Have tractor need something for ditch mowing

[smp22]

Hi all, I have a Kubota b2620 that I use to mow about five acres with the mmm but I have a septic field I do with a push mower and ditches and road frontage that I basically don't mow. I would like to buy a used machine that I can do these things with but being a secondary machine I really want to spend as little as possible to get the job done. We have lived here seven seasons now and done fine without manicuring these areas so it's a nice to have not a need to have. The ditches are steep. Would love a JD riding mower (I believe this is what the previous owner used) but not sure how high up the price scale I need to go to have something that will work in the ditches. Thanks for any and all recommendations.

 

[Hay Dude]

I would suggest a smaller zero turn mower with some bar tires, or weed wacking them.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I got a throw away riding lawnmower I use in my ditches. $250 Husqvarna

Bolted some lead to the back of it.

I had a craftsman that came with it that was amazing in ditches. Never stopped or tried to top it the deck was junked.

Ztr wise depends on the model. I would take my grandmas bad boy anywhere any slope. It's very stable but my buddies JD 997 I wouldnt take hardly down a drive way. It slides around way to easy

 

[smp22]

Thanks for the replies. Leaning away form ZTR, if I go that route I'm getting something I can do all five acres with - and I have that, my kubota tractor and MMM. I need something for the edges, septic field (can't be too heavy) and the ditches. Based on further research it seems I need something with a rear locker - so this means a JD X500 or better and something new like that is just way over budget. Looking at the older models I'm interested in some of the late 90's early 2000s stuff but ... prices are high for those, too, all things considered. I'm wondering if the diff lock is required to get at the ditches. They're pretty steep so thinking this is a yes. Grateful for recommends on older JDs with dif locks - but I would like to keep the size down, smaller is better.

Smaller mower likes the john deere D and LA "big box store" models, I know have weaker trans, but they are super cheap used around here. I wouldn't be able to do the ditches with this (and haven't done those in 7 years) but I could do the edges and septic I gather, so maybe a happy compromise.

Thanks all.

 

[2manyrocks]

What might work on ditches depends on how steep, how wide, and how far you have to reach. Used to be that a 7' side mounted sickle bar mower took care of a lot of those situations, but that seems to be a thing of the past.

I've personally considered using a hedge trimmer attachment for extra reach cutting creek banks here, but haven't rigged it up yet. Could probably only cut 12-16" at a pass and maybe reach out about 3-4 feet. This attachment will cut briars when mounted to a gas trimmer. Amazon.com

You can also get extensions to extend the reach a bit more, but the whole thing becomes heavy to hold and is more likely to get bent if you were to somehow mount it to a riding mower.

 

[Torvy]

I've seen some sickle mowers someplace. That's what grandpa used.

We have a flail ditch mower, but that little tractor may not be able to handle one. My mower weighs about 2/3 the weight of a B2620. It's a medium duty 175mm. They make lighter ones. Just not sure if the smallest one would work either.

 

[LouNY]

With a light tractor a sickle bar would be your best bet.
Sickle Hedge Trimmer | Betstco Sales, Parts, and Service:

 

[oldtimer 66]

I used to do 600 feet of ditch and 300 feet of tree line with a hand held trimmer, on just about a weekly schedule. A FIMCO tank, pump and 53% glyphosate took care of that problem.

 

[bigtiller]

Something you can set partially on the up-hill fender and seat for counter weight and fast egress if necessary. An old 400 series John Deere garden tractor made from 1992 to 2001 worked for me.

TractorData.com John Deere 445 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[CliffordK]

You can get an offset flail mower. But your Kubota won't be able to take a very large one.

 

[yooperdave]

Hi all, I have a Kubota b2620 that I use to mow about five acres with the mmm but I have a septic field I do with a push mower and ditches and road frontage that I basically don't mow. I would like to buy a used machine that I can do these things with but being a secondary machine I really want to spend as little as possible to get the job done. We have lived here seven seasons now and done fine without manicuring these areas so it's a nice to have not a need to have. The ditches are steep. Would love a JD riding mower (I believe this is what the previous owner used) but not sure how high up the price scale I need to go to have something that will work in the ditches. Thanks for any and all recommendations.

I have a pretty substantial slope: 20 to 25 degrees. I am disabled and retired. I currently use a Cub Cadet XT2 with substantial 3rd party suitcase weights on the back and several lead shot weights used for gym training tied to the front bumper. I wear gloves and hold onto the rear fenders so I do not fall off. The tractor has not overturned or slid uncontrollably. It backs up the hill remarkably well if needed. I only mow under ideal conditions - no rain or wet grass. Good Luck. Yooper Dave

 

[D'oh]

TMG Industrial 50” Offset Ditch Bank Flail Mower with 90° Tilt, 3-Point Hitch, 20-50 HP Tractor, PTO Drive Shaft, TMG-TFMO50

The TMG-TFMO50 Ditch Bank Flail Mower makes the cutting of uneven, overgrown and sloped terrain efficient and easy to do. Tough, matted grass and weeds are no match for this mower's heavy duty 600 lb frame and forged flail hammers that chew up anything in their path. A hydraulically controlled...

tmgindustrial.ca

 

[smp22]

Thanks all. I need to do some basic mowing on my septic field and this is also a backup when I don't have the MMM mounted on the tractor so a solution like a sickle mower doesn't check all my boxes and seems like a lot of work to mount when needed. A secondary machine dedicated to mowing is what I'm leaning towards. I think I'm just looking for an excuse to buy a JD lawn or garden tractor

Kind of seems like I need one with a locking diff, like a used X500 series or a gt/gx/345 or the like. I looked at the x300 and x500 series at the dealer today and they are nice machines. The X370 is kind of interesting at it's price point, it has the K57 trans, this is a serviceable transaxle but doesn't have a locker. When doing my research it looks like an upgraded K46 with a pump. It only ships with a 42" deck, no 48" - sales guy didn't seem like he would budge on taking one off of another 300 series. They can handle a slope of 15 degrees. When I asked the salesman whether that was along the slope, or vertically he couldn't give me an answer, he didn't know. I have slopes as high as 18 maybe 20 degrees in some areas (walk out basement) but my tractor handles those fine. I need this for the ditches and I don't think those are over 15 degrees. Can I mow those along the slope, rather than up/down with something like an X370? The 42" deck might actually be a help if mowing along the slope, the edge of a larger deck would dig into the bottom of the ditch.

I don't expect to put a lot of hours on this secondary machine so I'm leaning used, but the 1.9% financing and warranty are pretty appealing. I'm concerned about any of these machines with over 400 hours on them who knows how they were used/abused. Resale is high, it's a gamble. On the other hand, resale is high, why not go new? A new x570 or the like is out of the question from a budget POV.

They had a used x584 on the lot, about 500 hours, 2020 model year. $7000 CAD. Which is exactly the price of the new X370. It's on consignment and was serviced at this dealer since new.

 

[leonz]

Thanks all. I need to do some basic mowing on my septic field and this is also a backup when I don't have the MMM mounted on the tractor so a solution like a sickle mower doesn't check all my boxes and seems like a lot of work to mount when needed. A secondary machine dedicated to mowing is what I'm leaning towards. I think I'm just looking for an excuse to buy a JD lawn or garden tractor

Kind of seems like I need one with a locking diff, like a used X500 series or a gt/gx/345 or the like. I looked at the x300 and x500 series at the dealer today and they are nice machines. The X370 is kind of interesting at it's price point, it has the K57 trans, this is a serviceable transaxle but doesn't have a locker. When doing my research it looks like an upgraded K46 with a pump. It only ships with a 42" deck, no 48" - sales guy didn't seem like he would budge on taking one off of another 300 series. They can handle a slope of 15 degrees. When I asked the salesman whether that was along the slope, or vertically he couldn't give me an answer, he didn't know. I have slopes as high as 18 maybe 20 degrees in some areas (walk out basement) but my tractor handles those fine. I need this for the ditches and I don't think those are over 15 degrees. Can I mow those along the slope, rather than up/down with something like an X370? The 42" deck might actually be a help if mowing along the slope, the edge of a larger deck would dig into the bottom of the ditch.

I don't expect to put a lot of hours on this secondary machine so I'm leaning used, but the 1.9% financing and warranty are pretty appealing. I'm concerned about any of these machines with over 400 hours on them who knows how they were used/abused. Resale is high, it's a gamble. On the other hand, resale is high, why not go new? A new x570 or the like is out of the question from a budget POV.

They had a used x584 on the lot, about 500 hours, 2020 model year. $7000 CAD. Which is exactly the price of the new X370. It's on consignment and was serviced at this dealer since new.

So you have a narrow tall sand filter?

This JD salesman is not helping you, the first thing he should have told you is you need a slope indicator mounted on your lawn mower hood. For the money spent you should invest in a set of Agrizeta tracks and use the slope gauge chart only if the used lawn mower has bolt on rear wheels and in that way you can have rear weights and drive down slopes while mowing and back up the slope safely.

A 42 inch wide mower deck will not stop a rollover.


Amazon has the sun company slope gauge/inclinometer that you tape to the hood of the lawn mower.
I cannot upload the file but all you have to do is go to the amazon site and type in sun inclinometer
and then buy one.

 

[gstrom99]

To avoid slippage, put these on the back of whatever you get. Worked great on my junk/trail/woods rider.

Carlisle Super Lug Lawn and Garden Tire 4ply 20X10-8 33259641397 | eBay

The Carlisle Super Lug tire has an ag lug design, which makes it the right choice whenever the applications cals for substantial traction. 1 Carlisle Super Lug tire. Model:Super Lug. If the image contains a wheel it is only for display purposes, THE SALE IS FOR THE TIRE ONLY.

www.ebay.com