MMM for meadow grass???

[mx125]

I'm getting a 2320 with a 5' rotary cutter. I know it will be a bit of a stretch for the 18pto and for the frame . . .and won't give me the nice finish on the lawn areas I have. If the rotary is too much for the tractor, the dealer said I could do a pretty low cost switch.

So . . .I'm wondering what you think can be accomplished (at reasonably quick speed) with a MM mower? I have a lot of acreage, but the "brush" has been cut the past few seasons. What I have now is meadow grass . .not very dense . . that ranges from a few inches if I keep on it to some waist high sections.

Would a 54"-62"(?) MMM run through that type of stuff at a high height setting while also giving me the option of a finish cut on others . . .or am I better off with a rotary? Perhaps 18pto is 18pto . . and unless I'm trying to nail 1" thick brush . . the weapon for grass is irrelavant??

 

[orlo]

Unless you wanted to make several passes I don't think your going to cut waist high grass very well with a MMM. I actually think the MMM will take MORE hp for a given grass height since you'll be clogging underneath and trying to move a ton of grass clippings. The discharge on the rotary cutters is much more open.

I have cut maybe 15-18"+ (knee high) grass on my 2305 with the 62" MMM but I was also using a cyclone rake behind it which kept the deck clean of grass.

Also, if you were just discharging the grass and not collecting it you'd get a big mess with the side discharge. (Not sure it would be much worse than the rotary though).

You will undeniabily get a beautiful cut with either the 54" or 62" MMM if that's your ultimate goal though.

It would be ideal if you could get both and keep them on at the same time. Rough cut with the rotary, then go over it again with the finish mower.

Just flip the Mid/Rear Pto lever.

 

[chevy]

A MMM does not work well with tall grass & a rotary cutter does not do a good job on lawns. If you keep the meadow grass short the MMM mower will do ok.

 

[KennK]

I have a JD 3320 with a MMM and live on a few acres w/ horses.

Based upon my experience I'd say you're better off trying to tackle the field grass with a MMM than trying to cut lawn with a rear rough cut mower ... though a lot depends on how much "stuff" you need to go around on your lawn. If I were you I'd get the MMM, do the best you can for now, and then plan on eventually getting a rear rough cut mower as well.

The reality is that if the grass is too thick/high, you'll have a problem with the MMM side discharge plugging up, and there isn't much you can do about it... besides getting a rear mower in addition to the MMM.

Right now, in addition to the MMM and the FEL I have a rear blade (mostly used for snow removal), a ground-driven manure spreader, and a rear fertilizer/seed spreader. The next toy will be a post hole digger, and after that a rear rough cut mower. These things all have their priority.

Maybe you should get a few goats???

 

[BillyP]

Stick with the rotary cutter cause the MMM isn't gonna cut waist high grass. You can always go back and buy the MMM later but for starters the rotary cutter will do an OK job on your lawn.

 

[mx125]

Thanks all. . . I guess with a rotary at about $1000 . . it's probably something I'll need anyway. A MMM can be added if I find some money down the road.

 

[Loogie]

Just today I began cutting the tall grass on my property with my 62" MMM. I left it in the locked up position. The were also quite a few 1/2" thorny shoots out there too. The grass was about 30" high and some of the thorny shoot stuff was longer. The grass was still dormant so it was all dry stuff. The 2305 w/ the 62" MMM did an awesome job on that stuff. I started to bog down a bit after a couple of passes because I was mowing over the discharged grass AND the uncut grass. I just reveresed the direction of cut so I was discharging onto the already cut stuff and it was fine. I was really impressed with the power of the mower. It never even breathed heavy while cutting just the grass.

 

[mx125]

Just today I began cutting the tall grass on my property with my 62" MMM. I left it in the locked up position. The were also quite a few 1/2" thorny shoots out there too. The grass was about 30" high and some of the thorny shoot stuff was longer. The grass was still dormant so it was all dry stuff. The 2305 w/ the 62" MMM did an awesome job on that stuff. I started to bog down a bit after a couple of passes because I was mowing over the discharged grass AND the uncut grass. I just reveresed the direction of cut so I was discharging onto the already cut stuff and it was fine. I was really impressed with the power of the mower. It never even breathed heavy while cutting just the grass.

Very interesting! So how fast would you say you were going (ie. high range etc.) And how high is the cut on the fully up position?

 

[Malvern]

Last year I had a 2210 with the 62" deck, I cut a couple of acres of grass up to my waist in the locked up position. She did it with out any major fuss. Once I got it down it was easy to keep cut. I then stepped up to the 3120 with the 72" 7 iron. All I can say is wow what a difference. The 7 iron has higher blade speeds and could run at 6-7 MPH with the cruse on. I run both Locked up and standard grass cutting depth depending on what pasture and or yard I'm cutting. I think the gator blades made a huge difference too.

 

[Loogie]

I was in high at about 1/2 speed, so probably about 4mph, but only because I was on sloping hill. If it had been flat I could have gone much faster. The tractor wasn't even sweating. I think with the deck locked up, the cut is probably about 5".

 

[mx125]

I was in high at about 1/2 speed, so probably about 4mph, but only because I was on sloping hill. If it had been flat I could have gone much faster. The tractor wasn't even sweating. I think with the deck locked up, the cut is probably about 5".

I think a MMM might be in my future. I realized that there is enough light brush to warrant the $1000 rotary . .but a MMM would really make the "lawn-like" use areas nice. I bet I could use the MMM on almost all of the property as long as I keep in under control. Thanks for the insight.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

I use it on all of mine. I have about 2 acres in the back in alfalfa. My farmer that used to cut it will not get working machinery and keep up on it so I decided last fall to just keep it mowed. The 7 iron MMM has no problems with it. Biggest issue I have out there is animal holes. I do try and stay on top of the mowing out there.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My LX5 shredder with sharp blades leaves a great cut. I suggest you get the 4 or 5 foot shredder and you'll be surprised and content.

 

[755inNY]

mx125,

I ran a 5' rotary cutter behind my JD755 (16 PTO HP) with no problems. I did a lot of brush clearing (some heavy) with that setup. I also used it to cut about 3 acres of horse pasture that was as much stalky weeds as grass (maybe a little more grass in som spots). After awhile of using the rotary cutter I switched to just using the 60" MMM. I mowed the pasture once per month so the grass was nearly waste high. I preferred using the MMM because it was easier to maneuver, it provided a better cut and it was already on the tractor so I did not have to attach the rotary cutter.

For best results with the MMM, cut when the grass is dry. Later in the day is best. The dry grass will clear the chute more efficiently. Tall grass holds morning dew for a long time.

Jeff

 

[mx125]

mx125,

I ran a 5' rotary cutter behind my JD755 (16 PTO HP) with no problems. I did a lot of brush clearing (some heavy) with that setup. I also used it to cut about 3 acres of horse pasture that was as much stalky weeds as grass (maybe a little more grass in som spots). After awhile of using the rotary cutter I switched to just using the 60" MMM. I mowed the pasture once per month so the grass was nearly waste high. I preferred using the MMM because it was easier to maneuver, it provided a better cut and it was already on the tractor so I did not have to attach the rotary cutter.

For best results with the MMM, cut when the grass is dry. Later in the day is best. The dry grass will clear the chute more efficiently. Tall grass holds morning dew for a long time.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. That's good advice. And good to hear you had success on the brush side of things with your 16pto. My trials on the weekend impressed me. Nothing heavy but it seemed like it was well up to the task. And interestingly, I started to think I should think about a MMM as well. As you said . . .it felt as if it would be much easier to maneuver and as I reassessed the cut area . . i started thinking that is was pretty light work (if I stayed semi-dilligent). And certain areas will really benefit from the fine cut.

I needed the rotary regardless . . I couldn't deal with the small trees with a MMM . .so the $1000 was well spent in any case. And cheaper than the MMM which can come later when I raise enough $$. . .which wouldn't have worked the other way around. So I think it was the right way to start out.

Thanks again for the thoughts.