Vermeer M7040 or Kuhn M7040

Kravnborg · Aug 17, 2015

I mow roughly 80 acres two times a year, maybe three times if lucky. Have a Kubota M9000 tractor, NH 617 disc mower, Kuhn 110 speed rake and NH 648 baler. Half the acreage is hilly.

I've had the NH 617 since 2004 but it has started giving me problems the past 3 years (broken cover arm, turtle bearing, main gear box bearing/gear) so I've been looking at what local dealers have to offer. I really like the Vermeer 7040 and the Kuhn 280. Both are about the same price (approximately $10,000).

I tend to lean toward the Vermeer because of the independent turtle gears and how they are grease packed. The support bar at the end of the Vermeer mower is also a plus (since that seems to be the reason my NH 617 cover bar broke - no end support).

Does anyone have experience - good or bad - with either of these mowers?

Thanks

Lawnman TX · Aug 17, 2015

I have only had Vermeer disc mowers and have been very happy with the design, I like the independent pods, so if one bearings goes out, it toes to ruin the whole cutter bar.

Tx Jim · Aug 17, 2015

My Vermeer M7030 that I bought used several yrs back has been very durable. I too like the RH side cover support. Every NH 617 I've seen have a welded/rebraced cover support. NH 617 has individual pods also but with oil in lieu of grease.

Kravnborg · Aug 17, 2015

Tx Jim said:
My Vermeer M7030 that I bought used several yrs back has been very durable. I too like the RH side cover support. Every NH 617 I've seen have a welded/rebraced cover support. NH 617 has individual pods also but with oil in lieu of grease.

My NH 617 has that welded/rebraced cover support - must be a badge of honor for 617 owners. Have you had to repack your Vermeer pods yet? If so, was it difficult and how often do you repack?

Kravnborg · Aug 17, 2015

Lawnman TX said:
I have only had Vermeer disc mowers and have been very happy with the design, I like the independent pods, so if one bearings goes out, it toes to ruin the whole cutter bar.

How difficult is maintenance on your Vermeer? Is packing the pods fairly straightforward?

Tx Jim · Aug 17, 2015

Changing special grease requires pulling turtles off plus top of pods off. IMHO not to difficult. I really like the design of the quick change blades.

Lawnman TX · Aug 17, 2015

The grease in my pods is due to be changed this year, wipe the grease out and put more back in. If you heat the pods up you can suck them out, with heat the grease turns to fluid.

The quick change blades are great