Roadworthy
Elite Member
The rule of thumb is five horsepower per foot of rotary mower. With a 23 HP engine and 17.7 PTO hp I don't believe I'd go over four feet with that tractor. The tractor is also a bit light for the five foot mower. With a 700 pound three point lift capacity you should be able to handle it but a tractor weight of 1400 pounds you'd likely end up with a "tail wagging the dog" type situation.
TractorData.com John Deere 221 tractor information
TractorData.com John Deere 221 tractor information