FDR2572 Land Pride Capabilities

[lakngulf]

I recently purchased tractor and equipment that included a Land Pride 2572. I have used it around the house and on roadsides and it works great. The previous owner had the extra valve installed on the top link so the mower can be held at any height, any angle. My question is this: How much can this "finish mower" handle? I have green fields and pasture that I have cut with a borrowed bush hog and now want to keep it cut with the 2572. Green fields I know will work ok but what about the pasture grass/weeds that have not been cut for a few years?

 

[Johndeere3720]

I would mow them with the brush hog first then use the 2572 to get the perfect cut. Then keep up on the mowing like as if it were your lawn and it will work fine.

 

[DocHeb]

The previous owner had the extra valve installed on the top link so the mower can be held at any height, any angle. My question is this: How much can this "finish mower" handle?

Grooming or Finish mowers are designed to float free with their four tires on the ground. The hydraulic top link will allow you to drive with the mower parallel to the ground at a greater height, but that is not how they are designed to operate. It doesn't mean that you have to use it that way, however. I have used my hydraulic top link to slowly lower the mower into sloped ditch banks with good success.

When I mowed the 4 foot tall weeds in my pastures with my Landpride FDR-2584 for the first time, I adjusted my hydraulic top link to run first pass 12 inches off the ground, then went back second pass with the mower riding on the ground. Worked great. The belt will slip if you go over really really deep, thick, wet green stuff. Routine mowing of dry green grass - no problem. Keeping the blades sharp is important, as opposed to the shredder (or "brush-hog") that just blasts through things without the blade being sharp. A 3/4 inch sapling is about the largest solid object I would go over intentionally on a routine basis.

This mower will not tolerate hard objects as a shredder would. I was mowing a new area in August and skipped the first pass as described above. I ran over a cinder block and blew out one of the spindle housings. My fault - I should have walked the area first or use the first pass higher cut to expose any problems first.

Overall, these units are well built - I use mine like a light duty shredder and it performs well. I abuse it and it owes me nothing.

 

[lakngulf]

Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try, and based on what I have seen from the mower so far I think it can do the job. I will take my time and use at least two passes the first time. On your first run did you change to spacers on the wheels to set the mower at maximum height or just use the hydraulics to maintain a higher level?

 

[NH-Rob]

I have used my fdr2560 many times at the farm to mow really tall grass and I set it to max hieght when I do this. I also have my hand ready on the 3pt and am ready to through in the clutch if need be. I does a good job but I know someday it is going to cost me some money in repairs. I hope to buy a bush hog before this happens.
Rob

 

[zzvyb6]

I have the FDR2584 model (a foot wider). Once you put Gator brand blades on the machine, it becomes a sweet pasture groomer. I set it at a high level and chop down 24" 'stuff' tp 6 - 7" with no problems. It sucks a bit more power to grind out a full width, but you can choose your path. After a day or so, you can return to full grooming mode (still with the Gator blades) and get a lawn look.

 

[DocHeb]

On your first run did you change to spacers on the wheels to set the mower at maximum height or just use the hydraulics to maintain a higher level?

I pretty much run at the second highest setting, so not much difference.

 

[rutwad]

Will it cut, YES. But be very careful with that belt. And keep those wheel bearings greased.

 

[lakngulf]

I hooked up the 2572 for the first time tonight (it was on the tractor when I purchased, so I have dismounted it once). Everything slid into place well, but one question: I am familar with PTO shafts that have slide pins and coupler type connections, but I cannot figure out how to "secure" this one. Manual says "be sure locking collar is secure". There is a black collar like item at the end. Does it turn one way or the other to lock?

 

[6sunset6]

Pull the collar towards you as you push the drive shaft on to the PTO .
You will feel it slide over the detent slot. Or push it as far as you can . Then let go of the collar and pull the drive shaft back. You should feel it lock in place and not be able to pull it back off. To remove the drive shaft pull the collar back and then pull the drive shaft back.

 

[DocHeb]

I hooked up the 2572 for the first time tonight (it was on the tractor when I purchased, so I have dismounted it once). Everything slid into place well, but one question: I am familar with PTO shafts that have slide pins and coupler type connections, but I cannot figure out how to "secure" this one. Manual says "be sure locking collar is secure". There is a black collar like item at the end. Does it turn one way or the other to lock?

If I remember correctly, my PTO collar rotates ~1/4 turn counterclockwise to unlock the ball bearings in the coupling. While facing the tractor and holding the shaft with your right hand, turn the black collar counterclockwise and try and slide it on the PTO shaft. I keep a 12" screwdriver nearby since sometimes the splines won't line up correctly and the screwdriver works well between the yokes to turn the PTO segment. There are different types of PTOs (another type is described by 6sunset6) so your mileage may vary.

 

[lakngulf]

Thanks for your help. I guess that it is good I know enough to know when something is not quite right, but not enough to get it right without help. Is that the same as "I know enough to be dangerous?"

 

[lakngulf]

I took the tractor and 2572 on it's first field trip and it worked great. My job was to cut the grass/weeds around some five year old sawtooth oak trees, mow a couple of new areas for food plots, and to begin a strip area for next year's dove field. The mower worked it's way through overgrown fescue, blackberry bushes, tiny saplings and several ant hills. The ant mounds were my only problem.

I used info from the forum to operate the bulldog hitch correctly, to be sure the hitch was firmly attached, to "lock in" the PTO, and to work deliberately with the 2572 in tall grass. It is great to have good help at the push of a button, and to know that a slipping belt would be ok every now and then. After looking at the blades I agree totally with the advice that I will need to "keep them sharp". Thanks for the help.