Rear Finish Mower Finish Mower: side discharge vs. rear discharge

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

"Consider to set your new mower to mow part of the top first ( about half of what you need to mow )"

You must mean just cut the top couple feet off./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Seriously, this has not seen a mower in at least two years that I know of (and, NO, I didn't own it then)./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif I'd have to build stilts for the wheels to only take off half./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif It'd look like my tractor was being chased by a hovercraft./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I guess I'm just going to set it as high as I can, mow it there and see what I get./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Needless to say, it'll be slow going, for sure.

Golfgar4 · Jun 3, 2002

"I'd have to build stilts for the wheels to only take off half."

You might want to tie a 20' helium filled balloon to your ROPS so that if something happens, they can find you. The Ski Patrol in the mountains do that in case of an avalanche! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

Brett, I just saw two ads in a local 'trader' type paper for used Woods RD mowers. They're each about the same $ as a new King Kutter SD. I'm going to go see one when I finish work today and may catch the other one that's out of town tomorrow morning if I need to. I'll keep you posted./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

hazmat · Jun 3, 2002

Sounds like you might be better off renting a brush hog for the first go around. If you are doing a small area, a weedwacker might be an option.

I mowed plenty of overgrown lawns in my college days. One tip is to take a smaller "bite" (1/2 or even 1/4) width of the mower at each pass. Seems to work better than slowing down and taking a full bite.

Don't expect to see a manicured lawn when you are done. When the grass gets that tall, the bottom few inches isn't very lush. Kind of like a tree trunk vs. the leaves. It might take a season or two before it's looking like a putting green /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Good luck & enjoy getting your property back into shape!

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

"tie a 20' helium filled balloon to your ROPS so that if something happens, they can find you"

Ahhh... Is that the same method you use on your golfcart for when you go in search of your ball for your second shot?/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Golfgar4 · Jun 3, 2002

"Is that the same method you use on your golfcart for when you go in search of your ball for your second shot?"

Only when I have to drive into a pond!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Second shot?/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif It can be the 3rd and 4th shot too! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

Hazmat, I agree with you on the brush hog idea. The roadfront I have is a little over 500' and my "front yard" is about six acres so I'm not sure doing it with a weedwacker would be right up my alley./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

A brush hog is probably something I ought to own rather than rent, honestly (let the rationalizing officially begin/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif). I was thinking that I could use a brush hog on all eleven acres the first time (or two) to knock it down well enough that you don't look across it and expect to see Marlin Perkins sticking his head up in search of big game (Obscure Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom reference)./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

With that done, I could finish mow the front regularly to get it looking good but just brush hog back behind the tree line a couple times a season for now until I decide what I'm going to do out there.

pieterv · Jun 3, 2002

You have a HAY crop Gary ?
I assumed ( and we know what that does...) that the grass was a foot tall or so. As is, you may have some problem mashing the grass too much with your tractor cleats, also depending on the profile of the tires. This will depend also on how thick your stand is and how wet it is too.
When you mow, don't be in hurry.
I do not think you want a mower with rear deflector chain sets. My experience is more balling up. A sloped deck like First Choice will plug less is my experience.
Keep your RPM up, blades sharp and look for plugging Mr Hay Grower. After overcoming your initial mowing challenge you will look like a genius..!

Enjoy !

Inspector507 · Jun 3, 2002

Yeouch...........That hurt
/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

wallysue · Jun 3, 2002

Re: Finish Mower: side discharge vs. rear discharg

Owning an older Ford 930 five footer that is supposed to be a rear discharge can have advantages if one removes the side plates. That lets the grass fly out the sides and back when I let the grass go way too long like normal. The finish mower does take more power than the brush hog.

BrettW · Jun 3, 2002

Thanks Gary,
I appreciate the info. By the way, I went to I.U. for both undergrad and grad work. (Bloomington) Those folks in Indiana sure are a nice lot. I have nothing but good memories from those years. I think I'll stop right here before I say too much!!!!! Brett W

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

Brett, I went to look at the one Woods RD tonight. My only regret was that I didn't have my camera with me./w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

Walking into this man's shop was an amazing experience./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Everything was spotless! The tires on his tractor were shiny!! Even the tines on his box blade were clean!!! I was about sold before I even saw the mower.

After I did I paid him what he was asking without even a moment's hesitation. When I asked when would be a convenient time for me to come back and pick it up tomorrow he offered to put it on his trailer and follow me back tonight.

All I could think was how embarrassed I'd be when he turned into my drive after seeing his place./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I was about half afraid he'd change his mind about selling it to me./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif I made an excuse of having a couple other stops to make yet tonight./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif I'm going to get it first thing in the morning so he can get his new Grasshopper mower out of the middle of his floor./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 3, 2002

Re: Finish Mower: side discharge vs. rear discharg

"The finish mower does take more power than the brush hog."

I always thought it was the other way around./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif My Deere brochure shows my machine compatible with a five or six foot finish mower but only compatible with the five foot brush hog and not with the six foot model. Am I missing something?

hazmat · Jun 4, 2002

Re: Finish Mower: side discharge vs. rear discharg

Gary,

You're not missing anything. For a given size the brush hog will take less HP to mow grass than a finish mower. It is designed to mow small brush as well which takes more HP than mowing grass, thus the smaller recommended size.

The advice given in posts regarding "what size brush hog should I get" is generally bigger if you're just mowing pasture, smaller if you are clearing jungle.

TripD · Jun 4, 2002

I am also checking out rear discharge mowers. Have been
looking at Land Pride and Woods. Do you know of a website
that has info on First Choice? Thanks

frank_f15 · Jun 4, 2002

gary: i had a kk side discharge and it was ok, but now i have a befco rear discharge and there is no way i would get side dis. again. just make sure the rear discharge has a chain guard along the back.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 4, 2002

I picked up my new used Woods RD7200 this morning and it has a chain guard on the back./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Now, from what I understand here, I need to brush hog this 3'-4' high grass of mine before I even try using my new finish mower on it./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

I guess the good news is I get to shop for yet another toy (a brush hog)./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Always look on the bright side./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The less than bright side might be a little conversation I need to have. "But, honey, the guys at TBN said I need to get ANOTHER mower to use before I can use THIS mower, see?"/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

hazmat · Jun 5, 2002

Gary,

As long as there isn't brush, rocks, logs etc. lurking in the grass, you won't hurt the finish mower using it to cut the 3' grass. It will just be slow going. I say fire her up while you do the brush hog research (which you NEED for your "field" out back).

Happy cutting

nicklan · Jun 5, 2002

Gary,
I have a Woods RD8400 w/chains and front roller. Aside from mowing over my wallet last year /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I love it. Cuts great!! Front roller keeps it from digging in the dirt in my less than flat yard.
Nick

On bad point - kicks up a pretty good dust storm in dry dusty parts of the yard.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jun 5, 2002

"As long as there isn't brush, rocks, logs etc. lurking in the grass"

If I only knew the answer to that question./w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

I'm pretty sure I'd OK on the biggest section between the road and first treeline (pretty sure, but not 100%). The 12'-15' wide strip on the far side of the drive and the ditchbank make me nervous./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I think a brush hog first might make for less anxious mowing the first time through./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I'd hate to trash my nice new mower on it's maiden voyage here./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif