Belly mower vs 3-point finish mower

[shooterdon]

There is no perfect mower for every situation.

I have about two acres. For me, a tractor mounted mower is not desirable. The zero turn has done a very good job.

Driving over a septic tank with a 5000+ pound tractor does not seem like a good idea anyway.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I've used both mid mount and 3pt mowers over the years and IMO, which is best depends on what and where you're mowing.

I prefer the 3pt for tall grass because you can lift the mower deck higher than you can with a mid mount. I can make two passes if necessary to get a better finish cut. I can also back under low limbs to cut areas not reachable with the mid mount.

For weekly mowing, in my case, a mid mount gives a slightly better cut and the tractor is a bit more maneuverable.

In general, I do most mowing with the 3pt and leave it attached for rear ballast when using the FEL.

 

[Fetch_21]

3PT finish mower all the way...

We have mowed about 12 acres with a Bush Hog brand finish mower for 17 years. Absolutely fantastic. Our place is steep and uneven in many areas. You can't do that with a mid-mount. The 3PT is great for straddling and driving over small ditches. It's nice to be able to raise it completely out of the way. For loader work, it's a heavy ballast on the back. It's very easy to service sitting out open. For edging, it's great to be able to back it into tight corners (or over ditches you can't drive over), that you can't get to with a mid-mount. The quality of cut is as good as any mower, but we're still able to use it to cut fields also - some we only mow monthly during the summer. I would encourage getting one with the rear discharge. There's no windrowing with the entire back to discharge from, and the clippings are being blown way away from you - versus out the side where you get them in the face when you turn into the wind.

 

[JeffinNE]

For my 3 acre property I'd have nothing but the belly mower. Too many trees, berms, etc to mow around. Can't speak for your Kubota B series but the 62D belly mower for my JD 2320 is quite easy to hook up and remove...and really only put on and take off once each year, two times at the most. Quicker than a 3 pt to hook up--no, but in the end the actual mowing usage is so much better that an extra few minutes twice a year is not a big deal.

 

[shooterdon]

No, it doesn't go on a tractor, it's a dedicated machine, some can add other specialty attachments to them ... https://www.kubotausa.com/products/mowers/front-mount-mowers

Generally a mid mount mower on a tractor is more manageable in tight spots, but are tractor specific, a rear finish mower can be used on most any brand, as long as it has the same category 3 point hitch and PTO, they can be backed under low hanging branches ...

Those Kubota mowers are nice machines and they should be for costing over $20k. I suppose there are folks who can afford them. I had a tough time breaking out $5k for a ZT but glad I did. At my age it will last my lifetime so one and done deal. My mowing time for about 2 acres is an hour but I am taking out 20 trees and that should make it even better.

If I had to cut more grass than my ZT could handle in two hours (figure around 4-5 acres) I would think about how to reduce the amount of grass that needs cutting on a regular basis.

Never used a finish mower so something to consider is how fast it will do the job. Weigh that against what your time is worth and how much you enjoy cutting grass.

I looked at getting a flail mower so I could cut my grass in my cabbed tractor but having to cut over a septic tank killed that idea. Sure would be nice to have AC and not deal with the bugs, dust and crap that the ZT flings around. Might put a little wild flower plot and rock garden over the septic tank so I would not need to cut over it.

Something for the OP to consider is a flail mower. More money than a finish mower and not as good cut quality but it will do light work that would require a bush hog. It is one reason I want to get a flail mower.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I paid $5K for my used Z-turn and 60" deck, it's a commercial model, I didn't want a residential model, or spend $17K for a new one!

I can mow this 6 acres field in a tad over 2 hours ... With 10 mph Z-turn and optional suspension seat ...

I ended up buying a bigger tractor, as the above pictured SCUT and it's tiny tires were beating me up in my back pasture where I didn't want to take the John Deere Z-TRAK Z960M ...

While the tractor and 90" finish mower cost me about $20K it's faster cutting time than the Z out front, I can do it in 20+ minutes less time, burn half the fuel, ride in comfort on 52" tires, plus a suspension seat, all inside a A/C cab, no bugs, sunburn, chaff ...

I also use it out back on another 7 acres ...

The bumpy ground is smoothed out by the much larger tires ...

I buzz the 1.5 acres around the house now with the Z ... Takes about 35 minutes!

I still have my SCUT and brush hog, comes in handy having two different sizes tractors, and choice of mowers ... I thought of a flail, but couldn't do this with one, saves me a lot of trimming!

 

[Jaygyver]

25 years ago I bought my 3pt 5' Sitrex (Italian, rear discharge) finish mower with my JD-770 a couple of years after building my house on 5 acres. So about 1+ acre around the house get's done with riding mower and about 2 acres I use the JD on plus whatever brush reducing in the trees at any one time.
My field looks flat but is VERY rough. About bruises your kidneys when using the riding mower. And having fairly raw land I didn't want to keep taking a belly mower off and on as I needed the clearance almost all the time.
The Sitrex finish mower worked very well for me as I wanted more of a finished cut in the field and was a great counter balance for the light JD tractor.
We use the riding mower or trimmer when we need to cut around the trees or stumps. The far field can't be mowed until after around May if I'm lucky because of poor drainage so the grass get's pretty thick/high by the time I get to it.

 

[HAR]

I have a belly mower on NH TC29D, and it is a PIA to change, that is until I figured out I could lift front end off ground with bucket. That made it much easier for me. I do like my flail mower too though.

I handle my belly (MMM) the same way with my B7300. The manuals really do not help with the situation, I discovered shortly after buying. While chatting with the dealer one day, he basically said, "You have a loader...use it!" Never looked back. I mount my front tire snow chains the same way. Wish I could do the same with the rears. Speaking of which, I need to get them on. We have had couple dustings of snow, and the big one cannot be that far off!

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I handle my belly (MMM) the same way with my B7300. The manuals really do not help with the situation, I discovered shortly after buying. While chatting with the dealer one day, he basically said, "You have a loader...use it!" Never looked back. I mount my front tire snow chains the same way. Wish I could do the same with the rears. Speaking of which, I need to get them on. We have had couple dustings of snow, and the big on cannot be that far off!

I wonder...
Could something simple, like modified jack stands (for safety) be used to support 3PH down pressure to lift rear wheels? My lack of knowledge of 3PH may be in play here, not sure they work that way...
I've just been jacking up rear and using jack stands to support axel to put chains on.

 

[chim]

I wonder...
Could something simple, like modified jack stands (for safety) be used to support 3PH down pressure to lift rear wheels? My lack of knowledge of 3PH may be in play here, not sure they work that way...
I've just been jacking up rear and using jack stands to support axel to put chains on.

I'm not familiar with a tractors that have down pressure on the 3PH. I've installed chains on cars, pickups and a tractor without lifting the wheels. Really isn't too difficult.