my Grasshopper.

Xtreme Outdoor Power Equipment Clutches

Not cheap but at least an alternative.

 

[Midniteoyl]

It stipulates in my rental agreements that I can inspect the dwellings anytime I want to during reasonable hours.

Most states require at least a 24hr notice regardless.

 

[5030]

Not here. Besides my attorney draws up my rental agreements. I don't.

 

[5030]

For anyone trying to find aftermarket alternatives, here is a company specializing in PTO clutches etc.
I bought a PTO clutch from them many years ago for my Grasshopper.

Xtreme Outdoor Power Equipment Clutches

Not cheap but at least an alternative.

Actually, that is where I got my replacement one. Don't have to be concerned with that now, no more 12 volt mag clutches.

 

[KenBike]

I have 15 acers of horse pasture that have been mowing for 10 years. In the spring when the field is wet I use my Altoz 766I tracked zero turn mower with the all terrain deck. If the grass gets above 12" it is a mess to get it cleaned up and not have a lot of wet clumps. Once it gets dry enough, mow with a 12ft bushhog bat wing pulled by my tractor. Used a kubota L6060 with R4 tires and it was a rough ride even with low air pressure.
Wanted a lager tractor so last summer picked up a Kubota M5-091 with R-1 radial tires. It rides great and can pull the bushhog at 9-12 mph.

With the 12 can mow everything in 1.5 hours. With the zero turn it takes 8 hours if 7-8mph speed can be maintained.

Note when stopped cutting hay and decided to mow I called the grounds manager at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Wife did horse events there and they always had great looking pasture and riding area.

They used batwing mowers and cut at 10-12 inches to 6 inches.

If you have a tractor and could put turf tires on it and run low air pressure you get a good ride. R4 such in a rough field.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I mowed 2 acres of 24” high grass last night… I used my 27hp trail mower, not my 29hp ZTR. The ZTR is designed to shove all of that biomass out one little opening at the edge of the deck… the trail mower doesn’t have that restriction. Also, my ATV rides a helluva lot better across a field

 

[RayIN]

Will not mow 5 ft tall weeds very well, and even with the suspension will still kill your back after riding over that bumpy ground. Mower overall just will not stand up to that type of punishment for very long without leading to serious maintenance issues. And if the slopes are very steep and you loose traction it will spin around and start going back down hill and will continue until it gets to the bottom And you will not be able to hold the slope trying to mow side to side. Only up and down only

I agree with everything you said, down to the "slopes".
I have R1 tread tires on my Hustler ZTR and it mows 35° sideways easily. The trick to it is making the ZTR "crabwalk" with the front wheels always pointed uphill. It will also mow that same bank up/downhill, but I must go slower downhill or it will do as you say_lose traction and slide down the bank.
Now I'm considering adding rear wheel weights to improve traction.
A friend wore out a Ferris ZTR mowing pastures at its highest setting, about 30A.
That said; mowing down stuff as high as he has is a great way to ruin a ZTR lawn mower.

 

[KenBike]

Standard decks on ZTR's are good at processing 2-4" of cut material. On the Altoz with the all terrain deck with swing blades it does not have any baffles and is rear discharge. I can cut 10" of heavy horse pasture grass and clover with out any large clumps. Normally wait a few days if the sun is out to dry out the cut grass and go back a second time cutting the opposite direction to further chop out the grass clippings.
Altoz has a new 766 I TFX with better front suspension and reserve rotation right side blade on the deck.
Called the dealer and order one to replace my current 766 I.