Kubota F series

[TailDragon]

Are you going Rear or Side discharge?

 

[jcummins]

I've been interested in the F series for 3 years due to mowing issues around ponds, hills, and wet areas. Until this year I wanted rear, but discussions with some local dealers with cut quality, windrowing if wet etc...which is the same info I got from 2 different dealers, no prompting on my part, ...soooo, I decided I'd stay with side discharge. I have a lot of open mowing away from the house that isn't a side discharge problem....unless that wind is blowing wrong. But it was really came down to the buy that came on. For the reasons of me wanting rear, I'm going to do some serious looking at chute blockers, which perhaps need to be power activated since the deck is out front. Right now, I'm 95% certain I'll put something on the F3680.

Anyone hear with any experience with chute blockers on the F series?

Mowed for the last time today with the ZD...it was wet. Way behind on cutting due to rain, and more rain coming. Took the window I had. Got stuck again with the ZD. I did get out on my own, barely, but I mean I had mud everywhere.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Are you going Rear or Side discharge?

I did the Build your own for a ZD326 and prefer the 72" deck but it doesn't come in the rear discharge in that size. I dropped back to the 60" just because of the rear discharge deck. I've owned/used rear discharge decks for years and love the way there are no windrows and how the grass is so evenly spread over the ground and doesn't blow all over me with the slightest wind.
I offered for sale my first F3080 with a near new 72" side discharge deck primarily because of the side discharge deck I bought on my second F3080. HATED/HATE the side discharge deck. Buyer decided he wanted the 60" rear discharge deck I had on my F2680e so I let him have it which has me with a near new 72" side discharge deck on my F2680e.
Downside of rear discharge deck is lots of cut grass gets all over the underside of the F which blows off with air from compressor and a extension wand on the end. Upside of rear discharge deck is no windrows and no grass blowing all over me plus being able to cut on both sides with no concern of where "stuff" that shoots out of chute goes. The grass gets on the machine (not as bad as on rear discharge deck) and me and major windrows on side discharge which I hate.
Don't you have rear discharge on your two Fs?
Wasn't your ZD a side discharge? Your opinion between the two?
Wonder about any downside with rear discharge on Z from owners.

 

[TailDragon]

Both Fs are rear discharge, have not tried a side discharge on an F. Mowing around buildings and aircraft I did not want the side discharge.
When I tried the side discharge 60 inch ZD331 I used it in areas well away from anything I could damage. It mowed well but I wish I had not been talked out of the rear discharge deck. My long time salesman said several people had returned them after using in long grass.
Let us know how it works out.

 

[jcummins]

Long grass and wet grass, i was told is the bad with rears. I've got both.

I'm hoping a chute blocker will solve most of tge reasons I wanted the rear. We'll see.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Wet grass will clump on anything and high grass can be mowed in a couple of cuts is my belief. I have yards and converted Ky fescue fields so grass is high/thick over leach lines but other areas can be sparse. I don't fertilize or lime like many people in my area. I just let the grass replenish itself and let it lay.
Steve Barlow did strongly encourage me against the RD but I was a hair more insistent for it. I really like being able to mow with both sides and hate grass blowing on me when it's the least bit windy and dry. I guess my hates out weigh my fear of clumping but my years of experience with rear discharge decks have been good except for the grass getting all around under the Fs with RD but that's not a deal breaker.
I screwed a modified to size truck mudflap over the rear discharge chute of my home F3080 to see if it would cut down on the grass under the F and may have had some impact but it does encourage rowing of the cut grass so I'm going to remove my grand invention. .

 

[TailDragon]

I should add that my GR2120 has been modified to discharge to the rear by taking loose the collection hose and mounting an elbow (duct-work) on the discharge of the turbo vacuum unit.
The MF GC2300 has a mulching deck under it.(two blades per spindle)
Still have a Landpride 1572 RFM, the tires went flat too often. Have not looked for no-flats for it.

 

[Sigarms]

Downside of rear discharge deck is lots of cut grass gets all over the underside of the F which blows off with air from compressor and a extension wand on the end.

John

Try using a decent leaf blower. No comparison when you're using a wand with air compressor. You won't believe how fast that grass flys off. It's the only thing I use my leaf blower for now other than getting fires blasting LOL

 

[Happy Gilmore]

John Try using a decent leaf blower. No comparison when you're using a wand with air compressor. You won't believe how fast that grass flys off. It's the only thing I use my leaf blower for now other than getting fires blasting LOL

I do the same with my Stihl BR600, works great!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

John

Try using a decent leaf blower. No comparison when you're using a wand with air compressor. You won't believe how fast that grass flys off. It's the only thing I use my leaf blower for now other than getting fires blasting LOL

I do the same with my Stihl BR600, works great!

Thanks guys. I have one on my front upstairs porch that I used for the first time this winter to blow snow off the porch. It's corded but if it works I may buy the Ryobi battery leaf blower since I buy almost all Ryobi that take the 18v Lit battery and have several charged batteries always ready. I have electric available at both sites but will want one at each location and if buying another one it might as well be battery operated.
Anyone have experience with the Ryobi battery leaf blower?