Trade up?

[ERE]

I have discovered, sadly, that I purchased too little tractor for my needs. My CK25HST is perfect size for maneuvering in the vineyard, but it will only handle a 5' mower. The problem is the huge amount of time I am spending on mowing. I mow about 8 acres of pretty mixed terrain. Some of it has to be done very slowly because of slope or rocks/trees etc. Anyhow, this has been a rainy spring and I feel like I'm living in the seat. Seat time is good, but that many hours mowing is getting to be a drag.

I'm not sure what my options are other than tough it out. Tractor performs beautifully and only has 193 hours on it. I suspect that I'll get unpleasant sticker shock if I try trading up. Have any of you tired it?

Has anyone tried a 6' mower on a 25? The official answer is that 5' is the biggest and I suspect that's about right based on RPM drop when I mowing uphill.

 

[vtcoyote]

if you don't mind trading up and like the size of the ck25, you could trade up to a ck35, i have been running a 6 ft. brushhog for a little over a year now and with no problems, you can feel the weight on the back of the tractor, but if you put the MLS Control Valve on a slower speed it works just fine.

 

[ERE]

I do like the size and I think either a 30 or a 35 would work. Unfortunately there isn't a dealer very close to me so doing a trade up is awkward. They could quote a price of the new gear, but unless I trailered (I'd have to borrow one) to their location, they can't give my a quote on my current CK. If the quote isn't very good when I get there, then I'm stuck driving back without anything.

 

[Limecuda]

If a finishing mower is feasible then it can handle a 6 footer. If nothing else how about a flail mower?

 

[ERE]

That's an interesting idea. I'll investigate the pto HP required for flails. I've never used one so this will be interesting.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think a CK30 would be a no brainer for a six foot flail like a Caroni TM1900. A CK25 would be pushing it a bit but so long as you are either going slow or not mowing really heavy stuff I think it would be worth a try. At worst you'd have the new mower you'd need for your next tractor.

 

[Gittyup]

ERE,

I hate to say it, but I think you just didn't get enough tractor and mower for that much cutting. Mowing is ok, and sometimes downright pleasurable, until it takes longer than an hour or two. Then it's just plain work. For 8 acres, I'd be looking to run a 7' - 8' mower. Would an extra foot get it done fast enough to suit you?

Perhaps, if your terrain will allow it, you might consider keeping your tractor and getting a really fast used commercial ZTR. Just another option to consider.

 

[LD1]

I second the ZTR idea. They are a lot better for mowing than a tractor, provided that it isn't real wet or muddy. They get stuck real easy.

It will probabally be cheaper in the long run too instead of taking a loss by trading up.

 

[ERE]

I like the ZTR idea, but the pastures I mow are pretty rough with a fair amount of rocks so I suspect that I'd be beating up a ZTR fairly badly (not to mention my kidneys). I also have some steep slopes that I lose traction on unless I'm in 4WD. The ZTR would work great in the vineyard, but I would still have to get the tractor in to spray.

I'd love a 7 foot mower/tractor, but I would never be able to maneuver it between the rows of the vineyard and make the turns at the ends. I think I've trapped myself unless I can convince Mrs. ERE that a 2 year old tractor needs to be replaced just to get an extra foot of mower. Maneuverability in the vineyard is a real issue and the CK25/35 frame size is about as big as I can maneuver effectively without a lot of backing and filling.

 

[Gittyup]

Get another tractor. Then you'll have one for you and one for the wife. Both of you cutting will cut the time way down.

There are good buys on older stuff that is perfect for mowing. Right now a local guy has a Kubota L245 with only 600 hours for sale at $3K. Sweet old tractor (1979). Looks almost like new.

Have you thought of using the split brakes to turn more tightly in the orchard? Or taking out a tree at the ends of each row?