Mowing My annual question :D

[ChuckinNH]

I think I have asked each year how many folks are finish mowing with the smaller B series tractors, and a mmm. I have gotten poor feedback in past years, but the B2320, B2620, and B2920 have been out for a while now so I'll ask again. Do you mow with yours, and how well does it work? Do you like the drive over deck? ( I have cancer in my hip, leg, and am looking for something easier to mount, and service than my Simplicity commercial deck.) Does it tear things up with the outside front tires much, and any other input you might have. I promised myself that if I made it through the winter I would treat myself to a new mower, and I haven't gotten one yet......... gotta get moving!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Have never used a MMM on a B but have used a RFM on two B's. B7800 and B3200 and an L3240. It does take a bit getting used to the extra length but no more so than a FEL. It's just behind you instead of in front and nothing is easier to service, attach and unhook than a RFM. Alot less expensive also than a MMM but get a good one and not a cheap one.

 

[Knight9]

I have a MMM on a B2410. That's a slightly older model now, and does not have the "drive over" deck. However, I use the FEL to lift the front, put on the deck, then remove the FEL. Probably down to under 5 minutes now

The deck gives a pretty good mow as far as I'm concerned. I do not use FWD when I mow except going up and down a hill I have. Thus, I don't find I tear up the turf, but I also have turf tires.​

 

[sweettractors]

I think I have asked each year how many folks are finish mowing with the smaller B series tractors, and a mmm. I have gotten poor feedback in past years, but the B2320, B2620, and B2920 have been out for a while now so I'll ask again. Do you mow with yours, and how well does it work? Do you like the drive over deck? ( I have cancer in my hip, leg, and am looking for something easier to mount, and service than my Simplicity commercial deck.) Does it tear things up with the outside front tires much, and any other input you might have. I promised myself that if I made it through the winter I would treat myself to a new mower, and I haven't gotten one yet......... gotta get moving!

I always have thought, that when you put the MMM on for the summer, That pretty well makes the tractor dedicated to just mowing. I like the flexibility of changing 3 point implements with less hassle so I will use my CUT more. Ken Sweet

 

[fredhargis]

When I bought my B2920 last year, a major consideration was mowing. We have a little over 4 acres of yard and at the time all I had was an older 42" Dixon. My yard is fairly open, and has a little slope. I love mowing it with the tractor. The tractor is quite nimble, and generally does a fair job with the cut. Even with R4's lawn damage has been minimal. Ken Sweet makes a valid point about the mower being in the way, but I still till and grade with the deck on as well as use the BH. Probably the only complaint I have is that when soil/grass conditions are just right, the front tires of the tractor seem to mash the grass down to the point where it doesn't spring back up quick enough to get mowed at the same height as the rest of it. So there are 2 tracks of grass on occasion that match my front tire track exactly. That said, my 17 year old Dixon is now gone, replaced by a 60" model. Even with that, I'll still do as much mowing as possible with the tractor. One more thing: if I had a lot of stuff to dodge and drive around, or a significantly smaller amount to mow, I wouldn't have even bought the MMM.

 

[Bird]

I, too, never used, and never wasnted to use, a mid-mount mower on my tractors. When I had the B7100, I used a rotary cutter on it for the pasture and such, but had a Cub Cadet riding mower (lawn tractor) for nothing but the finish mowing and fertilizer spreader. Then when I got the B2710, I used a 60" Bush Hog (RDTH60), 3-point, finish mower and got rid of the Cub Cadet.

 

[Rusty]

Do you mow with yours, and how well does it work? Do you like the drive over deck? ( I have cancer in my hip, leg, and am looking for something easier to mount, and service than my Simplicity commercial deck.) Does it tear things up with the outside front tires much, and any other input you might have.

Chuck inNH - I mow with a 2003 B7500 and MMM. I have over 1,250 hours on it since I bought it, probably 85% has been mowing with the MMM. I mow about 2.5 acres of finish lawn and 8 acres of pasture. The MMM has served me well. My lawn is not a show place, but I am satisfied with the result. If the soil is wet, I can tear up the lawn on tight turns, even with turf tires. I have lots of trees and other things to mow around. The MMM makes it easy for me to know exactly where I am cutting. On the downside, sitting above the mower can get pretty dusty at times. My MMM is not a drive over deck. Mounting and dismounting the deck is a chore for me, despite adopting many of the tips from TBNers. The B7500 is comfortable for me, so I can mow for long periods when I want/need to. One last caution, to mount my tractor I must either step on the MMM (which I won't do) or step up and over the deck to get to the operator's station. This is a stretch and may be hard on your leg and hip. If you are serious about a MMM, be sure to try mounting the tractor with MMM before committing. Best wishes!

 

[groundcover]

Chuck, sorry to hear about your hip / leg ,how are you feeling ? Go get the mower and enjoy !:thumbsup:

 

[Will_C]

Chuck,

I use a RFM on my 2620 to do 5 acres of grass on a site where I plan to build a house some day. The cut is acceptable-it does not compare to my ZTR, but it is comparable to my old BX that had a 60" MMM. I have not used a MMM on a B.

Will

 

[archerynut]

I have B3200 with MMM and it cuts great. My yard looks better than the neighbors. I can tear up grass pretty easy though.

 

[Wacky]

Chuck inNH - One last caution, to mount my tractor I must either step on the MMM (which I won't do) or step up and over the deck to get to the operator's station. This is a stretch and may be hard on your leg and hip. If you are serious about a MMM, be sure to try mounting the tractor with MMM before committing. Best wishes!

Why not step on the deck? I only step on mine when it is only in the lowered position. Pretty much have too.

 

[KU Gator]

I have a B2920 with a MMM. I don't always use it to mow the 3 acres we live on though because I also have a JD garden tractor with 54" deck. A couple of weeks ago, the tie rod broke on the JD half way through mowing. So I towed it to the house and put the deck on the Kubota and finished with it. I had forgotten how much smoother and better ride it was compared to the little JD for mowing.

The drive over deck keeps you from having to pull it under the tractor. But you still have to lay on the ground and reach up under the tractor to hook up the PTO. That is the toughest part. Also you have to re-adjust the the anti scalping wheels as you have to raise them before driving over it when you remove it. Took me maybe 5 minutes to hook it up the other night, less to take it off.

The next week I fixed the JD and came home to my wife mowing with it. After using the push mower to trim, I again put the mower back on the Kubota to help her finish as there were clouds moving in. This time I didn't bother to re-adjust the anti scalping wheels from the lowest setting but did not notice any scalping.

The mow quality is as good or better than the garden tractor. As I mentioned, smoother ride and the mower is actually quieter. I like not having the PTO shut off every time I back up like it does on the garden tractor.

As for the turns, I just try not to mow when the ground is too wet and try to avoid quick tight turns and of course keep it out of 4wd. Watch your head, because if you normally mow with the simplicity, those tree branches you slip under with it will hit you in the head.

I spent quite a bit of time on and off the tractor today. The mower was on it, but I was using the FEL. I don't have a problem getting on and off even with the deck on, but I also don't have knee or leg problems.

Good luck in your decision as well as with your health. Hang tough Chuck.

 

[kakabeka]

We've been cutting our lawn with the 54" mmm on my B2620 for the last year. It cuts great and the ride is smooth. I run 2WD only and when it is wet I will back off in corners to make sure the turf tires don't spin.

With the drive over deck I can install or remove it in less than 5 minutes(the mid PTO can be a pain sometimes ).

Hope this helps.

Kakabeka

 

[Rusty]

Why not step on the deck? I only step on mine when it is only in the lowered position. Pretty much have too.

Wacky - If I step on the deck there is 200# moving load concentrated somewhere on a piece of equipment that does not look like it was designed to support me. My choice.

 

[TripleR]

Why not step on the deck? I only step on mine when it is only in the lowered position. Pretty much have too.

I am not telling anyone else what they should or should not do, but I have used the deck on my BX2200 and BX2660 as a "step" since I got them. Sometimes I will lower the deck so the wheels are touching the ground and sometimes just lower it to the normal cutting height in which case the wheels touch the ground when I step on it. Like Chuck, I have mobility problems and it's either step on the deck or stay on the porch. I sadly weigh over 200 pounds.

Sadly since my wife retired I haven't got to mow much as she is always on "her" tractor and I have to use our L5030 HSTC most of the time durn it.:laughing:

Chuck for what its worth, I did a lot of FEL and bush hog work with my deck on and your B has a LOT more ground clearance than my BX.

Hope you are feeling better, Larry

 

[Charlesaf3]

I have a b3030, loaded r4 tires (foamed) and the 72" mmm. I've mowed the lawn with it for 5 years.

Chuck, given what you've said, I'd recommend you get a Rear Finish Mower and a quick attach system (I strongly recommend Delta hook - it's expensive, but you get a skid steer quick attach in the back basically, its just easy)

Why? The MMM is a bit of a pain to set up. I've gotten pretty good at it - under 5 minutes on and off, but it requires some yanking back and forth to line it up, and the pto can be a pain to put on blind (I've gotten good at it, but it took years of practice). Rear attachments are much easier to put on and off - with the delta hook they literally take 30 seconds, most of which is climbing on and off the tractor to put on the PTO.

Mow quality is quite good, especially if the blades are kept sharp. I sharpen them with a flap disk in a grinder, as recd on here, and its simply amazing how fast they get sharpened. My 72" deck will scalp if mowed low, but mowing low is bad for grass, so I don't mind. I have to mow when it is DRY or the tires will tear things up - I am seriously thinking of getting another set of tires and rims just for mowing, unweighted turfs.

If you are going to leave the tractor set up all season as a really big lawnmower, I'd say the MMM is fine, and has some advantages for mowing - as does RFM. Which matters more will depend on your property, but in either case you can get the job done. Perhaps somebody else can do a better job of explaining what I mean.

I drive over the deck, btw, without adjusting anything. Do it on dirt not concrete. No problems with any of the wheels. Standing on deck is obviously no problem - frankly, I'd even stand on a little push mower deck, I wouldn't hesitate to stand on any tractor mower deck I've seen. I'm around 6'5 230lbs fyi

hope that is helpful