60"MMM or 60" RFM ????

[don716]

If you had a choice between a 60"MMM or a 60"RFM which one would you prefer and why?I have had them both and I prefer the MMM because of the rpm's. You can mow higher grass with the MMM.What's your opinion?
Donny

 

[jand38]

I like the RFM that way I can unhook the mower and not have the mmm under my tractor when I use it in ever day activities. I guess each has it plus and minus and personal perference of the individual.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've only operated one MMM, and that was a buddy's TC29.

I have a RFM behind my 790. It's easier to rig and remove from the tractor...more so then the MMM's I've seen.

The deciding factors are how many obstacles you have to mow around...and, if you want to entail the extra cost of the MMM.

 

[rswyan]

I have a Kubota B2910 with a 72" MMM. I really like the mower - it gives a decent cut and makes mowing our lawn about a 4 hour project, where before it was a day or more job (with a Simplicity commercial ZTR with 44" deck)

What I don't like is having to install and remove it - having to get underneath to hook up the PTO and the linkage is a pain.

For the past several years (since we got the B2910) we've had alot of projects going on - which means that the FEL is almost always on the tractor, and usually there is something on the 3PH (backhoe, boxblade, landscape rake, chipper, etc.)

Since I don't want the extra weight on while mowing, the FEL and whatever is on the 3PH has to be removed - which is hassle (although I can install/remove the FEL/mower in less than 10 minutes usually.)

The original idea was to get a single machine that could be used for various projects as well as mowing duty and that eventually the "projects" would all be done and the unit would be maily used for mowing (at this point I'm wondering when exactly that will be .....) - it seemed like a good idea at the time. If I had it to do over again I think I would probably skip the MMM and just buy a ZD25 or ZD28 for the mowing.

Having said all that, it seems like a RFM would be easier to put on and take off.

 

[Theowegian]

I prefer a rear finish mower (RFM) with a rear discharge because of these reasons:
1. I change implements a lot. RFM is easier to hook up than a Mid Mount Mower (MMM).
2. I demo'd a RFM and liked the rear discharge for the clippings. It seemed to get them farther from my face...I sneeze a lot with the dusty areas I mow
3. RFM was cheaper, a lot cheaper. $1200 vs 3000+
4. I could sell the RFM easier than a MMM if I wanted to since the RFM will fit any Cat 1 hitch, but the MMM is not generally interchangeable between tractor brands
5. Ground clearance is less with the MMM than I wanted. So I would have to take it off to do most of the other work I wanted to do, like FEL or bush hogging. Although some John Deere models can be run with both mmm and RFM, Im told.
6. Sharpening blades is pretty easy with a RFM. Just high jack the mower way up in the air and it is more accessible.
7. Most MMM are built like tanks and will last a long, long time. If you are putting 100+ hrs per year cutting grass, then I wonder if maybe the MMM would be a better way to go?
8. If your compact tractor is solely dedicated to mowing grass, then MMM would be my first choice. But if you want it to do many differing tasks, the RFM makes more sense, since it hitches up so easily.

The one downside I dont like about a RFM is that I keep turning around to see what I mowed and my neck gets to hurting after several hours. Maybe I should stop turning around, right?

hope this helps.

 

[ChrisHyde]

I agree. I like my 60" RFM. Thanks Donny.

 

[warthog]

You guys all make great points but I have to disagree to an extent. I have a john deere 3320 and the 72" mmm is pretty easy to get off. Not as easy as a rfm mind you but it is easily a less than 5 minute affair. On top of that the turning radius around trees is much tighter with the mmm than the rear mower and the cut quality is a little better due to the fact that half as many tires are running over the grass before you cut it.

I just sold a new holland tc29 with a 72" mmm and it was harder to get the deck off but I still wouldn't trade it for a rfm either. There is nothing like an overgrown lawn tractor on steroids to cut large areas.