JimBinMI
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 1,026
- Location
- Coldwater, Michigan
- Tractor
- 2014 Kubota BX25D-1, 2014 Kubota BX1870
Got My 4\' Rotary!
I finally bought my rotary mower for my NH TC18, 18.5 hp and 14 pto hp. I picked it up yesterday afternoon fully assembled, greased, lubed. It's a Woods XT148, 48" Light Duty Rotary, out the door price was $575. It is shear pin protected, and it doesn't have a stump jumper, that's an option, but I don't have any stumps in my field!
Hooked it up and used it for 1 1/2 hours last night and the TC18 handles it effortlessly! I mowed on my field of approximately 5 acres, only mowed about a third of it so far. Field is overgrown grasses, wildflowers, some baby oaks, brush, bushes, hasn't been mowed in a few years, stuff was between 2'-4' tall. Set the tractor at pto speed and took off, did not go full out but at a decent pace and the engine never bogged, only heard the cutter cutting. Did see my temperature gauge creep up a little and stopped, cleaned the radiator screen and the temp went back down right away. At this rate and my field, I believe the TC18 could handle a 5' rotary, but the 4' is recommended by manufacturer. Just takes longer with the 4' and I think I was grinning the whole time! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Weight of rotary is approx. 385 lbs. and there are 3 points to attach the lift arm pins, the dealer installed them at the center point which so far seems to work well. With the top link adjusted properly for mowing, I can still lift the cutter off the ground. I also have about 190 lbs. of front weights and NO loader. Very happy with this purchase! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Just thought I'd give a report! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
JimBinMI
We boys and our toys!
I finally bought my rotary mower for my NH TC18, 18.5 hp and 14 pto hp. I picked it up yesterday afternoon fully assembled, greased, lubed. It's a Woods XT148, 48" Light Duty Rotary, out the door price was $575. It is shear pin protected, and it doesn't have a stump jumper, that's an option, but I don't have any stumps in my field!
Hooked it up and used it for 1 1/2 hours last night and the TC18 handles it effortlessly! I mowed on my field of approximately 5 acres, only mowed about a third of it so far. Field is overgrown grasses, wildflowers, some baby oaks, brush, bushes, hasn't been mowed in a few years, stuff was between 2'-4' tall. Set the tractor at pto speed and took off, did not go full out but at a decent pace and the engine never bogged, only heard the cutter cutting. Did see my temperature gauge creep up a little and stopped, cleaned the radiator screen and the temp went back down right away. At this rate and my field, I believe the TC18 could handle a 5' rotary, but the 4' is recommended by manufacturer. Just takes longer with the 4' and I think I was grinning the whole time! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Weight of rotary is approx. 385 lbs. and there are 3 points to attach the lift arm pins, the dealer installed them at the center point which so far seems to work well. With the top link adjusted properly for mowing, I can still lift the cutter off the ground. I also have about 190 lbs. of front weights and NO loader. Very happy with this purchase! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Just thought I'd give a report! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
JimBinMI
We boys and our toys!
The safety rules says to walk the land before mowing but I didn't because this pasture hadn't been touched for 13 years by the previous owner. It's full of ants, bumble bees, chiggers, vines, and thorny bushes of all types and descriptions. Can't even see the ground 2 feet in front of you the weeds are so thick and tall. My JD4300 HST with 513 5' hog took it all in stride. Just went VERY slow so I could back out if the front wheels fell into a hole or something. Only got stuck once in a sandy dry creek bed and had to dig out with shovel and the 4WD was a big help. 
