Mowing Mowing a Family Friend's Field

[Rosher18]

It had been a year or two since this 2 acre field was mowed. Blackberries and white oaks had popped up everywhere, but our 72-hour L2501 with 6' Land Pride rotary cutter put it to bed in about 2 1/2 hours.

Spent most of the time in 3rd Low, but in most of the thicker dry grass, blackberry and white oak I dropped down to 1st gear. The whine from the mower gearbox was nice to have audible, and I was surprised how even the thicker dry grass was able to start dragging the motor RPM down at times.

The most helpful thing I was able to do was to keep the loader bucket low to kind of pre-deflect the brush and avoid it dragging all the way down the length of the tractor.

I'll upload a short mowing clip and share it in an additional post in this thread.

 

[Rosher18]

Here's the link to the mowing video. It's about a minute and eighteen seconds of incredibly satisfying grass and small tree leveling.

 

[RjCorazza]

Nice job!
I've been wanting to try my new flail mower on something like that.

 

[EddieWalker]

The most helpful thing I was able to do was to keep the loader bucket low to kind of pre-deflect the brush and avoid it dragging all the way down the length of the tractor.

I agree that there is something very satisfying when mowing an overgrown field.

We have totally different versions on keeping "the loader bucket low".

I like to take off the bucket, and then I keep the loader just at the top edge of my front grill so I can see where it is while mowing. Any lower, and I can't see it. Any higher, and it's in the way of my view.

 

[old and tired]

I used to destroy acres of cotton plants so it couldn't be harvested. Experimental plants that were under development...

Great seat time... Also, once we harvested our plots, we would have to burn hundreds of pounds of "picked" cotton. One match and the pile burst into flames...

PS. Lower your bucket, first it knocks over the weeds, if you have it set a few inches above the ground - you can use it to find rocks or other things that you don't want to mow. Also, if your tire falls into a hole, you'll be more likely to roll your tractor over if it's up.

 

[oosik]

That is a real satisfying video. Every 3-4 years I will go to my next door neighbor - 2 1/2 miles away - and clean out his feed pens. His tractors are just too big. Besides - none have FEL or rear blade.

However - I always ask for payment. His wife makes the most delicious berry pies I've ever laid a lip to.

 

[Rosher18]

I agree that there is something very satisfying when mowing an overgrown field.

We have totally different versions on keeping "the loader bucket low".

I like to take off the bucket, and then I keep the loader just at the top edge of my front grill so I can see where it is while mowing. Any lower, and I can't see it. Any higher, and it's in the way of my view.

I'm regards to keeping the bucket low: I took this video before I'd started keeping it a few inches above the ground as another forum user mentioned.

 

[Rosher18]

I used to destroy acres of cotton plants so it couldn't be harvested. Experimental plants that were under development...

Great seat time... Also, once we harvested our plots, we would have to burn hundreds of pounds of "picked" cotton. One match and the pile burst into flames...

PS. Lower your bucket, first it knocks over the weeds, if you have it set a few inches above the ground - you can use it to find rocks or other things that you don't want to mow. Also, if your tire falls into a hole, you'll be more likely to roll your tractor over if it's up.

That looks like some great seat time, especially with the weather a bit cloudy like that!

I did wind up having the bucket much closer to the ground, about 5 or 6 on average. I'd taken this video just before I discovered the benefits of a low bucket.

 

[CalG]

Just in counter situation:

I talked to my cousin in South Dakota the other day. He had just got home from helping a neighbor mow 80 acres of alfalfa. Took him four hours.

Was going back the next day to ted and bale.

When things are right, operations run smoothly and quickly.

 

[oosik]

I always plan for things to go smoothly. Some times they actually go that way.

Like many of us here - I've had a whole lot of "learning experiences".

Fortunately - I've survived with only bumps and bruises. Also - no close neighbors - so nobody to watch me and make critical comments.

 

[jyoutz]

I agree that there is something very satisfying when mowing an overgrown field.

We have totally different versions on keeping "the loader bucket low".

I like to take off the bucket, and then I keep the loader just at the top edge of my front grill so I can see where it is while mowing. Any lower, and I can't see it. Any higher, and it's in the way of my view.

I like to keep my loader bucket on when rotary cutting. Because I use it as a trash can for limbs and other stuff I find. I also carry ant bait in the bucket in case I run into any ant hills.

 

[EddieWalker]

Just in counter situation:

I talked to my cousin in South Dakota the other day. He had just got home from helping a neighbor mow 80 acres of alfalfa. Took him four hours.

Was going back the next day to ted and bale.

When things are right, operations run smoothly and quickly.

20 acres an hour is amazing!!!! How much HP does he have, and how wide is the mower?

 

[EddieWalker]

I like to keep my loader bucket on when rotary cutting. Because I use it as a trash can for limbs and other stuff I find. I no also carry ant bait in the bucket in case I run into any ant hills.

That makes sense. I really should pick up the branches when I come across them because I usually forget where they are after I'm done mowing. My goal is to come back with my other tractor that has the grapple on it, and pick them up, but I usually keep mowing until dark and never get around to it.

I still have a lot of trees on my land, and the bucket made it that much harder to maneuver in and around them. I still use the loader to push branches, and even fallen trees out of my way. I've thought about removing it for a little bit more maneuverability, but since I've never done that before, I'm not tot motivated to learn how.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm glad some of you can enjoy having the loader on while mowing. I couldn't stand it. There's just something about the freedom (I don't know what other word to use) of not having the loader on that appeals to me.

 

[John0829]

I agree with that, having the loader on is just packing around extra weight to bang and bounce as I travel over the rough ground. I do not try to mow at top speeds but it will still happen if I were to leave the loader on, I hate feeling and hearing that happen. If I think there are limbs or debris that needs to be removed I'll make a quick trip around with the loader before putting on the cutter.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'll quite often do what I need to do with the loader and then remove it. It's under a minute to remove and a little longer to reattach.

 

[jyoutz]

I agree with that, having the loader on is just packing around extra weight to bang and bounce as I travel over the rough ground. I do not try to mow at top speeds but it will still happen if I were to leave the loader on, I hate feeling and hearing that happen. If I think there are limbs or debris that needs to be removed I'll make a quick trip around with the loader before putting on the cutter.

I guess a quick trip around depends on how many acres you have to mow.

 

[Runner]

I have mowed the pasture with/without bucket and there are advantages and disadvantages. I like having the bucket on for counterweight and to be a trash can. It also helps to intercept some of seeds and other garbage that would otherwise hit the front of the tractor first.

However, it also inhibits maneuverability around trees, etc., so I mostly mow without it now. I am currently most likely to have my front quick hitch mounted because I have to use it to move other attachments out of the way to get to my rotary cutter and it's easiest to just leave it on.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I'm glad some of you can enjoy having the loader on while mowing. I couldn't stand it. There's just something about the freedom (I don't know what other word to use) of not having the loader on that appeals to me.

Yea, I don't like the bouncing of the loader when mowing but my ground isn't very smooth.

 

[old and tired]

Without the loader on, I feel like I have 5 more ponies under the hood... and a race car as a tractor!!!!