Farm Pro Finish Mowers

[KubotaOrange]

Has anyone had a look at the Farm Pro Finish Mowers or own one? I'm in the market for a belly mower or a finish mower for my Kubota L245 DT. I saw the Farm Pro finish mowers on E-bay and have looked at some of the specs. I know they are Chinese made. I have about 4 acres of pasture and yard and I'm trying to cut down on my mowing time. I'm not very enthusiastic about spending $1500 for a finish mower if I don't have to. I discovered the hard way about low quality mowing decks on cheap lawn tractors though. I know Jinma/Farm Pro uses 9 gauge steel on their mowing decks but what about the metal quality? What about the gear and general durability? If anyone owns them, please chime in. My father in law is of the opinion "you get what you pay for." If I'm better off, I would rather spend more money, I just want to make an informed decision.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[greg_g]

I don't own one, because they don't make one wide enough for me. But I've read plenty about them. What I've been able to piece together from the experiences of others is that fit and finish is typically Chinese, but that doesn't affect the mechanicals. The mower itself is very substantial; solidly built with heavy material (probably recycled American scrap iron). So that shouldn't be a concern. Major complaints include a howling transmission and poor quality rubber. Some have quieted the transmission noise by filling the tranny with grease instead of gear oil. The rubber is another problem though, belts and tires have very short lifespan. By the time replacement tires and belts are added to the original cost, you're approaching the price of entry level American-made mowers.

Like I said, this is an opinion just based upon what I've read - others will hopefully chime in with hands-on experience.

//greg//