hp needed

[Slowpoke Slim]

OP,

I mow stuff frequently that is taller than my hood. Most jobs in fact. Sometimes I mow stuff taller than my cab. Totally not kidding. I've got the pics...

I'm able to take full passes with my 6' mower at a quick walking speed (don't have a speedometer) and that's working with 32 pto hp. Tractor only starts getting warm once the radiator & coolers start plugging up with chaff.

I'm unwilling to drive it faster than that when I can't see the ground, or what's possibly lurking in the grass/brush in front of me. I use my bucket low in front of me to hopefully "feel" any hazards before I hit them with either the tractor or the mower. Plus most of the fields I cut are rougher than a cob. No way am I interested in going flying across some field, when I can't see the ground in front of me, and there could be who-knows-what lurking ahead. Even if it is shorter than hood height, if it's thick, you can't see down into it anyway. Hazards are real, especially mowing fields I haven't been on before, or that only get mowed every few years.

But mowing at a fast walking speed, I don't have any issues with losing power.

So in what way is your tractor "working too hard"?

 

[EddieWalker]

I went out and mowed a little today. Most was easy going, but a few areas were pretty thick. I got to wondering how short you’re cutting it to the ground ? If the material can’t get out from the deck, it will bog down the tractor.

 

[5030]

The one thing that can really make my M9's work hard is the Lucknow rear mount snowblower I have. In deep wet snow, it can and will use every bit of horsepower my tractor can make and makes it blow smoke too, but then I do run it pretty hard in the snow anyway. Run the front mount plow pretty hard as well...

 

[sea2summit]

That should be plenty of tractor for a 7' cutter. Is it overly hilly? Does it have an economy PTO mode and are you using it (would not want to for mowing)?

 

[5030]

One thing I never do is mow with the bucket on, ever. It's SSQA anyway and comes right off. Always fearful of impacting something hidden in the grass or hay that would damage the loader or cause me whiplash if the tractor stopped suddenly. Been there and did that before in more than one occasion. Don't want to be repairing a blown hydraulic cylinder or fixing a bent loader frame or tweaked bucket from a sudden stop.

 

[ernieatv]

Honestly I don't see what the problem is. I'm mowing with 5.6 hp/foot (28 pto hp/5 = 5.6, 35 engine/5 = 7) and it's very adequate for what I'm doing.
You are mowing with 9.7 hp/foot (68/7 = 9.7).
And yes the first time I go through stuff it's slow going but as you keep up with the mowing you can move right along.
And now your talking about a bigger tractor and a wider mower and going down to 9 hp/foot. (90/10 = 9) I'm wondering if your not just looking to buy bigger equipment. If you want bigger stuff just go buy it but your going to need to come up with some more logical justifications.... if you need them.

I agree % with you. How many times a year do this guy use the machine? Just comment sense.

 

[ernieatv]

One thing I never do is mow with the bucket on, ever. It's SSQA anyway and comes right off. Always fearful of impacting something hidden in the grass or hay that would damage the loader or cause me whiplash if the tractor stopped suddenly. Been there and did that before in more than one occasion. Don't want to be repairing a blown hydraulic cylinder or fixing a bent loader frame or tweaked bucket from a sudden stop.

How fast are you mowing for you to think that the bucket would damage something or make you stop quickly to get a whiplash???? The bucket actually would help you not the other way around, have a great slow day

 

[DGF]

If you can you might try lifting the mower about 50% of the grass height on the first pass and double cutting. It takes extra time but it'll cost you a lot less not having to buy new equipment.

 

[28RedHorses]

I currently run a Kubota M6800 to use a 7' land pride brush cutter and 7' snowblower. 68 hp. Even with sharp blades, some real thick grasses makes tractor work harder than i'd like. I usually mow in first to get it all. Would 90hp give me the umph I'm looking for and perhaps give me enough to maybe go to a single batwing 10 footer. Some mowing is also red brush and tag alders. If I can drive over it it gets cut. Would not use the 10' for heavy brush. Thoughts?

I run an almost identical configuration (Kubota M6800 and a 7' HD brush cutter) minus the snowblower (thank goodness I don't need that here). I routinely clear off fields of Johnson grass that is as high or higher than the cab. Saplings mixed in as well. Field size of 20 to 60 acres.

Set your RPMs on the attachment correctly and go at a slow speed. I'm paranoid because I don't want to run over a log that is on the ground. This works for me and I get 99% of the material cut with one pass. My only caution is the screen on the front of the tractor and the screen in front of the radiator. I have to keep an eye on both of them so they don't clog up and raise the temperature of the engine.

The M6800 handles everything I can throw at it.

Go have fun and good luck!

 

[johneking]

I currently run a Kubota M6800 to use a 7' land pride brush cutter and 7' snowblower. 68 hp. Even with sharp blades, some real thick grasses makes tractor work harder than i'd like. I usually mow in first to get it all. Would 90hp give me the umph I'm looking for and perhaps give me enough to maybe go to a single batwing 10 footer. Some mowing is also red brush and tag alders. If I can drive over it it gets cut. Would not use the 10' for heavy brush. Thoughts?

Lot of great comments with this -- here's my "two cents worth" -- depending on the size of area you are cutting {if it's several acres of BIG stuff, time might be an issue} I will raise my Bush Hog for a first pass, then lower to what I would like it to end up as.
Also, if you have a loader you can push down most stuff the Bush Hog is capable of then chew it up that way.
Another option is to cut more often -- but then again, time depends on ones' availability.