Mowing mowing with the bucket on/off

[chim]

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

No wrong answer here, just curious.

I tried mowing with the loader on and didn't care for it:

1. I use a RFM so it makes the tractor awfully long to navigate.

2. To mow around trees & things I apporach the object straight on and slow down a bit as I get close. When the grille guard is getting close to the tree I turn just enough to skim by, then crank a little more steering to swing the deck close to the tree. Then dial a hard S turn to get back in line with the original route. This can't happen with the loader or loader arms on unless I want to spend a lot of time with the trimmer.

3. Sometimes in the Spring when the ground is soft, the added weight of the loader makes the front tires dig on tighter turns.

 

[howie70]

Don, I did not attempt to mow with the loader on. I was doing some work with the loader (patio project) and while I had it out I (slowly & carefully) navigated the hill a couple times. I then removed it. I just felt more comfortable with it off. Maybe it was a mental thing after the majority here suggested removing.

 

[Don87]

Don, I did not attempt to mow with the loader on. I was doing some work with the loader (patio project) and while I had it out I (slowly & carefully) navigated the hill a couple times. I then removed it. I just felt more comfortable with it off. Maybe it was a mental thing after the majority here suggested removing.

Anything is possible.
As I posted earlier, I keep mine on all the time and I live on a slope. But with that said, every property is different, and every tractor is different. I think mine is a couple inches wider than yours(IIRC), and that alone will make a huge difference in stability. I should also note that my rear tires are loaded with Rimguard, which further increases stability.
After you get more comfortable on the machine, give it a shot with the FEL on. Just for your own comparison.

 

[howie70]

Here is the front of the house with the hill. The pics make it look much smaller and not as steep. Lookin at the pic I am wondering why I would be concerned. LOL It is steeper than it looks!

 

[TripleR]

Howie, pictures sure are deceiving, I have taken them of slopes on our property and in looking at them wonder why they are so scary. I can tell your yard is pretty darned steep and certainly understand your concern.

Very nice house and property.:thumbsup:

 

[RaydaKub]

Here is the front of the house with the hill. The pics make it look much smaller and not as steep. Lookin at the pic I am wondering why I would be concerned. LOL It is steeper than it looks!

I'll be honest with you, it looks darn steep to me, even in the picture. I think you have every reason to be nervous on the hill.

Beautiful property.

 

[Don87]

That is a little steeper than I envisioned. I can see the concern.
I would only mow straight up and down on that(and I see by your tracks you have been doing that).
The good part is that it appears to level off very quickly(and the tress will stop ya :laughing, so you should be ok once you get accustomed to the terrain and the tractor.:thumbsup:

 

[howie70]

Yes I definitely mow up and down. The terrain I am use to, been here 13 years. The tractor, not so much just yet. Those trees have stopped me once or twice on my old riding mowers! :ashamed: The rest of the property is pretty much woods that I plan to brush hog if I can ever find a deal on a 4 footer before it sells.
Thanks for the compliments on the house and thanks for all the input!

 

[Don87]

Make sure you mow in 4wd. You'll find a huge difference between the BX and your average riding mower, as the 'engine braking capability' will be directed to the front wheels also, keeping you from sliding down the slope.
And yes, I would want to mow that with the FEL off also.

 

[Ed755]

All you fellows with 'modern' tractors make me envious, my 1986 755 does not have 'quick-tach' anything. So the FEL stays on, period. Just getting the mid-mount mower off at start of winter and on again in the spring is more work than I like to think about. Big plus one on being in 4wd while tackling your slopes. I have a couple steep enough that the tractor ran away when I came down slope in 2wd. Luckily I had the FEL on and a big brush pile at the bottom of the slope. I only did that twice, early on, now it is instinctive to double check that I am in 4wd. side slope going, on milder slopes, it is a tradeoff, stability vs front wheels chewing things up a bit. But the bucket stays low. ON the flat, 2wd only, for tighter and smoother turnings. I never operate in high range, low range only, except when travelling over the road to a nearby park where I mow trails, then it is 2wd high range.

 

[TripleR]

All you fellows with 'modern' tractors make me envious, my 1986 755 does not have 'quick-tach' anything. So the FEL stays on, period. Just getting the mid-mount mower off at start of winter and on again in the spring is more work than I like to think about. Big plus one on being in 4wd while tackling your slopes. I have a couple steep enough that the tractor ran away when I came down slope in 2wd. Luckily I had the FEL on and a big brush pile at the bottom of the slope. I only did that twice, early on, now it is instinctive to double check that I am in 4wd. side slope going, on milder slopes, it is a tradeoff, stability vs front wheels chewing things up a bit. But the bucket stays low. ON the flat, 2wd only, for tighter and smoother turnings. I never operate in high range, low range only, except when travelling over the road to a nearby park where I mow trails, then it is 2wd high range.

I feel your pain, we have a Massey Ferguson 375 bought new in 1986 and the loader hasn't been off of it in years.

 

[brin]

I'll be honest with you, it looks darn steep to me, even in the picture. I think you have every reason to be nervous on the hill.

Beautiful property.

I agree, scary steep...watch out for any rocks or depressions and never, ever go sideways - only up and down...those would be my rules...

 

[Grandad4]

Yes I definitely mow up and down. The terrain I am use to, been here 13 years. The tractor, not so much just yet. Those trees have stopped me once or twice on my old riding mowers! :ashamed: The rest of the property is pretty much woods that I plan to brush hog if I can ever find a deal on a 4 footer before it sells.
Thanks for the compliments on the house and thanks for all the input!

Nice place you have there, Howie. Please forgive this late comment... this thread sort of got away from me but you've gotten great advice from everyone else, as usual. Once you establish a mowing routine that works well for your place, try to stay with it. For example, I much prefer mowing with the FEL removed whenever possible, but occasionally the mowing gets done with it still on the tractor. That certainly increases the pucker factor with some ditch banks that are ordinarily mowed, which are just avoided til the next mowing. Best wishes with your "tractoring" experience!

 

[tamara14]

MY little BX 25D well it has a mid mower, and FEL, and Backhoe, so It is simewhat of a toss up on removing the FEL, because, the stability of the Backhoe weight bslances it out. Bestides to cut the acerage, I would have to take off both. Not sure if this is good or not, and advies would eb great.

 

[kub0]

Just got my BX2370 with FEL & MMM. I have read a couple posts on here stating that it is best to remove the loader when mowing to make it more stable. I have a few grades that I will be mowing and in my feeble mind I was thinking the added weight of the FEL would help out. I know it can/will be an annoyance when navigating through my trees, but I am more concerned about stability. Can someone explain how removing it makes it more stable?[/QUOT

I have relatively flat land but I remove my loader just for maneuverability around trees and fences. The loader on my L3240 comes off in minutes. Just be sure you park it on level ground. Also be aware that hydraulic fluid in the cylinders and hoses expands when warm so if it is parked in the sun you may have a problem reattaching them.

 

[RaydaKub]

Welcome to TBN, tamara14.
I don't have a BX25D, but my understanding is the BH sits pretty high, so unless you swing it uphill, it isn't going to help a lot. The FEL by itself will definitely be a disadvantage.
I would recommend you find your hillside, try it with the BH and FEL. Go drop the BH and try it again. Go add the BH and drop the FEL and try it again. Then drop both and try it out one last time. My guess is that for an hour of experimentation, you'll convince yourself of the most stable configuration. And I'd bet that it will be the bare tractor.

 

[howie70]

All you fellows with 'modern' tractors make me envious, my 1986 755 does not have 'quick-tach' anything. So the FEL stays on, period. Just getting the mid-mount mower off at start of winter and on again in the spring is more work than I like to think about. Big plus one on being in 4wd while tackling your slopes. I have a couple steep enough that the tractor ran away when I came down slope in 2wd. Luckily I had the FEL on and a big brush pile at the bottom of the slope. I only did that twice, early on, now it is instinctive to double check that I am in 4wd. side slope going, on milder slopes, it is a tradeoff, stability vs front wheels chewing things up a bit. But the bucket stays low. ON the flat, 2wd only, for tighter and smoother turnings. I never operate in high range, low range only, except when travelling over the road to a nearby park where I mow trails, then it is 2wd high range.

I know the feeling from when I had my 9N and my Massey. I had loader envy since I had no loader on them. And...everywhere I went on them it was uphill both ways...barefooted.

 

[gfhdhr]

Here's my 2 cents. I mow a lot using an L3010. Central Florida pastures, very sandy soil. We have gopher turtles and gophers that make mounds of sand everywhere. The front bucket set 1 or 2 inches above the ground levels the mounds and saves the mower blades from premature dulling. I had an L3750 in CA for about 25 years. Never took the loader off. Never noticed any "premature" wear.

 

[RaydaKub]

Just got my BX2370 with FEL & MMM. I have read a couple posts on here stating that it is best to remove the loader when mowing to make it more stable. I have a few grades that I will be mowing and in my feeble mind I was thinking the added weight of the FEL would help out. I know it can/will be an annoyance when navigating through my trees, but I am more concerned about stability. Can someone explain how removing it makes it more stable?

I have relatively flat land but I remove my loader just for maneuverability around trees and fences. The loader on my L3240 comes off in minutes. Just be sure you park it on level ground. Also be aware that hydraulic fluid in the cylinders and hoses expands when warm so if it is parked in the sun you may have a problem reattaching them.

Here is an explanation I put together last fall.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...6-does-weight-fel-give-you-5.html#post3007695

 

[hawkeye08]

I have looked at this from every angle and at the end of day, I generally mow with my FEL on just because I might need to fill in a gopher hole or clean out a ditch or use the FEL to get unstuck... but then again, I have never needed to use it to get unstuck (yet) and I can certainly come back after mowing to fill in a hole or clean a ditch (or do it before I mow)... I was going to add a spray tank to the loader bucket so I could spot spray along field edges or fences but have decided to build a platform on the back for the spray tank...

My conclusion is that for me, it gives me peace of mind regarding getting stuck (I have something I can try before calling a neighbor). I am very careful and go very slow when raising the FEL while mowing, it makes it unstable real fast if there are bumps or holes with the loader raised up.. but I very much like the way my tractor feels when mowing with the FEL off so will probably start mowing with it off... I know where to avoid so I don't get stuck (generally getting dryer now, not wetter so should be safer each time I mow) and I have filled most of the holes I wanted to this spring already so it is just extra weight and size... that and I am lazy and don't want to spend the extra 5 minutes to remove it...