M7040 - Rhino Flex15 Magnum ?

CCOUGHRAN1 · Jun 15, 2012

Have a M7040 4x4 Cab, and have found a couple of Rhino Flex 15 Magnum mowers for sale. I'd like to purchase two complete mowers, and have one sitting as a spare. Any feedback on this combo, and if the M7040 is enough tractor to effectively mow with a 5,000# 15' batwing?

The pastures are all flat land, some with Chinese Tallow trees in the 1- 2-1/2" diameter range. The grass is either native pasture, goat weed, and some coastal fields.

Here's the specs on the mowers I am looking at, and would appreciate any feedback one might have.

Late 90's Rhino Flex 15 Magnum, foam filled tires, chains on front and rear, no leaking seals, no rust through the deck, new hydraulic hoses, and good lift cylinders, Cat V cv shaft. No welds or repairs in the deck, $2500.00

Same mower, 100% complete, but it has a busted deck. I am looking at it as a parts/spare mower - $750.00

How do these prices sound for 15 mowers of late 90's vintage?

turbinesurgun · Jun 22, 2012

Its gonna be a load on the 7040. It will pull it but you gonna have to take your time and not get in a hurry with it.

CCOUGHRAN1 · Jun 25, 2012

Thanks for the reply.

I picked up the two mowers on Friday, along with some new hoses and fittings. After checking the gear boxes, greasing the mower, and running some new hydraulic hoses to replace the aged ones, I put it to the test. First mowed about 3 acres of 3-4' tall johnson grass. If I ran in L4 ~4mph it would leave some grass standing, but never bog the engine. Running L3 @ 2.5mph it left a cut almost as nice as mowing with my lawn mower.

After the initial mowing close to home, we roaded it about 15 miles to one of my cow pastures that is has about 60 acres of 10-12' tall tallow trees. In the tallows, I ran L2 and it was steady cutting everything in it's path. The tallows are 10-12' tall, and ~2" diameter for the most part, and very dense. I would guess that they are growing on 12-16" centers. Engine temp never climbed.

So far I think it's a pretty good match. I may have to grab a lower gear at times, but it sure beats the heck out of mowing with my old 6" shredder.

foreman Etexas · Jun 25, 2012

I always rather slow down and mow more and make less trips:thumbsup: I run a 15ft behind the 5040 and it does fine. I put my 8ft on the back and it doesnt seem like im getting anywhere after using the batwing..

Also run the WOODS DS1440(12+ft)behind the 7040 all day mowing doesnt get hot but that shredder doesnt get hauled to lease pastures(sucks hauling).

CCOUGHRAN1 · Jun 25, 2012

foreman,

After reading some of your posts about the M5040 pulling a batwing, I figure I'll give it a shot on my own. As it turns out, the parts mower that I purchased for $750.00 is complete, 4 good gearboxes, solid deck, and good hydraulics, with the exception of one cylinder bypassing some fluid. The only issue on the mower, is the right rear where the wing meets the deck, a couple of the hinges have some rust and broke loose. I'll just clean it up, weld on some new steel for the hinges, and hook it up the the M5040 open station. Have my wife run the M7040 cab and hope to make some ~28' passes through the pastures.

I hear you on the 12 straight mowers not hauling well. On occasion I have run a 13'6"' Servis Gyro straight deck, and it's a real PITA to transport. Can't hardly road it here in La Porte, and if you trailer it sideways, you have to have one heck of a stout loader on the other end to get it off the trailer. I thought about hauling it to my lease pasture and letting it live there, never to be hauled again...

foreman Etexas · Jun 25, 2012

Sharp blades:thumbsup:

If I could do it again I own a new 15batwing instead of the 12ft WOODS,just didnt know what I know now...

Mrfarmertrees · Jun 25, 2012

CCOUGHRAN1 said:
foreman,

After reading some of your posts about the M5040 pulling a batwing, I figure I'll give it a shot on my own. As it turns out, the parts mower that I purchased for $750.00 is complete, 4 good gearboxes, solid deck, and good hydraulics, with the exception of one cylinder bypassing some fluid. The only issue on the mower, is the right rear where the wing meets the deck, a couple of the hinges have some rust and broke loose. I'll just clean it up, weld on some new steel for the hinges, and hook it up the the M5040 open station. Have my wife run the M7040 cab and hope to make some ~28' passes through the pastures.

I hear you on the 12 straight mowers not hauling well. On occasion I have run a 13'6"' Servis Gyro straight deck, and it's a real PITA to transport. Can't hardly road it here in La Porte, and if you trailer it sideways, you have to have one heck of a stout loader on the other end to get it off the trailer. I thought about hauling it to my lease pasture and letting it live there, never to be hauled again...

Sounds like you got a really good price on the batwing parts mower. I've replaced gear boxes before on an Rhino SAT 8, if memory serves me right paid about $400 for the gear box about 10 years ago. I've been running a Bush hog 2615 for 6 years and I'm like Mr. Foreman it would be hard to go back to mowing with a smaller unit. Good luck.

CCOUGHRAN1 · Jun 27, 2012

I managed to snap a couple pics the other day.

This pic is in a 40 acre block that I planted in rye grass last fall. The rye grass did well, but I've been fighting some tallow trees popping up. I spot treated with Pasture Gard last month, and now hitting it with the mower.

This pic is in a 60 acre block that has been left untouched for several years by the previous lease holder. My plan is to mow down the tallow trees, then when they leaf out again, go over it with spray rig and cover the entire block. Right now, as you get a couple hundred feet into the pasture, most of the tallow trees are too tall to get a spray rig through, and I don't want to basal treat 10,000 trees... hoping my plan works.

This last pic is the small field with the 3-4' tall johnson grass. I was pleased to see the mower is mowing pretty level without my having to make adjustments.