Need a Finishing Mower and HELP!!

[Dirtandgrass]

Hey folks,

I need some help yet again. I need to try and get myself a finishing mower. Problem is, I don't know what size I can get. I have plenty of tractor, and am afraid I might have too much.

When I started out cleaning up this 10 acres, it was pretty rough, so I was using my Kubota M7040 and a pretty beefy Rhino 7 foot rotary cutter (TW84 I think it is). Anyway, this setup has worked tremendously as I got it cleaned up and nice looking. I have been mowing and keeping it up to the point that I need to start to groom it some. The Rhino cuts great, but I need to cut it lower than the Rhino will allow me.

So, I know I have the HP to run a fairly good size finishing mower, but what things do I need to look out for? I guess what concerns me is having too much tractor for the mower and actually doing damage to the mower...ie gearbox, belts, etc. because the tractor has too much HP. Is that a possibility? I mean I know the M7040 is only a mid size type tractor, but I see my neighbors running 6 and 7 foot finishing mowers on much much smaller tractors...thats why I was concerned about damaging the mower.

I would like to get something in the 6-8 foot range. Is that possible on a Kubota M7040? Thanks much.

Regards,

G.
Grass Catcher

 

[billbill1]

At 540 rpm that is required to run the pto finish mower, the mower itself doesn't care how many hp are turning it. However, if you hit an object, you have the power to destroy a mower. You can buy finish mowers up to 7' that I am aware of and probably bigger. I run a 6' with a 25hp tractor and it does fine, it will bog down if the grass is let grow too tall (which I don't do) and I have the rear discharge (which I prefer), it doesn't clump up the grass like a side discharge does and I can mow close on either side of the deck. Landpride and Woods are both very good mowers, I have a KingKutter and I really like it, much cheaper to purchase new but not nearly as heavy duty as the higher end mowers. But yes, you can use one on your tractor and not tear it up unless you hit objects with it. Hope this helps.

 

[Egon]

The slip clutch should help some.

 

[greg_g]

I would consider the First Choice GM35-84 a very good value for the money. I used it behind 40 PTO hp, and the tractor doesn't even know it's there.

Note on First Choice Equipment that it's 73% heavier than the six footer. That's a feature you'll appreciate when the mowing surface gets a little bumpy. I've used lighter finish mowers that would bounch uncontrollably unless ground speed was reduced through rough patches. But this one stays on the ground - at speed - over the very same ground.

//greg//

 

[daBear]

I suspect finish mowers of the bat wing variety come as wide as your budget will allow. With 10 acres a 72" will be as small as you probably would care to put up with but the wider they get the more scalping you will get also. Even with a center wheel. I have always owned Bush Hog finish and rotary mowers, but Woods and other top tier brands offer some really nice 7' models. With that much acreage I would really try and stick with a good quality and heavy model.

 

[greg_g]

The slip clutch should help some.

On a finish mower? Waste of money. The belt(s) is/are your "slip clutch". They'll slip/smoke/break long before there's any danger of transmission/PTO damage

//greg//

 

[Egon]

On my finish mower the belts don't slip.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I pull a 5' mower with a separate 5' trail mower attached to the back, for a total cut of just under 9'. If you're not familiar with trail mowers:
Swisher Finishing Trailmower — 60in. Cutting Width, 13 HP, Model# T1360H | Trail Mowers | Northern Tool + Equipment

I already had the trail mower when I got the tractor. Getting a bat wing that big would probably cost a lot more money. Only drawback is the trail mower has it's own gas engine, so it's one more thing to take care of. But you can also pull it behind an ATV or garden tractor if that's any benefit.

 

[coastalguy]

Caroni sells a 93" from Agrisupply for $1800. That will cut your seat time down for sure.

I am in the same boat as you.

Looking forward to the responses....

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a 7ft landpride finish mower with a slip clutch. I absolutley love it, except for the flat tires, but I'm changing them to solid tires, so that should take care of that problem.

I find that I can mow faster and easier with my finish mower. I only have 35hp, which gets the job done, but more hp would sure be nicer. I don't think you can have too much hp, but if the grass gets too tall, or is really thick, it will come in handy. I bog down in certain areas where my bermuda and bahia gets extra thick. I can usualy see those areas before I get to them and I just slow down and take it slow. Otherwise, it's awesome.

Eddie

 

[scott_vt]

Caroni sells a 93" from Agrisupply for $1800. That will cut your seat time down for sure.

I am in the same boat as you.

Looking forward to the responses....

Good Mornin,
Im kinda with Coastalguy on this one ! I did a fair amount of research on rear finish mowers last year and was very close to purchasing a Caroni 6 ft with a rear discharge to run behind my Massey 1040 . The last minute I got a great deal on a Toro Z Zero turn and ended up buying that , but everything I have read and also talking to various owners led to my choice of the Caroni ! JMO !

Good luck with your hunt !

BTW, Agrisupply had very good prices IMO !

 

[Runner]

"I guess what concerns me is having too much tractor for the mower and actually doing damage to the mower...ie gearbox, belts, etc. because the tractor has too much HP."

Dirt,

From what I've seen, the manufacturers usually list the horsepower range that the gearbox/mower was designed for in their specs. So it should be pretty easy to pick one out for your tractor.

I have a 6 foot, rear discharge Frontier which seems to be a good mower, but the paint isn't the best.

Best of luck in your search.

 

[Dirtandgrass]

"I guess what concerns me is having too much tractor for the mower and actually doing damage to the mower...ie gearbox, belts, etc. because the tractor has too much HP."

Dirt,

From what I've seen, the manufacturers usually list the horsepower range that the gearbox/mower was designed for in their specs. So it should be pretty easy to pick one out for your tractor.

I have a 6 foot, rear discharge Frontier which seems to be a good mower, but the paint isn't the best.

Best of luck in your search.

Yea that is my thing...I have seen some that list a"max" hp and that is what gave me the concerns.

However, I think that it is just me being overly concerned and not experienced with finishing mowers. I think I am gonna go with a 7 foot of some brand. Not sure on the brand yet though. I know that my Rhino bush hog has been run pretty good...to the point that if I can run over it, I pretty much go for it. It has handled some big stuff and never given me one single issue. So I think I would be happy with a Rhino brand. I also know that the "name brands" like Woods and others are ranked really high on here.

In any event, whatever brand, for a couple of reasons, I am gonna get a 7 footer I think. One is the scalping issues, and two, my bush hog is also a 7 footer, and that size gets me just the right amount of seat time...eoungh to enjoy it, but not so much I dread it.

I glanced today at the KK 7 footer at TSC. It looked okay. Not sure what folks on here think about the KK brand, and I think I would like to have one just a tad bit heavier duty.

Thanks again for all the help. I will let you guys know how it plays out. Need to save up a few more pennies though...the KK at TSC was 2 G's and I would be scared to see what a Woods would cost.

Regards,

G.
Grass Scientist

 

[Rara Avis]

11 ft to 22 ft...
Land Pride All-Flex Grooming Mowers

 

[greg_g]

the KK at TSC was 2 G's and I would be scared to see what a Woods would cost.

There's a 2 year old GM35-84 on eBay right now for $1200. I saw a new one earlier this year priced at $1795

//greg//

 

[GreenWannabe]

Woods. Bush Hog, and Rhino also have flex-wing finishing mowers.

 

[LBrown59]

I pull a 5' mower with a separate 5' trail mower attached to the back, for a total cut of just familiawithSwisher Finishing Trailmower ? 60in. Cutting Width, 13 HP, Model# T1360H | Trail Mowers | Northern Tool + Equipment
I already had the trail mower when I got the tractor. Getting a bat wing that big would probably cost a lot more money.

*Only drawback is the trail mower has it's own gas engine, so it's one more thing to take care of.

*The real drawback is you can't mow out over ditches and road banks with them.
That's because they are all ground following mowers.
They need to set them up as suspended mowers so you could do that with them.

 

[coastalguy]

Any thoughts on the 93" finish mower from Agri?

I am looking at this one hard.

93 ESTATE MOWER LIFT TYPE 5 BLADE REAR - Agri Supply

 

[LBrown59]

I pull a 5' mower with a separate 5' trail mower attached to the back, for a total cut of just under 9'.

When my wife and i mow with these we cut a 9 foot swath.

 

[smitty9266]

I mowed road right of ways and public parks for 20 years. I had my choice of mowers the rear discharge finish mower work great on flat ground. I ended up with a 8 foot flail mower with grass blades mowed great, very forgiving on uneven ground and easier to mow around obsticles....but a far greater initial cost. But...much lower operating cost. A flail also dosn't care if the grass is wet it will still mow nice with little clumping.

I only have a king kutter finish mower at the house because when I was out buying a new flail my local salvage store recieved stock from a TSC store that was flooded. I was able to buy it for 60% off retail so at $500 I could not pass it up!

it is a tough decision

Jeff