Mowing mowing with the bucket on/off

[KennK]

I remove just my bucket whenever mowing - not the entire FEL assembly. I find the tractor bounces (rocks?) from the weight of the bucket, so its more comfortable when off. Besides, its super fast to remove and put back on.

There are times when I get close to objects and need to raise the FEL arms to get in close, but that's easy enough to do.

 

[TripleR]

After owning a BX since 2003 and trying all configurations, we always remove the bucket to mow, actually just leave the bucket off one and use the other to mow now, but with our other tractors we ow with and without depending on the situation.

 

[unbidden]

The original poster is running a BX and I assume that is with a belly mower. Most of the posters here are in agreement to remove the FEL. I run a 60" RFM on my bx and leave the FEL on and I do mow some very steep slopes straight up and down. I could be wrong but I believe the tractor with RFM is more stable with the bucket on. One poster on another thread felt that because the RFM is on the ground it doesn't add to the stability as opposed to using a MMM; I don't agree with this when cresting the top of a slope, I feel I need the stability of the FEL when using a RFM.

I'm also in agreement with using the FEL when bush-hogging. Keeping the bucket low alerts me to rocks and stumps I cannot see when in high grass.

Thoughts are appreciated and welcome, what do you all think?

 

[KYDan]

Yes, I didn't consider a belly mower, I have always used pull behind or 3 point mounted ones, usually brush cutters rather than finishing mowers. I mow the dam on my lake up and down, however, I don't crest the hill, that's why I back up and pull down. I have found the HST makes this much easier than a geared transmission.

 

[Don87]

The original poster is running a BX and I assume that is with a belly mower. Most of the posters here are in agreement to remove the FEL. I run a 60" RFM on my bx and leave the FEL on and I do mow some very steep slopes straight up and down. I could be wrong but I believe the tractor with RFM is more stable with the bucket on. One poster on another thread felt that because the RFM is on the ground it doesn't add to the stability as opposed to using a MMM; I don't agree with this when cresting the top of a slope, I feel I need the stability of the FEL when using a RFM.

I'm also in agreement with using the FEL when bush-hogging. Keeping the bucket low alerts me to rocks and stumps I cannot see when in high grass.

Thoughts are appreciated and welcome, what do you all think?

I think it depends on the operator, lay of the land, tasks being done, location of obstacles that must be mowed around. In short, that's probably why they started making quick attach loaders, because every plot of land is different.

 

[dave1949]

My loader is always off for finish mowing. It's more manouverable and the front tires don't rip things up.

When I did some bush hogging it was always on and set low enough to hit hidden objects before the tractor and rotary mower ran into them. Most of the time it worked, but I did whack a few things anyway.

Same here for bush hogging. The bucket is my rock and stump detector. Usually by the time I bush hog, things are getting pretty thick and hard to see through. I try to keep the bucket about 5" above the ground with the bucket cutting edge curled up about 45*. Then I can feel anything that the bottom of the bucket bumps on without ramming into them with the cutting edge.

Every summer I dig up rocks, and stumps as they rot, but I'll never get all of them.

 

[RBA50]

I have found that with a belly mower, it is much more comfortable without the loader. I mowed with it on a couple times, and my back was killing me by the time I got done. Then I decided to take it off, since I didn't have any plans to use it in the near future. Next time I mowed, my back didn't bother me at all. I realized the ride was a lot smoother without all that weight bouncing around up front, not to mention that it was much simpler to avoid obstacles without it.

 

[TripleR]

The original poster is running a BX and I assume that is with a belly mower. Most of the posters here are in agreement to remove the FEL. I run a 60" RFM on my bx and leave the FEL on and I do mow some very steep slopes straight up and down. I could be wrong but I believe the tractor with RFM is more stable with the bucket on. One poster on another thread felt that because the RFM is on the ground it doesn't add to the stability as opposed to using a MMM; I don't agree with this when cresting the top of a slope, I feel I need the stability of the FEL when using a RFM.

I'm also in agreement with using the FEL when bush-hogging. Keeping the bucket low alerts me to rocks and stumps I cannot see when in high grass.

Thoughts are appreciated and welcome, what do you all think?

The thread sounds familiar and I may well be "the other poster", if so, my point was an RFM "on the ground" has no effect on stability while the MMM being "suspended" will. Obviously once the RFM no longer is ridding with all its weight on the gauge wheels, it becomes suspended weight and will then affect stability. If you can point to the thread, I my be able to see where or if I was wrong or did a poor job of explaining.

 

[SPYDERLK]

The original poster is running a BX and I assume that is with a belly mower. Most of the posters here are in agreement to remove the FEL. I run a 60" RFM on my bx and leave the FEL on and I do mow some very steep slopes straight up and down. I could be wrong but I believe the tractor with RFM is more stable with the bucket on. One poster on another thread felt that because the RFM is on the ground it doesn't add to the stability as opposed to using a MMM; I don't agree with this when cresting the top of a slope, I feel I need the stability of the FEL when using a RFM.

I'm also in agreement with using the FEL when bush-hogging. Keeping the bucket low alerts me to rocks and stumps I cannot see when in high grass.

Thoughts are appreciated and welcome, what do you all think?

No on side slope.
larry

 

[Creamer]

I find the loader on puts too much weight on the front end and the smaller tires push the grass down too much and therefore I do not get a very nice cut. Without the FEL the front end is much lighter and it is a much nicer job mowing.

i also want to echo the points made here that on side slope, the FEL shifts the cg to far forward to a more unstable set-up than the rigidly mounted rear wheels which make sit more unstable.

 

[Creamer]

I find the loader on puts too much weight on the front end and the smaller tires push the grass down too much and therefore I do not get a very nice cut. Without the FEL the front end is much lighter and it is a much nicer job mowing.

i also want to echo the points made here that on side slope, the FEL shifts the cg to far forward to a more unstable set-up than the rigidly mounted rear wheels which make sit more unstable.

 

[unbidden]

The thread sounds familiar and I may well be "the other poster", if so, my point was an RFM "on the ground" has no effect on stability while the MMM being "suspended" will. Obviously once the RFM no longer is ridding with all its weight on the gauge wheels, it becomes suspended weight and will then affect stability. If you can point to the thread, I my be able to see where or if I was wrong or did a poor job of explaining.

TribleR, it may have been your post that I was refering to and I'm glad you posted a response here. I haven't tried mowing with the loader off while using the RFM but will give it a try this week; I'll start with the lesser inclines to see how it feels. Do you think there should be some weight added up front using suitcase weights?

 

[TripleR]

TribleR, it may have been your post that I was refering to and I'm glad you posted a response here. I haven't tried mowing with the loader off while using the RFM but will give it a try this week; I'll start with the lesser inclines to see how it feels. Do you think there should be some weight added up front using suitcase weights?

I believe suitcase weights on the front would sure help as like I said the RFM once off the ground becomes a whole different matter and you will be pulling uphill. 94BULLITT has some posts on adding weights to his as does someone else, but I have forgotten who.

Regardless of what I am doing, I have to keep in mind proper use of ballast. It always takes a bit to figure it out on a new tractor and I have recently added about 500 pounds to the back of our L5740 when using a loader and the performance and stability really improved.

I am certainly no expert and learn something new all the time; sometimes I even learn I didn't know what I was doing when I really thought I did.:laughing:

 

[Baby Grand]

FEL off for brush hogging and tilling.
Forward visibility is much better.
I like the weight being mostly on the rear axle and the CG down low.
Much better turning in cramped area - less chance of damage when turning while backing up.

 

[Don87]

FEL off for brush hogging and tilling.
Forward visibility is much better.
I like the weight being mostly on the rear axle and the CG down low.
Much better turning in cramped area - less chance of damage when turning while backing up.

I don't agree with this completely. While forward visibility is better with the FEL off, and turning is tighter in cramped areas, the front end of my Massey will come off the ground when raising the tiller. I can do wheelies in a heartbeat, and my tiller is light compared to others.
And I'll also add that I would never brush hog without my FEL, unless it was known ground with no obstacles at all. Better to keep the FEL low to warn of objects that can tear a mower to pieces(stumps, rocks, fenceposts, logs, deer carcasses, old implements, human remains).

 

[howie70]

Wow...thanks for all the opinions guys. I should have stated that yes it is a belly mower. I mowed for the first time Sunday evening and this evening. I did take the loader off. Had it off in less than 2 minutes. Took me quite a bit longer to get it back on. But, this was my first time. I am sure with practice that re-attaching it will get easier. Anyway, with the loader off the BX performed great on the hill. I am not one who is real picky about my grass, but I think it did a fine job cutting. Took a little longer than it used to with my zero turn, but at least I was in control the entire time. Unlike the zero turn where it would break traction on the hill once in a while and then I was just along for the ride. I plan to take a pic of the hill I mow to see what you think. Maybe too late now since I have already tackled it. I received an e-mail asking me to review my tractor, but with only 5 hours on it right now, I am not sure I can give a real good review. It did get a pretty good workout this weekend with the mowing and hauling gravel for my patio project I am working on. So far I am happy, happy, happy.

 

[rekees4300]

Okay Howie glad everything worked out for you ... look forward to the pic ... stay safe :thumbsup:

 

[unbidden]

TripleR: The thread sounds familiar and I may well be "the other poster", if so, my point was an RFM "on the ground" has no effect on stability while the MMM being "suspended" will. Obviously once the RFM no longer is ridding with all its weight on the gauge wheels, it becomes suspended weight and will then affect stability. If you can point to the thread, I my be able to see where or if I was wrong or did a poor job of explaining.

TribleR, it may have been your post that I was refering to and I'm glad you posted a response here. I haven't tried mowing with the loader off while using the RFM but will give it a try this week; I'll start with the lesser inclines to see how it feels. Do you think there should be some weight added up front using suitcase weights?

Well, I mowed with the FEL off and all went better than great. Ride was smoother and of course the tractor was easier to navigate around fences and trees. The big plus was mowing slopes actually seemed more stable than with FEL on. Thanks for the heads up TripleR. :thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

Well, I mowed with the FEL off and all went better than great. Ride was smoother and of course the tractor was easier to navigate around fences and trees. The big plus was mowing slopes actually seemed more stable than with FEL on. Thanks for the heads up TripleR. :thumbsup:

I am glad it worked out so well for you.

 

[Don87]

Wow...thanks for all the opinions guys. I should have stated that yes it is a belly mower. I mowed for the first time Sunday evening and this evening. I did take the loader off. Had it off in less than 2 minutes. Took me quite a bit longer to get it back on. But, this was my first time. I am sure with practice that re-attaching it will get easier. Anyway, with the loader off the BX performed great on the hill. I am not one who is real picky about my grass, but I think it did a fine job cutting. Took a little longer than it used to with my zero turn, but at least I was in control the entire time. Unlike the zero turn where it would break traction on the hill once in a while and then I was just along for the ride. I plan to take a pic of the hill I mow to see what you think. Maybe too late now since I have already tackled it. I received an e-mail asking me to review my tractor, but with only 5 hours on it right now, I am not sure I can give a real good review. It did get a pretty good workout this weekend with the mowing and hauling gravel for my patio project I am working on. So far I am happy, happy, happy.

I gotta ask, since no one else has. Did you mow with the bucket on at all?

No wrong answer here, just curious.