5hp difference at PTO...

[wetstuff]

I need to buy a CUT. There's a nice little Massey 1428v w/24 at the PTO .. and a nice, N-H TC33D w/29 PTO. (the gross HP is also spread at 5hp) There has to be a point where these fall into 'lawn tractor' status .. but is this 5hp spread very meaningful? (I have been running a 1957, F-40 for the last 15yrs .. but it really needs too much $$/effort to keep it alive.)

I would only pull a 72" finishing mower and a 60" bushog ..on a 5 acre, basic weed pasture. The rest of the time the FEL would get most of my attention. I would appreciate some guidance. Thanks.

Jim

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I need to buy a CUT. There's a nice little Massey 1428v w/24 at the PTO .. and a nice, N-H TC33D w/29 PTO. (the gross HP is also spread at 5hp) There has to be a point where these fall into 'lawn tractor' status .. but is this 5hp spread very meaningful? (I have been running a 1957, F-40 for the last 15yrs .. but it really needs too much $$/effort to keep it alive.)

I would only pull a 72" finishing mower and a 60" bushog ..on a 5 acre, basic weed pasture. The rest of the time the FEL would get most of my attention. I would appreciate some guidance. Thanks.

Jim

Being a guy, I hesitate to make the statement that "Size Matters"....mo' HP is Mo' Better! You won't regret it. BobG in VA

 

[jlsmith]

I would go with the MF. Even tho the NH has a little more hp the Massey will do the same job as the NH. I have been on both and can say that for having worked both machines.:thumbsup:

 

[Transit]

I think 24 PTO Hp is cutting it real close. You will be seeing the temperature gauge in the Red quit often on those hot VA days.

 

[ol'oilburner]

If they are both the same price, then I would go with the larger tractor, however the 1428 will easily handle what you've described as your intended purpose for the machine and if it is the lower priced tractor, then that is the one I would choose. You didn't mention if the machines were new or used

 

[wetstuff]

... It's the 24hp at the PTO that makes me nervous. I sense my F-40 had half that (they only rated drawbar HP then..), but still did 'yard tractor' basics, but I don't want get caught in Transit's Red Zone from the get-go. The F-40 was gas and did not overheat, but knee-high weeds were -for sure- low gear all day.

I don't buy locker room talk about size. I could also buy a Mahindra 5500 with 44hp at the PTO, but it's too big for the property.

It's tricky... but I appreciate the input. Thanks.

Jim

 

[RobertN]

General rule of thumb here over the years has been 5hp per foot of mower. 5' mower, 25hp at least.

Having been underpowered on a mower on my previous tractor, I would err on the side of a little extra hp.

I would add that, I used my mower to help some friends; thier field was really easy to cut. On the other hand, the field grass at my parents 8 acres, is like cuttin bamboo; it heavily taxed my old tractor. My current tractor has a 6' rotary mower, but has 35hp on the pto, so I have reserve power.

 

[Ford tractor]

If you don't need the extra power, you will just be buying a larger machine that eats more fuel.

But if you need the extra power, you are buying the right machine the first time.



It's not all about the power. The ergonomics of how the seat fits, the controls are laid out, etc matters a lot more. I'm a big guy and the small machines are too dinky for me.

 

[kemary]

I have used a Massey 1428 quite a bit and it will handle either impliment you list ok. If you are mowing really thick brush, you might have to slow down a little. I have cut hood high weeds and grass with the brush hog and it had no trouble and never overheated. :thumbsup:

 

[Mickey_Fx]

There is more to the issue than has been asked. There are several variables on that rotary mower that impacts needed power. A decent set of blades is one issue but another is how well does the deck clear the cuttings.

Before buying my CUT and mower I borrowed my BIL's rig a couple times. Believe his tractor was rate at 29HP and he had an older JD mower. His equipment struggled to get the job done. Cuttings were just not getting out from under the deck. My CUT is rated @ 24HP at the PTO. The deck was new, 5', no problems with cuttings getting cleared out and most of the time I hardly know the mower is back there power wise and was moving a lot fast as well.

25HP is OK power wise for cutting grass IF the deck can keep the cuttings cleared out.