I've got a little more to mow than you do, so last year I got a rear finishing mower, after using it two times I wished I'd bought one ten years ago! The mowed areas look just as good as they did when I used a regular mower, it's much easier and more fun doing it on the tractor and I use less fuel. Takes only a few minutes to trim up around trees, alongside buildings with the gas mower. Rear discharge is the only way to go, makes for a much better looking job.
Finishing Mower?
- Thread starter HerTractor
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Turbys_1700
Elite Member
I have been using a RFM for 22 years mowing approximately 3.5 acres per week 35 to 38 weeks per year...
My first mower was a light duty 5' Land Pride that I used 14 of those years...
The last 8 years I have used a heavy duty 6' Woods...
In that time I replaced the wheels on the Land Pride 1 time along with blades a couple of times with 1 drive belt...
So far on the Woods I have replaced 1 drive belt...
Blades have not been changed out yet the Woods...
I typically sharpen them once a year at the beginning of the mowing season and only touch them up during the season if need be...
My property is not what I would consider rough but it is not level and a mixture of pasture and yard...
Keep the spindles and wheels greased and you will love the dependability, durability, and cost effectiveness of the unit...
They are a great option for larger than average areas and work really well if you do not have too many obstacles...
My first mower was a light duty 5' Land Pride that I used 14 of those years...
The last 8 years I have used a heavy duty 6' Woods...
In that time I replaced the wheels on the Land Pride 1 time along with blades a couple of times with 1 drive belt...
So far on the Woods I have replaced 1 drive belt...
Blades have not been changed out yet the Woods...
I typically sharpen them once a year at the beginning of the mowing season and only touch them up during the season if need be...
My property is not what I would consider rough but it is not level and a mixture of pasture and yard...
Keep the spindles and wheels greased and you will love the dependability, durability, and cost effectiveness of the unit...
They are a great option for larger than average areas and work really well if you do not have too many obstacles...
JOHNTHOMAS
Super Member
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- Apr 14, 2008
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- 7,717
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- Somerset, Ky
- Tractor
- F2690 4WD RTV X1140 MX5400 HST ZD1211
I've owned two different rear finish mowers with rear discharge. I believe more people would buy them if they tried them or considered their value. I like the rear finish mower. Easy to service, easy to attach and remove and mow good.
My yard is rough field converted to yard by just mowing it for 11 years. My first finish mower was a red, cheap ($1200) rfm that mowed good but it was light weight and slick finished. Barlows gave me my money back toward a 6' Landpride ($1700) rfm that was a tank and never broke like the first red one. To me, the heavier the implements are usually the better they are. Woods and Landpride I know are solid. Kingkutter is probably lighter but may do a decent job if your not to rough on it.
My yard is rough field converted to yard by just mowing it for 11 years. My first finish mower was a red, cheap ($1200) rfm that mowed good but it was light weight and slick finished. Barlows gave me my money back toward a 6' Landpride ($1700) rfm that was a tank and never broke like the first red one. To me, the heavier the implements are usually the better they are. Woods and Landpride I know are solid. Kingkutter is probably lighter but may do a decent job if your not to rough on it.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I have a 35 hp 4x4 Century tractor and I pull a 7 ft Landpride side discharge finish mower with it. It cuts great on grass up to a foot tall. I'll cut grass that's taller, but I have to really slow down and the result usually needs a second cut. It doesn't do as nice a job as my riding mower, but for the open areas, it can't be beat.
How much HP does your tractor have? With finish mowers, they weight is on their own wheels, so you can pull a bigger mower then you can a rotary cutter or bush hog. If the grass is kept fairly short, it's even easier to pull a bigger finish mower. I would want one that is wider then my tires. Wider also means you get done mowing faster!!!
Eddie
How much HP does your tractor have? With finish mowers, they weight is on their own wheels, so you can pull a bigger mower then you can a rotary cutter or bush hog. If the grass is kept fairly short, it's even easier to pull a bigger finish mower. I would want one that is wider then my tires. Wider also means you get done mowing faster!!!
Eddie
OP
HerTractor
New member
What a great responses you all have given, thank you so much! I did a drive by on the mower last night, and took a couple pics. It is a side discharge (while the consensus here is the rear discharge is preferred), and maybe looks a bit lightweight? but I have a bush hog and maybe I don't need a heavy duty mower?. I'm going to call around and see what else is out there before I negotiate with him. My mower repair guy picked up my riding mower last night, I am sure it's going to be around $400 to fix the thing again! It looks like I am on the right track about buying a finishing mower. I am going to try to ul a few pics of the mower I looked at last night.
NoNewParts
New member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2010
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- 22
- Location
- WNY
- Tractor
- a lot of old ones, all colors, and 1 newer orange one to do the loader work
I have that exact finish mower from a different vendor.
Different paint, same exact design.
Bought new for $600 many years ago. Bout double that today.
Works fine, replaced the belt once and all the idler pulleys over the years.
(very hard use here)
One tip if you buy it.
Those pinch bolts that hold the wheel legs to the mower.
Once you have the legs adjusted right for your tractor,
take the pinch bolt out and drill a hole in the leg for the bolt to enter, and then lock it down.
Otherwise, no matter how tight, they will vibrate loose and the wheel leg will work itself out and fall off.
OP
HerTractor
New member
oh thanks!! He has this priced under $500, and I will negotiate if I decide to buy it. Appreciate the tip on the wheels.
PHILIP8N
Veteran Member
Are those pneumatic tires on the mower, or solid rubber? I have heard of problems with the pneumatic tires, losing pressure, rolling off rim. If pneumatic, I would put recommended putting pressure in them to see if they hold air. Also, how wide is your tractor? I would want my mower as wide or a little wider than my tractor tires. Good luck! Philip.
OP
HerTractor
New member
I will have to look at that- and thanks for the tip!
chim
Elite Member
After a couple years of using a belly mower, I switched to RFM's around 1992. First RFM was a 5' Caroni side discharge that I've beaten the snot out of and still have it for occasional use behind my old Ford. It's welded and patched but still manages to cut nice.
Next was a 5' Landpride side discharge that I bought with a new 2002 B7500. That was still in decent shape when I sold the tractor in 2012.
Most recent is a 6' Landpride rear discharge I bought with the L3200 in 2012. It's the pick of the litter. This evening I mowed our 3-1/2 acres at what I thought was a nice leisurely pace. Running in mid range with the RPM's a couple hundred below PTO revs it went faster than I thought it would. 1 hour and 15 minutes was all it took. That's about the same amount of time it took to do our original 2-1/4 acres with the B7500 running a 5' deck.
Next was a 5' Landpride side discharge that I bought with a new 2002 B7500. That was still in decent shape when I sold the tractor in 2012.
Most recent is a 6' Landpride rear discharge I bought with the L3200 in 2012. It's the pick of the litter. This evening I mowed our 3-1/2 acres at what I thought was a nice leisurely pace. Running in mid range with the RPM's a couple hundred below PTO revs it went faster than I thought it would. 1 hour and 15 minutes was all it took. That's about the same amount of time it took to do our original 2-1/4 acres with the B7500 running a 5' deck.