Pondering toolcat. Toolcat owners please read

[Hay Dude]

I need a cab, 4wd, FEL and a big (7+ foot) mower. I am looking at 40-50HP CUT's with a FEL to move 1000lb hay bales at my farm and a large mower to cut a couple estate size properties. Cut quality does not have to be stellar, just decent. Ground can be pretty steep, bumpy, certainly not a golf course. Grass may be let go fairly high at times with 2' high grass being entirely possible.
So bottom line is, can a toolcat 5610 with 90" finish mower handle that type of mowing? Can a toolcat load, unload 1,000 lb round bales into small trucks or trailers effectively? Is the toolcat pto/3pt legitimate? Could it handle smaller 3pt implements ok?

I currently do these chores with a small farm tractor and a 8' bush hog. It's too rough on the property when cutting. Other reason is that I need a 3rd tractor. Operations have expanded.
Or would I be better off with a 40-50 HP cut with a big (72-84") mmm and an FEL?

What I dislike about the CUT with big mmm is cleaning and sharpening middle blades. Also stability on steep ground. I'm assuming toolcat front mower is easier to maintain, but could be wrong. Assuming toolcat is stable on hills compared to CUT due to low center of gravity.
Thanks and sorry for all the ?'s, but it's a expensive decision.

 

[Xfaxman]

Hey, Hay Dude! I am very happy with our 5610 F series. Only have 64 hours on it, so is barely broken in.

The cab is great! 4 wheel steer is great! :thumbsup: You probably have seen my threads here in the Toolcat Forum, but I will answer some of your questions.

It handles 5x6 round bales, no problem.


I was told by the manufacturer that this 7' mower weighs 1800 pounds.

It will pick it up with no counter weight on the 3 point.


I hung the scale on the bare SSQA and chained it to a tree, showed 3001 pounds of lifting force.


No experience with the 90" finish mower, but just put the boom in float mow in comfort, with it out front where you can see what you are cutting.

It is very stable on steep side hills.


It will handle 3pt implements on either end!

6' on the front


8' on the back


Have not used the hydraulic PTO, only rated at 25hp, But Bobcat is very conservative with their ratings.

One possible disadvantage is the 7' lift height of the loader boom.

 

[Moto768]

My only problem is that it doesnt go through mud very well. My field has a few wet spots in the spring, i stay clear of those areas. Have had to pull it out a few times with truck or tractor.

 

[1965tontruck]

If I read your post correctly then you will be looking at mowing grass that is upwards of 2 feet tall. Don't think you will be happy with the finish mower. It will not cut that well and without high flow will bog down and quickly overheat. A brush cat will do a much better job. I have some steep hills on my place and am happy with my 5600 model A. It truly is a work horse for me.

 

[Chicken Man]

My Toolcat is an "A" model. I bought it new in 2004. It has been a very good machine. I have over 2700 hours on it, and had very few problems. Had to replace a few hoses, etc. The only things I don't like is how easy it is to overheat when mowing and the lift height.

I would love to have a new one !

 

[Hay Dude]

Do the newer models have a lower propensity to over heating?

Xfaxman- awesome reply with the pictures and stuff. Just the info I was looking for. Maybe the finish mower isn't the right fit, so what is the widest front mount light brush mower you can get for it? Was hoping 8'.

I guess hi flow is a no brainer option?

 

[Xfaxman]

Do the newer models have a lower propensity to over heating? The 5610 does not.

Xfaxman- awesome reply with the pictures and stuff. Just the info I was looking for. Maybe the finish mower isn't the right fit,

Don't give up on the front 90" mower, the only negative comments are from older series 5600 owners.
Mower Attachment - Bobcat Company

so what is the widest front mount light brush mower you can get for it? I don't know, I already had the 7' for my V417. Was hoping 8'. Toolcats use a standard Skid Steer Quick Attach mounting system, Any Skid Steer mower will fit.

I guess hi flow is a no brainer option? My dealer said it is standard on the 5610 F series

You haven't said if you are looking new or used. Either way, go to a dealer and demo a 5610 with the front mower, then you will know what it will do.

Good luck and keep posting. I planned to get the front mower, if it didn't do good with the brush hog that I already had, but it handles it just fine. When I get the brush under control I plan to get the 90" mower.

 

[Hay Dude]

Great points you make. I would love to have brand new toolcat, but it looks financially out of my reach.
Therefore, I started to look at used units. Used 5610's are rare as hens teeth.
I believe I have 2 options:
1-Buy a used 5600 toolcat (unless a newer used 5610 falls out of the sky) I found one 5610 about 1500 miles away.
I might settle for a used 5600 I found about 5 hours away. It's an 08 D model with only 180 hours for $31,500. Seller has a lightly used 90" finish mower, too.

2- Buy a 50hp New Holland CUT with a 84" mmm and FEL. I know it's not a low center of gravity or have side by side seats, but it should get the job done.

Good news is time is on my side. I'm not in a rush, but a used 5610 is probably my best choice, so long as its a newer used one.

 

[Xfaxman]

Based on my research, I would wait for a 5610. With the radiator up high in the back, I've never had any problems with the screen getting plugged.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/275578-5610-cutting-brush.html

 

[Hay Dude]

So are ALL 5600's going to overheat when mowing?
That seems ridiculous that Bobcat would expect customers to tolerate an inconvenience like that.

 

[Xfaxman]

So are ALL 5600's going to overheat when mowing? From what I have read, if you stop and clean the screen, it won't overheat.

That seems ridiculous that Bobcat would expect customers to tolerate an inconvenience like that.

Any 5600 owners out there have this problem?

 

[1965tontruck]

As stated above, I have a 5600A. I run a small bush hog on the front and every time I use it the machine overheats. I use the approved screen for the radiator and it helps some. Also, I found that tilting the bed approx 6-9 inches helps let cooling air in, but the machine will still overheat. Once overheated I turn off the bush hog, throttle down and drive around the pasture for 4-5 minutes. Time to overheat is directly related to ambient temps; the hotter it is outside the quicker it will overheat.

I suspect the 5610 greatly benefits from having the radiators located on top and not under a bed.

 

[Xfaxman]

What about the later series of 5600's, Do they overheat when mowing?

 

[Xfaxman]

........
Therefore, I started to look at used units. Used 5610's are rare as hens teeth.
..........
Good news is time is on my side. I'm not in a rush, but a used 5610 is probably my best choice, so long as its a newer used one.

Looks like the 5610 came out in July 2008.

Interesting old thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/125375-toolcat-3-pt-here-toolcat.html

 

[dsb5610]

Just cleaning off the screen on top of the radiator will not prevent my 'A' model from overheating. I need to remove the screen, tilt up the radiator and clean off the top of the oil cooler. It takes a couple of minutes and I do this after each time I mow. Mine does not overheat if they are clean. I tend to do my other chores when it is not so hot out then jump in the Toolcat and mow during the hottest part of the day. I also clean the A/C condenser after each mowing.

I do not believe you will be happy with the results when mowing 2' grass unless you make two passes traveling in opposite directions.

dsb

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Any 5600 owners out there have this problem?

overheating on early series was a known issue, however keeping screens and between radiators clean will keep it running in the green. I mow 36" plus weeds and small brush and use a cut to fit disposable AC filter over the radiators. It helps but I still have to clean them. Doesn't take very long at all.. <5 minutes. I do this on my big machines, too, including my purpose built 200 hp chipper. Some guys may think you should be able to mow grass all day and not get hot.. I've not found a machine other than my old 8n tractor that can do that..at least no modern machines unless you keep the screens clean.

 

[Hay Dude]

I cut all day with 8' and 15' bush hogs and don't have a problem.
Once I did, but it was an incredibly dense 8' tall patch of brush and it was like 98 deg. Screen was all clogged up.

 

[radman1]

I have a 5610 with 90"front mower and 6' rear rotary mower. You will not like the 90"mower in tall grass. Have to go really slow or you will stop it. It is a finish mower, not a rough cut mower. Even the rear 6' mower has to go slow. Driven by hydraulics, they only have 25 pto hp. I also have a jd 4520 CUT, and the pto is vastly more powerful. I run a 10' rear mower on it and that can be a load in grass. A CUT pto hp will increase as the rpms decease due to the torque curve of an engine. With hydraulics, hp is a function of flow and psi. Under a load, flow decreases immediately and so does the pto hp. Keep the grass under a foot and the 90" mower will do ok. Best if under 6-9 inches. A CUT with mid mount mower is not going to mow tall grass either. CUT with mmm has to get all that debris out the side chute. Not going to happen in tall grass. At least the 90" toolcat mower has a wide discharge in the rear. I have a 84" rear bush hog finish mower for the jd 4720. It is rear discharge and can handle taller grass better than the 90" toolcat because of more pto hp. However, I can smoke the belt on the 84" finish mower with the jd 4720 in taller grass and can't even tell any change in the cab of the 4720- much more pto hp.

The loader will handle a 1000 lb round bale. Visibility is really blocked by the bale compared to a tractor.
Stability really good on slopes or with something on the FEL. Dont have the pivoting front axle compared to a cut. Most of the weight is low compared to a larger CUT cab. My cabbed 4720 is good but not as stable as the toolcat. I had a jd 3720 with cab and that was horrible on slopes.
3 pt lift is good. Will pick up any reasonable 3 pt attachment designed for a cut. It does not have position control and you have to be aware of running a mower to raise and lower. I look in the rear view mirror and watch the depth gauge when lowering. In a CUT, it is set the postion knob, drop and go. The toolcat 3 pt will also creep down with time unlike a Cut. Creep down is not bad on toolcat, but with 6' rear mower, I ad just about every 30 min.

I have ag tires on the 4720. Vastly more traction than the TC.

I don't have overheating issues on the TC. I have to watch the 4720 a bit for overheating with the 10' mower because of heavier load and can plug screen on radiator.

If you get a TC, get the high air intake for the engine. Helps tremendously with keeping air filter clean. Mine stays cleaner than any CUT or tractor I own.

TC much smoother than the CUT over rough ground. TC can handle other front hydraulics better than any CUT. I have hydraulic PHD, snow blower, v snow blade ect. TC better for loader work cause can see bucket edge better.(I use a low profile bucket on TC). Pallet forks much easier to see on TC.

 

[Hay Dude]

good analysis. Exactly what I wanted to know. Sounds like TC might not make me quite as happy because a lot of the finish mowing is "rough cut" fin mowing and although the 90" front mower sounds awesome out front where its visible, I need a big FM that will power through 12-18" grass. I really wanted front mount mower.
I also love the idea of the side by side cab, the great visibility and the Kubota (as of now) diesel and the STABILITY.
After all the analysis, I think a 50HP CUT is probably going to be a better choice with wheels set max wide and as much weight as possible to rear wheels.. New Holland makes a good size cut with an available 84" MMM. I know the MMM might smoke belts in real high stuff. I just cant do a rear finish mower.
It would be great if they made a rear discharge MMM.