4600 Series

SDT · Jan 26, 2014

I'm still considering a 4600 series open station tractor to replace my 2635 (with FEL) and (hopefully) 533, both of which are used primarily for mowing duty. I like some of the features of the 4600 series, especially the 6 speed synchronized transmission. I've read all of the available published information on the MF website and series brochure but still have unanswered questions.

Overall width is very important to me as I use both 6' and 7' cutters regularly. I currently use the 533 with the 6' cutter and the 2635 with the 7' cutter. If I am to replace both the 2635 and the 533 I will need a tractor narrow enough to set rear tread such that overall width is no wider than 70" or so. I will also need HP and hydraulics sufficient to pull a mounted 8' cutter (which I plan to buy) through just about anything on steep ground as fast as the cutter will properly cut. This will require more than the 60 PTO HP of the 2635, probably 70-75 PTO HP.

I also own a Woods DS 1260 mounted 10 1/2' cutter weighing nearly 3000 lbs., though I have sold the NH tractor that I used with this cutter. Power, weight and hydraulics sufficient to handle this mower in certain mostly non steep parcels would be icing on the cake. Proper operation of this cutter will require at least 80 PTO HP, and, of course, more would be better. Operation of the 10 1/2' cutter is desired but not necessary as I will likely sell this cutter if I buy an 8' twin spindle cutter as planned.

It appears that the 4608/9/10 are identical aside from HP and, perhaps tire size, but the literature does not specify overall width with available tire options. Nor does it specify if the 4610 (needed to operate the 10 1/2' cutter) is available with the 16.9 tires which are standard equipment on the 4608 and which will minimize overall width.

Anyone know?

SDT

hog987 · Jan 26, 2014

I had the chance to put some hours on a 4610. I never did measure the width but it would have been around 75 inches and I think there was one more setting on the rims to make it narrower. It came with the 16.9-34 rear tires. This was a cab model. The open station has 16.9-30 rear tires. There is a difference between the 4608 and the 09/10. The two bigger ones come with heavier front and rear axles. For what your looking to run the 4610 sounds about right. Also the tractor does have fast hydraulics. I thought it was a nice ulility tractor.

MAN IN BLACK · Jan 27, 2014

I just bought a 4608.
I had the back wheels closed from 79" to 75" and the mechanic at the dealer told me he could close another 2" on both sides, so down to 71" ,but this leaves very little clearance between the tires & inside of the fenders.
Just have around 10hrs on it, so can't give you much feedback , so far very happy with my choice.
Hope this helps a bit.
BLACK

ironpen · Jan 27, 2014

You can run a 10.5 foot Woods rotary cutter with any of the three 4600 tractors. We use a New Holland Tn70 (58 PTO hp) with ours all the time and it works fine. We have the exact cutter you have. We have several 15 foot batwings as well, but use larger tractors for them. I believe a 4610 would pull one of those batwings....but I would not do that in hilly areas. We love our Woods cutter and all of us would rather use it than the batwings. As would be expected, one must slow up a little bit at times in really tall stuff with the 58 pto horses, but not too often.

SDT · Jan 28, 2014

MAN IN BLACK said:
I just bought a 4608.
I had the back wheels closed from 79" to 75" and the mechanic at the dealer told me he could close another 2" on both sides, so down to 71" ,but this leaves very little clearance between the tires & inside of the fenders.
Just have around 10hrs on it, so can't give you much feedback , so far very happy with my choice.
Hope this helps a bit.
BLACK

Thanks for the info. Does your 4608 have 16.9 rear tires?

SDT