How much does a 72" deck weigh? OK loader ballast?

[FlyFishn]

All,

We're getting an LX2620 put together with a 72" mower deck. Out of curiosity - how much does this weigh? With it mid-mounted, will that added weight help us with the loader much? My hope is it will be OK ballast to get us through for a while. I am not keen on leaving the deck on when not in use, but for the work we will have around here, other than tillage, I can't see having any ground clearance issues that would require taking it off. I'm just trying to come up with ways of not having an implement off the back of the tractor. I am trying to get my implements stacked in the barn so I can squeeze more stuff in there, if I have to use one of the other 3 point implements as ballast then that kills the floor space I have to work with.

 

[CH4Ohio]

The mower deck will interfere with any use of the 3-point hitch, if that's an issue.

It will also stick out quite a bit on both sides of the tractor. That's often an issue.

It's pretty hard on a mower deck to bang it up on the sides and twist it or high-center it on rough terrain.

To your main question, the deck will certainly add to the weight of the tractor, as long as you're carrying it and not letting it roll on the ground. But, in my opinion, it's not a good ballast option.

Edit -- I'm guessing it weighs 350 pounds or so. Just my guess based on moving mine around.

 

[D&D]

All,

We're getting an LX2620 put together with a 72" mower deck. Out of curiosity - how much does this weigh? With it mid-mounted, will that added weight help us with the loader much? My hope is it will be OK ballast to get us through for a while. I am not keen on leaving the deck on when not in use, but for the work we will have around here, other than tillage, I can't see having any ground clearance issues that would require taking it off. I'm just trying to come up with ways of not having an implement off the back of the tractor. I am trying to get my implements stacked in the barn so I can squeeze more stuff in there, if I have to use one of the other 3 point implements as ballast then that kills the floor space I have to work with.

Kubota RCK72-30BB
463 lbs

 

[FlyFishn]

The mower deck will interfere with any use of the 3-point hitch, if that's an issue.

I'm curious - how will the mower deck interfere with the 3 point? It isn't using the 3 point rocker arms to lift it, is it?

I havent seen it together, the deck was in pieces in a metal crate the other day so Ia curious how all this works.

 

[FlyFishn]

Kubota RCK72-30BB
463 lbs

Ha. Not that it is an issue, but Im surely not going to be hand rolling that beast around and tilting it up against the barn wall like I do with the mower deck LOL. I can pick it carefully with the loader/forks though. And to the earlier question - thank you. That makes me feel a bit better on the ballast issue, although it doesnt have the leverage advantage in fronf of the rear axle as that weight would behind the axle. Its still better than the bare tractor. Im at least comfortable enough to try it from the start

 

[CH4Ohio]

I'm curious - how will the mower deck interfere with the 3 point? It isn't using the 3 point rocker arms to lift it, is it?

I havent seen it together, the deck was in pieces in a metal crate the other day so Ia curious how all this works.

My Kubota 72" deck is raised with the 3-point hitch control. It's linked to the rear lift arms.

Edit: Also, Mine is really easy to drop on pavement. I can easily remove it in 5 minutes. And easy to lift and move around using the loader.

 

[SPYDERLK]

My Kubota 72" deck is raised with the 3-point hitch control. It's linked to the rear lift arms.

Edit: Also, Mine is really easy to drop on pavement. I can easily remove it in 5 minutes. And easy to lift and move around using the loader.

But, after raising, the Kub deck, at least on BXs, can be manually restricted to its top position by a knob, leaving the 3ph free to act to adjust implements.

 

[CH4Ohio]

But, after raising, the Kub deck can be manually restricted to its top position by a knob, leaving the 3ph free to act to adjust implements.

I don't think so. Mine has a couple of brackets that hang down underneath to carry/hold the linkage up when not in use. They're not built to carry the weight of the deck and I don't think they can be "attached" when the deck's mounted.

The "knob" you mention is the one under the seat that keeps the 3-point from dropping? That interferes with the use of the 3-point hitch in a big way.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I don't think so. Mine has a couple of brackets that hang down underneath to carry/hold the linkage up when not in use. They're not built to carry the weight of the deck and I don't think they can be "attached" when the deck's mounted.

The "knob" you mention is the one under the seat that keeps the 3-point from dropping? That interferes with the use of the 3-point hitch in a big way.

Different knob.
Im only familiar with the arrangement on the BX, which allows you to set height of the MMM suspension point. Set high, it will rest there mechanically while the 3ph can be operated full range. ...... I guess Ls do not provide this feature? Well, darn!

 

[D&D]

I'm curious - how will the mower deck interfere with the 3 point? It isn't using the 3 point rocker arms to lift it, is it?

I havent seen it together, the deck was in pieces in a metal crate the other day so Ia curious how all this works.

IMO, I’d spend the money on a finish mower or a decent used zt. MMM, to me, are the pits

 

[CH4Ohio]

Different knob.
Im only familiar with the arrangement on the BX, which allows you to set height of the MMM suspension point. Set high, it will rest there mechanically while the 3ph can be operated full range. ...... I guess Ls do not provide this feature? Well, darn!

Maybe they do. I'm speaking from my experience with a B model. So you may be right. Thanks.

 

[zzvyb6]

The deck won't provide anywhere near the loader restraint ballast you're likely going to need. And if you 'load' the tires to help, your lawn will look like terrible from the rear wheel track impressions. If the deck weighs 400 lbs and its c.g. is 3' from the front wheel center-line, it will only give you a 200 lb extra loader safety margin of pitch restraint. Now put a 400 lb rear deck 10' behind the front wheel center line and consider the difference.

 

[JWR]

The mower deck will interfere with any use of the 3-point hitch, if that's an issue.

It will also stick out quite a bit on both sides of the tractor. That's often an issue.

It's pretty hard on a mower deck to bang it up on the sides and twist it or high-center it on rough terrain.

To your main question, the deck will certainly add to the weight of the tractor, as long as you're carrying it and not letting it roll on the ground. But, in my opinion, it's not a good ballast option.

Edit -- I'm guessing it weighs 350 pounds or so. Just my guess based on moving mine around.

D&D saying 463 lbs for the MMMower deck is correct of course. I agree with CH4Ohio that the MMM does very little or no good for ballast. It is also a PITA if you do much loader work or other things. I disagree that it is much of an interference for 3pt lift work. Most MMMs can be fastened in the up position giving better clearance and more compatible with 3pt work. Why are you going with a 72" MMM? They are cumbersome to take on and off, won't fit into most utility trailers unless specially made for extra width. I think your are better off with a 60" MMM if you must use a mid mount mower. If you go to a Bush Hog single spindle rotary cutter you have about 850 lbs in the rear which is very good ballast for your FEL work. If you really need finish mowing the MMM does a somewhat better job in my experience than a 3pt finish mower BUT I had a Landpride FDR2572 72" 3pt finish mower which was heavy as H and took as much or more HP to run than my 6ft Bush Hog in heavy grass/weeds, etc. It would make just as good a ballast as the Bush Hog. Check the weights as I doubt you want more than 800-900 lbs on the 3pt for ballast. By the way a FDR2572 3pt finish mower weighs 718 lbs which is fine for your ballast needs. The ads claim it is fine for "16-60 HP" and I call BS on that. There are no 16HP tractors that could satisfactorily pull that cutter and your ~ 28-30HP Kubota would be at it's limits.

 

[dodge man]

It won’t help for ballast much if at all. Depending on the setup you can lock the deck up and it may be tied into the three point for the mower lift. I will leave my deck on for a little bit of loader work but almost always take it off.

For any kind of loader work get a ballast box or a heavy hitch. A really heavy implement will help also but most implements aren’t heavy enough. Ballast boxes are relatively inexpensive and you can often fill them with cheap materials. I went several years without rear ballast and realized how hard that is on the front axle and how unbalanced the tractor is.

 

[Carl_NH]

Yes, as Dodgeman say, Flyfishin, get the ballast box and get the QA to three pt or quick hitch set up.

Also if you watched the video installing the 72" MMM that's a chore on flat concrete - on a rough wood barn floor even less "fun". look at getting a RFM as others have suggested.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

The mmm will ADD weight to the front axle ... Only way to lighten the front axle for loader work is put weight behind the rear axle ...

Buy or build your own three point ballast box ...

 

[JWR]

It won’t help for ballast much if at all. Depending on the setup you can lock the deck up and it may be tied into the three point for the mower lift. I will leave my deck on for a little bit of loader work but almost always take it off.

For any kind of loader work get a ballast box or a heavy hitch. A really heavy implement will help also but most implements aren’t heavy enough. Ballast boxes are relatively inexpensive and you can often fill them with cheap materials. I went several years without rear ballast and realized how hard that is on the front axle and how unbalanced the tractor is.

Agree mostly (the belly mower is no good for ballast) but most bush hogs or 3pt finish mowers are plenty heavy for ballast. An 800 lb rotary mower back there has a center of gravity 2 to 3 feet at least aft of the lift arm holes on the 3pt. So an 800 lb mower with weight centered a few feet aft of the 3pt provides much more ballast than a ballast box of similar weight due to the leverage. An 800 lb mower back there is more ballast (for FEL purposes) than a 1000lb ballast box would be.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

The advantage of a ballast box over a single spindle rotary cutter is it is much more compact weight, and much closer to the tractor, and narrow too ... So working in tighter places, your not bumping things with a 5' wide cutter, that is 8' long!

My Bush Hog BH 115 5' rotary cutter is 518 Lbs, and 8' long ... Sticks out a ways!

Whereas my Ballast Box weighs 707 Lbs ... And is tight up against the back of my tractor, but provides just about the same front axle protection based on how light the steering feels driving backwards and a sudden stop! (Similar to my 615 Lb BH too!)

 

[4570Man]

You need the weight behind the rear axel. The farther behind the axel the more effective it is although the closer it is the less cumbersome it is. You just have to compensate with more weight when it’s up close. Thats why forklifts have gigantic cast iron counter weights. A mid mounted mower deck is doing pretty much zero effect being mounted where it is.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Agree mostly (the belly mower is no good for ballast) but most bush hogs or 3pt finish mowers are plenty heavy for ballast. An 800 lb rotary mower back there has a center of gravity 2 to 3 feet at least aft of the lift arm holes on the 3pt. So an 800 lb mower with weight centered a few feet aft of the 3pt provides much more ballast than a ballast box of similar weight due to the leverage. An 800 lb mower back there is more ballast (for FEL purposes) than a 1000lb ballast box would be.

All true about a long heavy implement providing more leverage and ballast. But LOTS of times when you need ballast for loader work you're in tight spaces or in-and-out of a barn where you need to be nimble. That's where a ballast box really shines. And for a LX tractor, I can't imagine that you'd need more than a ballast box weighing 5-600 pounds.