mmm vs rmm

[ALBALD1]

What are advantages & disadvantages of midmount vs rearmount finish mowers? How do you get the midmount off & out of the way when you aren't using it.

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What are advantages & disadvantages of midmount vs rearmount finish mowers?)</font>

Just for starters, mowing is easier with the mmm. When using the rfm you constantly have to look behind you and the mmm is like mowing with a lawn tractor.

 

[Henro]

I'll add, the RFM does not follow curves well, as it want's to move away from what the front wheels are following around.

Good for backing up under something like pine branches maybe, but not good for backing up to a ditch, because the rear wheels fall in and the mower scalps... Maybe with a hydraulic top link this might be avoided(with constant adjustment), but with my manual top link my hopes to be able to back up to a ditch were trashed by the flex designed into the linkage that is necessary for the mower to follow the ground contours...

For wide open spaces the RFM is great and works real well. I found the cut to be real good and if I were just mowing open lawn, would have no problem owning another RFM. I got rid of mine because it did not work well for my needs that involved cutting close and around a lot of things.

Also get the widest RFM you can live with. Makes cutting close to things a lot easier, as you can keep the tractor farther away...

 

[ronjhall]

There are several thread on MMM & RMM. Here is one from a few years ago. Click Here
I have a MMM. I find that it is as easy a any 3PH attachment to install and remove. One benefit of a 72" MMM for the <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> B27-2910 & 7800 line of tractors is that there are caster wheel on four corners. This allow for easy movement of mower on a hard flat surface.

 

[greg_g]

I too prefer the mid-mount, saves wear and tear on my neck. And it's better for trimming up close to the right and left edges of the deck. Disadvantage in corners though. You can reverse a rear mount into places a mid mount can't get.

Mid mounts driven by a mid-PTO can usually be left on in most circumstances. The one I had was rear PTO driven, and had to be removed if/when I needed the rear PTO for something else. Simple procedure though; you simply drop it on the ground, disconnect the attachment points. Drive forward, right over the top (quarter inch steel plate). Installation obviously in reverse. Took me about 10 minutes to dismount, 20 to remount - less if I had a helper.

//greg//

 

[RoyJackson]

I use a rear mower. Never used a mid-mower, but since the mid-mower is dedicated to a specific tractor or model of tractor, I doubt if I ever do (unless I buy a machine the already has one installed).

With a rear mower, you can back down slopes or under branches. For me, this is a significant advantage.

However, although I can get right next to a fence or the house, I probably do a bit more trim work then a person using a mid mower would have to do.

As far as watching the mower, once I make those passes closest to the house, outbuilding and fences, I rarely have to look back (unless I'm backing up, of course).

Rear mowers (Finishing or Grooming Mower is the proper terminology) are quite a bit cheaper then mid-mount mowers, by the way...

And, Henro makes a good point...get as wide a mower as you can (and your tractor can lift). I'm using a 60" mower (owned before i got my 790). I could use a 72" model with no problems...but I don't expect to replace my current mower this year.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the mid-mower is dedicated to a specific tractor or model of tractor)</font>
True only in the case of some front PTO driven MMM models, and usually only then because of the hangars. Every rear PTO driven MMM model I've seen could be considered a "universal", in the under 45hp category

//greg//

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Every rear PTO driven MMM model I've seen could be considered a "universal", in the under 45hp category )</font>

Not always Greg, maybe you better check the one out on my 1978 JD 850.
Its a rear PTO driven 272 JD MMM.

 

[DK35vince]

The mower is run by a gear box off the rear PTO with a large pully. A belt from the pully runs the mower.
The mower is lower/lifted by cables running from the 3 point lift arms.

 

[BER]

Albald1,
I have used a 72" MMM for 3 seasons and describe it like having a lawn tractor on seriods. It is really sweet for mowing most grasses under 1 ft. It was a problem when I got in some soft hidden mud one spring. I could not raise the MMM deck high enough to get the wheels out of the mud. I had to get my truck and pull it out. I can mount the MMM on my tractor in under 30 min on a bad day, and remove in about 10 min by pulling 10 pins and rolling it out the side.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not always Greg, maybe you better check the one out on my 1978 JD 850. Its a rear PTO driven 272 JD MMM. )</font>
Looks just like my YM240. It had what was labeled a YQM-60 MMM, but it would fit under just about any 2wd in the 18-40 hp range, as long as it had a Cat 1 TPH and a 1-3/8" PTO spline

Anyway, your follow-up post pretty much describes MOST rear PTO driven mid mound mowers. I'm bettin' your 272 JD MMM would fit my old Yanmar just fine. I'd even go so far as to consider yours as a "universal"

//greg//

 

[DK35vince]

I sure mows nice, but its a real pain to take on and off.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I sure mows nice, but its a real pain to take on and off. )</font>
Yup. Does that model require the lower lift arms to be removed, or was that done for some other reason? Mine hooked straight to the TPH as-is like any other implement. Removal was a breeze; drop the hydraulics, disconnect TPH/PTO shaft/chains, remove gauge wheels, then drive the tractor off - right over the top of the mower deck (that's why the gauge wheels had to be removed). Without a helper, it was about a 10 minute job to remove, 20 minutes to put back on.

//greg//

 

[Soundguy]

Ground clearance will be an issue with an installed MMM


Soundguy

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Does that model require the lower lift arms to be removed, or was that done for some other reason? Mine hooked straight to the TPH as-is like any other implement. )</font>

The top link and lower lift arms need to be removed. The gear box bolted on, cable pulleys bolt under the rear axle (where the lower lift arms bolted on).
Removal/install can each be a 1 hour job so I rarely take it off.

 

[chim]

My first tractor had a MMM that had to be removed to use the front scraper blade. Big pain. Mainly due to that annoyance, my next tractor had a RFM. Because it worked well for me, the third tractor has a RFM. Some people prefer a rear discharge RFM, but I have always had side discharge mowers. They eliminate raking leaves in the Fall. Just mow from the center to the edges blowing the chopped-up leaves outward as you go....................chim

 

[DK35vince]

I have 1 tractor with a MMM and another that has a RMM.
If I was to buy again it would be a RMM.
The rear mower is easier to install/remove, cheaper to buy and with the mower behind you instead of under you I find it quieter to operate.
The MMM would be better if you have limited space and a lot of things to mow around.

 

[Buck]

I have both. I work with dirt a lot so I use the RFM most. The MMM get in the way big time with dirt or brush work. I bought the RFM because around here I have to cut the grass sometimes twice a week and hated putting the MMM on and taking it off.

If you use your tractor mainly for mowing get an MMM. If you have mainly trees in your yard get a MMM.

I actually prefer the MMM, but find it inconvenient.

 

[glalonde]

I use my small 42" lawn tractor to cut around objects (two passes of 42"). Then I use the JD with RFM.

 

[khd]

My rfm has to come on and off for each mow as inside storage is a premium and don't think I would like having a mmm attached when doing other work. Also I prefer the rfm for many of the same reasons as the others but probably the biggest preference is its mass and four wheels. I get a real nice cut for that very reason. Once you get used to pulling it it really isn't a problem with the swing associated with it hanging off the back. I actually do very little trimming and probably very little more than when I used a lawn tractor.

Regards,
Kevin