Cut Quality

[Williy]

Nobody said anything about how fast the tractor was
going as it has a great deal about how the cutter works!

willy

 

[ShowroomShine]

A good 15’ batwing from any brand will cut grass as good if not better than a RFM. We have a 12’ Woods and it’s amazing how well it cuts.

 

[workinonit]

I'm confused. I am asuming you have a 430, a Woods fimish mower and some sort of 15' batwing. Likely a 15' bush hog.

I have a 20' batwing finish mower that cuts better than any zero turn will. I cut grass at 1.5".

 

[Richard]

Not sure how the topic went from JD430 & 72" Woods to 15'? Do you have a 15' mower? How does it compare?

Sorry, just noticed this.

Not trying to compare those specifically....

"in the realm of finish mowers" 430 "finish mower" does a distinctly better job than the Woods "finish mower" which got me to thinking in the realm of flexwing mowers, how different brands might cut verses each other.

I wasn't comparing the finish to the flexwing.

That said, I've also used the flexwing on the same field. It scalps here & there....but frankly, it leaves a nice looking cut too, if not a bit long. Nothing that I own beats the 430's cut. When the time comes to replace the flexwing, I'd like to have one that via engineering I suppose, also has an inherently "nice" cut. (some of the fields are within view of house and I try to keep them groomed. The hidden sides of the farm are the ones that grow higher and I worry less about.

 

[workinonit]

What 15' flex mower do you own? Is it a finish mower or a bush hog?

 

[IndyJay]

Nobody said anything about how fast the tractor was
going as it has a great deal about how the cutter works!

willy

Sure they did. Haven;t you ever heard, "It's not how fast you mow, its how well you mow fast".

 

[stevem5215]

Fact is that some mower decks just cut better than others. Some mid mount decks are terrible and others are good. Some Rear decks are good and other terrible. It's just how it is. Find yourself a deck that cuts like you want and use it. That's the best you can do.

 

[dodge man]

This is just comparing mid mounts. I had a Kubota BX and now own a JD 2025r, both 60” decks, both have mulch kits. The JD cuts better. Not a huge difference but the Kubota always left a little windrow of grass on the right side of the deck. I’d say this has to do with the design of the mulch kit but am not sure.

Without knowing pulley size and actual blade RPM’s it’s tough to say why one cuts better than another. I always figure that’s why high end zero turns cuts better, the deck is hanging out there and no wheels mash down the grass.

 

[Grumpycat]

If there is a windrow of uncut grass, plus a mulching kit has been fitted, I would suspect the wrong mulching kit put a smaller blade on somewhere.

Is common with the best mowing decks to leave a windrow when making a sharp turn in the wrong direction. One blade spindle is in front of other(s) to create overlap going straight, so the blades do not hit each other. Turn into the direction of the front blade is fine but turn the other way opens the gap between the two blades. With 3 blades you are SOL, turn with the wrong radius will leave a windrow.

 

[Tinhack]

Nobody said anything about how fast the tractor was
going as it has a great deal about how the cutter works!

willy

With my Ford 3910, third gear and low range. I'm too lazy to look the speed up but it's moving pretty good. Up in the woody areas (trees and scrub brush) I drop down into second gear, low range. There's more turning and dodging up there.