skipperbrown
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2002
- Messages
- 678
- Location
- Pensacola Fl, Birchwood TN
- Tractor
- Kubota b2650, bx2200, L3940 (gone), New Holland FWD TN85, RTV 900
I bought a TM1900 from Agri Supply and used it about 8 hrs last weekend to mow 12 food plots which averaged about an acre each. This is the first time this year the plots have been mowed and they consisted of mostly bitterweed, briars, johnson grass, and wheat/oat stubble. I have a Bota 3940 and ran it a couple hundred rpm under pto speed. The cutting height was set at 3.5" at the bottom of the Y shaped blades and 4" at the top.
My mowing speed mostly ranged from 2.5 to 3.7 mph. I couldn't mow any faster than that due to the roughness of the land, but I think this is about the top speed without spinning it faster. My average speed was probably 3 to 3.2 mph.
The 5 to 7 ft johson grass really worked the mower and the tractor. It was thick and heavy. When the tractor started to strain and the mower sound told me it was really working, I could take it at 2 mph.
Overall, I am very pleased. The bitterweed was the toughest customer. A lot of it was bent over and not cut or only half cut. Part of the problem was the tires pushed it over and it didn't spring back up fast enough before entering the cutters. However, bitterweed is a also problem for my woods 6' brushcutter.
My buddies and I were all impressed by the cut and how compact the tractor/flail were on the trailer.
On inspection after I got it cleaned up, I found I lost 2 bolts on the top link support. My fault for only making them tight and not "real" tight. I also noted that most of the knives had slung back and impacted the drum dulling the trailing edge. The front edge was duller too. I attribute this to mowing a crowned road too closely. I pulled the belt cover and found belt dust, but the belts seemed to be in good shape. Not sure if this is normal wear or if I had some slippage. I will buy another set and carry them with me.
What I like best is how easy it is to trailer over a brush cutter (about 3' vs. 10') and when you turn, you aren't slinging 10' of cutter around. It also cuts very good. It's quieter than a brush cutter and weighs less. The clippings fall randomly behind the cutter and don't windrow.
Things I don't like is that it doesn't cut well on a sharp turn and the skids can dig a trench if you don't lift it. I also worried about smoking my belts but that didn't happen.
I did the dip stick mod and had no oil leakage at all. If it holds up for years, I'll be a happy camper. So far I'll rate it a very nice medium duty general purpose mower that is ideal for those who need to trailer their equipment.
My mowing speed mostly ranged from 2.5 to 3.7 mph. I couldn't mow any faster than that due to the roughness of the land, but I think this is about the top speed without spinning it faster. My average speed was probably 3 to 3.2 mph.
The 5 to 7 ft johson grass really worked the mower and the tractor. It was thick and heavy. When the tractor started to strain and the mower sound told me it was really working, I could take it at 2 mph.
Overall, I am very pleased. The bitterweed was the toughest customer. A lot of it was bent over and not cut or only half cut. Part of the problem was the tires pushed it over and it didn't spring back up fast enough before entering the cutters. However, bitterweed is a also problem for my woods 6' brushcutter.
My buddies and I were all impressed by the cut and how compact the tractor/flail were on the trailer.
On inspection after I got it cleaned up, I found I lost 2 bolts on the top link support. My fault for only making them tight and not "real" tight. I also noted that most of the knives had slung back and impacted the drum dulling the trailing edge. The front edge was duller too. I attribute this to mowing a crowned road too closely. I pulled the belt cover and found belt dust, but the belts seemed to be in good shape. Not sure if this is normal wear or if I had some slippage. I will buy another set and carry them with me.
What I like best is how easy it is to trailer over a brush cutter (about 3' vs. 10') and when you turn, you aren't slinging 10' of cutter around. It also cuts very good. It's quieter than a brush cutter and weighs less. The clippings fall randomly behind the cutter and don't windrow.
Things I don't like is that it doesn't cut well on a sharp turn and the skids can dig a trench if you don't lift it. I also worried about smoking my belts but that didn't happen.
I did the dip stick mod and had no oil leakage at all. If it holds up for years, I'll be a happy camper. So far I'll rate it a very nice medium duty general purpose mower that is ideal for those who need to trailer their equipment.
