Mowing 60 inch mower

[BillCroasmun]

Not sure if this is the best method for cutting purposes but I leave it that way mainly to deal with some of the rough ground I cut. If I do "clip" any unseen objects with the front I can stop before the lower back has a chance to hit it hard. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BTW, I took the pictures of the mower deck but the wife confiscated the digital camera for Easter before I had a chance to download the images. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[funpilot]

Well, as always, you guys were absolutely correct. Mine was spinning backwords. Fixed that and it cuts nicely now. Sorry, no longer for sale.

 

[MossRoad]

Gotta love that "quality control" out of the factory, yes? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

For all its bumps and blemishes, once you get 'em tweaked the way they should be, they are great machines!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am so glad you got it working correctly. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[pah]

And we wonder why these folks don't provide manuals?

 

[MuncyBob]

Are the 48" and 60" decks suitable for "mulching" blades? I'm fairly satisfied with the cut as is as long as the grass doesn't get too high, but I may be looking for new blades by the end of this summer and wonder if I will gain anything by using mulching blades??

 

[MuncyBob]

Are the 48" and 60" decks suitable for "mulching" blades? I'm fairly satisfied with the cut as is as long as the grass doesn't get too high, but I may be looking for new blades by the end of this summer and wonder if I will gain anything by using mulching blades??

 

[KMA]

Sorry for bringing up an older thread...

Does the 60" deck "float", allowing it to handle uneven terrain?

[edit] I read in an older post that there is a "float" mode that allows for this. [/edit]

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry for bringing up an older thread...

Does the 60" deck "float", allowing it to handle uneven terrain?

[edit] I read in an older post that there is a "float" mode that allows for this. [/edit]

Thanks,
Kevin

Never apologize for asking questions in the Power Trac forum! We are all here for the same reason.

Yes, the deck floats. If you've ever used a front end loader, you will be familiar with the float position. Since the mower deck attaches to the FEL arms in the exact same place as a bucket would, you just push the FEL joystick forward past the down position and the FEL arms are free to float up and down with the terrain. The weight of the mower deck is supported by the four mower deck wheels, not the FEL arms. The FEL arms just push and pull the mower deck, they don't support it. Unless, of course, as I mentioned in the other thread about hills, you pull back on the joystick and take it out of float mode. Then the weight of the mower is transferred to the FEL arms, putting more weight on the front wheels of the tractor.

Also, the mower will tilt fore and aft as well as side to side on two pivot point. It is completely indpendant from the tractor, which allows for good ground hugging in uneven terrain.

 

[KMA]

Thank you MR!

I actually just got done looking at the videos on your site before reading your post. Both were extremely helpful.

Thanks again!

 

[ddonnell]

I brought this to the top since it seemed like the appropriate thread to ask this question:

How is the 60" finish mower on the 425 for mowing around trees - say 10" in diameter? I've had a ZTR mid mount which is a snap and I've demo-ed a Walker front mount that has the zero turn capability (rear end swings out).
But with the mid articulating 425 and front mount mower, is there a lot of jockying around to trim around a tree this size?

I'd rather not have two machines for mowing if I can help it but if the PT is a pain to mow around things, I'd consider a ZTR strictly for the back yard. I suppose a chain saw would be least expensive, just cut down the trees and carry them away with the PT

 

[MossRoad]

You will have a circle about 5-6' in diameter unmowed when turning lock to lock. Watch this video of me doing a donut in my driveway. The tires are muddy and leave a nice circle in the drive. That is as tight as it turns. The 60" mower will mow about a foot less diameter than the wheel base, so figure a 4-5' circle at best.

 

[MossRoad]

Click on my animated tractor icon in my signature. That will take you to my home page. Then click on the video link on the left side. Then scroll down to the mower movies. It shows a few clips (get it? clips... mowing... hahahahaha). Anyway, it shows a pretty nice cut, and mowing around large circles and in and out of flower beds, etc... and UNDER things, as well. It really is a good system. But, that said, a ZTR is a specialty item that will outperfom the PT in a mowing competition, for sure.

 

[ddonnell]

MossRoad,
Thanks. Pretty much what I figured. I don't have that many trees that it would be a huge problem but it is something to consider since I could use a ZTR for the rest of my mowing needs too.