Using DR PTO trimmer on Cat 2 Tractor?

TomSeller · Aug 25, 2013

I did not know DR had brick and mortar stores. I see they have them listed on their website.

http://www.drpower.com/pages/content/company/factory-stores

jenkinsph · Aug 25, 2013

The thing I was curious about is the side swing wide enough to do any good using a larger cat 2 tractor? I can see it helping with a narrow tractor but would be more keen on the idea of a wider offset or reach.

TerryR · Aug 25, 2013

From the Q & As on the DR Website:

"The maximum distance from center of tractor to center of the cutter h[e]ad is ~43". This distance will decrease when cutting on inclines. With the cutting width being 22" in diameter, this makes your cutting range roughly 32" - 54" from the center of your tractor when the trimmer is sitting level."

"Maximum wheelbase, 80" to outside of tires." In this case they obviously mean width of the wheels, not wheelbase.

Terry

jenkinsph · Aug 25, 2013

TerryR said:
From the Q & As on the DR Website:

"The maximum distance from center of tractor to center of the cutter h[e]ad is ~43". This distance will decrease when cutting on inclines. With the cutting width being 22" in diameter, this makes your cutting range roughly 32" - 54" from the center of your tractor when the trimmer is sitting level."

"Maximum wheelbase, 80" to outside of tires." In this case they obviously mean width of the wheels, not wheelbase.

Terry

So on a 72" wide compact such as I have that would be a maximum of 18 inch reach not very much imo. With a larger cat 2 tractor it could barely reach the edge, just something to keep in mind.

aczlan · Aug 25, 2013

jenkinsph said:
So on a 72" wide compact such as I have that would be a maximum of 18 inch reach not very much imo. With a larger cat 2 tractor it could barely reach the edge, just something to keep in mind.

That depends on how far over you can swing the 3 point hitch to offset it...

Aaron Z

slimcity9 · Aug 25, 2013

aczlan said:
That depends on how far over you can swing the 3 point hitch to offset it...

Aaron Z

In fact I did get a few more inches when I fiddled with the hitch. I'm pretty sure that looking in the rear view mirror I was seeing the entire cutting head and then some on my 72" tractor.

lostcreekranch · Aug 25, 2013

Slimcity9;

We are considering it for cutting around stock tanks (ponds). Does it throw cuttings toward tractor or away from tractor? It would not be optimal to throw cuttings into the tank. What is direction of rotation of cutting head when viewed from above?

Thanks

Rick

TomSeller · Aug 26, 2013

jenkinsph said:
. With a larger cat 2 tractor it could barely reach the edge, just something to keep in mind.

You would be more or less mowing what you just drove over with a large cat2. It looks to me like these are mostly for compact tractors. Which is fine by me, my garden tractor doesn't see much use once the garden is in anyway. This would give it something else to do later in the year. Maybe DR will some day come out with a larger version.

jenkinsph · Aug 26, 2013

rlgustafson said:
Slimcity9;

We are considering it for cutting around stock tanks (ponds). Does it throw cuttings toward tractor or away from tractor? It would not be optimal to throw cuttings into the tank. What is direction of rotation of cutting head when viewed from above?

Thanks

Rick

While I like the concept of this new DR product I think it would need more reach to do you much good. This trimmer might work fine trimming a fence row with a small tractor but the reach is too limited for pond banks or ditch trimming.

lostcreekranch · Aug 26, 2013

jenkinsph said:
While I like the concept of this new DR product I think it would need more reach to do you much good. This trimmer might work fine trimming a fence row with a small tractor but the reach is too limited for pond banks or ditch trimming.

We only need to cut last 12-18" around tanks. This is as close to edge as I want to get with any of our tractors.

slimcity9 · Aug 27, 2013

rlgustafson said:
Slimcity9;

We are considering it for cutting around stock tanks (ponds). Does it throw cuttings toward tractor or away from tractor? It would not be optimal to throw cuttings into the tank. What is direction of rotation of cutting head when viewed from above?

Thanks

Rick

From the top it is clockwise, so probably more cuttings are thrown away from the tractor than towards.

rautry · Aug 27, 2013

I've found that it uses string really fast. Heavy grass and weeds (3' tall or so) will bog it down, even in L1 creeper gear. I got mine to use not only around our horse pastures fencing (which it does a decent job of), but also around our pond......that's where I'm most disappointed. It's hard to adjust up and down and keep it out of the dirt/mud but cutting the weeds. I'm sure things will get better with more use and the "learning curve", but DR will never get me with their return policy again.......promise!!!

aczlan · Aug 27, 2013

On string, it looks to use a heavy version of regular string which should be available in aftermarket with longer lasting/better cutting string.

Aaron Z

slimcity9 · Aug 27, 2013

aczlan said:
On string, it looks to use a heavy version of regular string which should be available in aftermarket with longer lasting/better cutting string.

Aaron Z

The .155 line is widely available, but the .175 line is less common. That's why I bought a roll of the latter from DR. I'd be happy to find less expensive or better material if someone knows of a source. I assume the .155 line won't last nearly as long, but I haven't tried it yet.

slimcity9 · Aug 27, 2013

rautry said:
... Heavy grass and weeds (3' tall or so) will bog it down, even in L1 creeper gear. ...

I'm curious about this, since mine would simply deflect away from the thickest growth before bogging down. This was at one to 1.5 mph. What is the mechanism involved? Does the string get forced into a smaller diameter? I assume the belt isn't slipping...

rautry · Aug 27, 2013

Mine deflects as well, but in the thick stuff I think the string is just wrapping around the weeds and eventually just can't cut them. I guess that I need to cut a smaller width instead of a full swath. The belt doesn't slip, I just stop the tractor, lift the mower and let the string untangle from the weeds and lower it back down. I used it again this past weekend with the smaller diameter string, and I actually think it worked better???

aczlan · Aug 27, 2013

Are you running your TYM at full PTO speed when mowing? Being a line type trimmer, it will be very sensitive to PTO speed...

Aaron Z

Coyote machine · Aug 27, 2013

Here's another similar mower, granted for more money, BUT I think from the looks of it, it would do all the things you are saying the Dr. isn't capable of or built to do. And with the medium lift standard blade it discharges cuttings to the REAR of the mower. And it can have a 'dirt build up' accessory attached to the blade to cut down accumulated dirt mounds from around fence post that have previously been poorly maintained/neglected.

The Fence Mower: Fence Mowing Made Easy!

slimcity9 · Aug 27, 2013

Coyote machine said:
Here's another similar mower, granted for more money, BUT I think from the looks of it, it would do all the things you are saying the Dr. isn't capable of or built to do. ...

I've admired that mower in the past, but $3,280 is way more money. That's more than I have in my heavy duty 7-foot King Kutter mower.

Coyote machine · Aug 27, 2013

slimcity9 said:
I've admired that mower in the past, but $3,280 is way more money. That's more than I have in my heavy duty 7-foot King Kutter mower.

Granted, but the smaller model for cat 1 tractors is less, but not by much. Neither Dr. or the 'fence mower' brand would do too much for upsloped roadside mowing.:confused3:
I'd like the kind the county uses; an articulating arm brush cutter deck with huge side hydraulic tank.:thumbsup: Big money too, I'd bet.