Mower questions

[tmshort]

All-

Looking for some input on different mower options for the 2520.
We have about 5 acres of grass ... pretty flat, some mild rolling hills but nothing significant. Few trees here and there.

I'm trying to decide between the 62" MMM (on ramp) vs a 72" rear finish mower. Just wondering if the 72" will save much time over the mid mount.

I like the idea of being able to drop the rear mower from the 3pt hitch. How difficult is height adjustment on the rear finish mowers?

My brother thinks that I will be able to mow faster with the MMM and hence negate any benefits from the wider rear mower.

I mentioned this in a previous thread but was hoping to pick up some additional views and input here.

Thanks in advance.

 

[revitupfaster]

I have a 5 acre property, where I maintain about 3.5 acres of grass. About 1.5 acres of this is an area that floods in the spring, and I usually can't get at it to cut, until the grass is quite long. We bought our property long before we built our home on it, and I bought a Yanmar 27hp CUT, with a 72" RFM, that I used to keep the grass cut down.

I found that the 72" rear mower worked great on the wide open spaces, but wasn't that great when trying to mow around, or close to anything, once the house was built. With the rear mount, you will always find yourself turning around to watch the mower, to make sure you aren't going to hit anything with it. Eventually I bought a small JD STX38 that I used for the "finishing" touches. Over the years, that STX38 has evolved into an X495 with a 62" deck, which I will pretty much be using for the grass cutting.

If anything, the X495 will cut all my grass as fast, or probably a little faster than the 72" RFM would, and in my opinion does a nicer job of it.

I traded my Yanmar late last year, for a new 2520, and got it with the 62D mower. I hardly ever took the rear mower off the Yanmar. It was a PITA trying to line up the 3PTH lift arms, and another PITA lining up the driveshaft coupler. I'm sure the newer RFM's, especially with an "I" match would be easier to mount, but I find for me, the 62D drive over deck is a lot easier to take off and remount than my old 72" RFM.

I had a lot of years with the 72" RFM, but for my money, I prefer the 62D MMM. I'm sort of a "Klutz" when it comes to mechanical ability, but, I really am amazed how easy it is to put on and take off. Hey, even i can do it.

REV

 

[whistlepig]

All-

Looking for some input on different mower options for the 2520.
We have about 5 acres of grass ... pretty flat, some mild rolling hills but nothing significant. Few trees here and there.

I'm trying to decide between the 62" MMM (on ramp) vs a 72" rear finish mower. Just wondering if the 72" will save much time over the mid mount.

I like the idea of being able to drop the rear mower from the 3pt hitch. How difficult is height adjustment on the rear finish mowers?

My brother thinks that I will be able to mow faster with the MMM and hence negate any benefits from the wider rear mower.

I mentioned this in a previous thread but was hoping to pick up some additional views and input here.

Thanks in advance.

Kind of splitting hairs here but the MMM will be quicker mowing around obstacles. As far as a 62" mower verses a 72" mower on open ground the 10" difference will be very significant. Changing the height on a RFM isn't a big a big deal. Loosen four bolts and swap some spacers. Takes about ten minutes.

 

[Runner]

I have both mowers and generally prefer the RFM for the reason you mentioned, and because I believe it produces a nicer looking cut. I mow about 2 acres per week with this setup.

I don't think there is an appreciable difference in cutting time, even though it seems like there should be. Maybe this is because I'm not a very good operator. I probably have a lot more overlap with the 72 inch mower than I should, simply because it's otherwise hard for me to keep from leaving uncut strips when I turn if I don't. Did that make sense?

My theory with the 62D was that I'd save time by being able to mow in tighter spaces, like cutting in around the house, around trees, etc., with the 2520, rather than having to go around everything with my lawn tractor first as is my normal procedure when using the rear finish mower.

However, I find that I still can't get close enough, even with the 62D, so I still wind up having to cut-in with the small machine first, which takes me about 45 minutes each time. This is what kills me on mowing time, and as mentioned, I still have to do it regardless of which mower I'm using on the 2520.

Therefore, I've pretty much gone back to using the RFM, just because it's easier to change out and gives a better cut (because it follows the terrain better).

If my property wasn't rough and steep, I'd probably just forget mowing with the 2520 and buy a ZTR.

 

[whistlepig]

The quality of the cut on a premium RFM is going to be second to none. We do use a lawn tractor to get to the places that the RFM can't. A 72" deck can be bad at scalping quick and steep dips like ditches. A RFM is better for large, flat, open areas.

 

[whistlepig]

What the heck? Typing "lawn tractor" turned out to be a link. I guess I better start previewing all of my posts.

 

[ENTS]

How does the fact that you run over the grass with front tires and rear tires before cutting (with rear mount) affect the cut? Mid mount, just the front tires.

 

[RoyJackson]

How does the fact that you run over the grass with front tires and rear tires before cutting (with rear mount) affect the cut? Mid mount, just the front tires.

My mower (RFM) has "high lift" blades (theory is the blades provide suction and lift the grass).
So, no problems unless the grass is wet.

 

[Runner]

"Originally Posted by ENTS
How does the fact that you run over the grass with front tires and rear tires before cutting (with rear mount) affect the cut? Mid mount, just the front tires.

My mower (RFM) has "high lift" blades (theory is the blades provide suction and lift the grass).
So, no problems unless the grass is wet."

Same here. I have had zero problems with any missed grass because of it being compacted by the tractor.

In fact, my Frontier GM1072R has so much suction, you can see the blades being sucked towards it from about 6 inches away.

 

[ENTS]

The next logical ques. would be, are all rfm equiped with high lift blades? I guess that would be a ques. for the person I'd be buying from.

Thanks for the replies,

Later,