Flawed logic?

BobReeves · Aug 6, 2016

I have 7 1/2 acres I keep mowed. Been mowing it with a Ford 3000 tractor and 7 foot flail mower. Couple weeks ago decided I could mow it faster with a zero turn so bought a 60 inch zero turn mower for $4,000.00. So ok I start mowing with the ZTR and quickly discover how much damage I have done with the tractor mowing when the ground was really too wet. Was like mowing a plowed field, that thing about beat me to death. So today I go to Tractor Supply and spend $1,700.00 on a 6 foot tiller. Going to till the whole place and level it just so I can mow with the ZTR and have it not beat me to death.

Not real sure my logic makes sense, other than having new toys to play with. I now have 6 grand invested in doing what I have done for years with my Ford and a couple gallons of diesel.

r.w.b. · Aug 6, 2016

haha its a good way to get new items and we like breaking in new items

Janicholson · Aug 6, 2016

A rain storm and a roller would fix it. Unless you really do not like the grass that is there. Jim

ohiojim · Aug 6, 2016

no,..the math comes out about right, new mower, new tiller,...that's how I've been doing it for years

gtractorfan · Aug 6, 2016

Too late now, but couldn't you have hauled in ground and drug it with a rear blade to fill voids? BTW, 4 grand is a low price for a 60" zero turn mower, must be a used one.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 6, 2016

Makes sense if your goal is to throw money away.

pete black · Aug 6, 2016

7.5 acres may wear out that zero turn in short order. Use the Ford forever on it.

jacksun65 · Aug 6, 2016

once you till it you can have a big garden. LOL

Geo-TH,In · Aug 6, 2016

Need a roller that is about 1000# per ft. Get much bigger and you can't pull it. Anything less won't do much good. Mine is 5 ft wide almost 5000#. I like to mow and roll at the same time. I can add 250 gallons of water to mine, but that's too much weight. Don't want to use this in hills or near water, too dangerous.

I like to my this yard and roll after a good rain. Soil is stick to your boots clay that holds water and my roller will squeeze water out in front of roller. The two spots in yard used to be mole hills. Won't kill moles, which I was hoping when I made roller.

Roll yard in different directions helps too.

r.w.b. · Aug 6, 2016

what kinda finish mower is that with the roller hooked to it? first glance I thought it was a king cutter,but no it isn't.i got a 6' king cutter and its a cheep trouble giving cutter

Geo-TH,In · Aug 6, 2016

Woods rm660, 72 inch finish mower. Tractor is a Jubilee. Second fear 4 mph, a gallon per hour gas.

r.w.b. · Aug 6, 2016

thank you.how wel do you like that mower? this king cutter is flimsy.its never been abused but the deck is actually bending up middle out like the pull from belt is making it arch up. I'm debating whither to cut the light braces and bend it flat and weld back.i tried to trade it in on a bush hog and dealer wouldn't give me much more than scrap price. bearings are light too. I grease them about every other mowing as I have a 2 acre yard and its kept inside when not in use.i run mine behind my va case in second gear also use about same amount of fuel.only thing I like is the gear box .its overkill stamped 45 horsepower rating.its 6 years old and done replaced the bearings in blade standards 2 times.they are cheep at napa but at king cutter they are twice as high priced. if you like yours id give woods a thought as they made good equipment

Geo-TH,In · Aug 6, 2016

I bought tractor and mower used. Both are a good combo. Just enough hp and not too much weight. I don't think you can go wrong with the RM660. I have another 72 inch woods belly on a Farmall C. I think they are bullet proof. Never a bearing issue. I keep my mowers inside out of the rain, and NEVER CLEAN UNDERSIDE OR TOP SIDE WITH WATER. Water and bearings isn't a good combination.

Do you wash your mower?

David G · Aug 6, 2016

Why would you want to mow that much land?

Would make a like CRP patch, and get paid for it

newhollandnut · Aug 6, 2016

I would have tried to find a heavy lawn roller first.

Dr. Walt · Aug 7, 2016

"Fools and their money are soon parted."

Sheep and Goats are a lot cheaper; besides, you can eat them.

Try eating a zero turn mower. LOL

K Effective · Aug 7, 2016

Till that land until it's smooth as glass. Then go buy a seeder and some pasture seed and put in a real hay field. Oh, wait, also get some lime and fertilizer. Then, next year you can get a used mower, tedder, rake and baler and a couple of hay wagons. BOOM! Now you are farming! And, you CAN SELL the hay from your field to really friendly, easy-to-work-with horse lovers who never complain about their hay!

You think you're spending foolishly now, you ain't sen nuthin' yet!

Geo-TH,In · Aug 7, 2016

Bob,
I had an acre and half die from drought. I disked up the lawn. Then had to clean off the old sod roots with a landscape rake. Rototilled, fertilized, limed, planted grass seeds, packed in seeds with home made cult packer. Then relied on mother nature to irrigate, mistake.

Your next post will be titled Flawed logic II. You will tell us how much you spent and then it was all for nothing, it didn't rain when you needed it. Or the rain washed your efforts down hill. Hope you are more successful than I. Rarely do I have success planting grass, it a crap shoot. Mostly just crap. You need an irrigation system to make it work.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, NEVER AGAIN.
geo

MarkB_MI · Aug 7, 2016

I think I would have tried to level it out with a roller or landscape rake first. Once you till it up, you'll need to pack it back down before you seed it; otherwise it will end up rougher than when you started.

I parked my flail mower a couple of years ago and went with a zero turn mower. For the open land where I used to use the flail, the ZTR is maybe a little faster. But the ZTR is MUCH faster than the garden tractor I used to use on the wooded area, so I just use the zero turn for everything now. Easily saves me three hours a week.

bison · Aug 7, 2016

(quoted from post at 13:28:35 08/06/16) I have 7 1/2 acres I keep mowed. Been mowing it with a Ford 3000 tractor and 7 foot flail mower. Couple weeks ago decided I could mow it faster with a zero turn so bought a 60 inch zero turn mower for $4,000.00. So ok I start mowing with the ZTR and quickly discover how much damage I have done with the tractor mowing when the ground was really too wet. Was like mowing a plowed field, that thing about beat me to death. So today I go to Tractor Supply and spend $1,700.00 on a 6 foot tiller. Going to till the whole place and level it just so I can mow with the ZTR and have it not beat me to death.

Not real sure my logic makes sense, other than having new toys to play with. I now have 6 grand invested in doing what I have done for years with my Ford and a couple gallons of diesel.

This makes no sense to me at all.
Yer better of to fence it of and put a couple sheep goats or beef in it. Sell them in the fall and make some money instead of wasting money on equipment fuel and time.

Hobo,NC · Aug 7, 2016

Take a spin on one of these... Its like riding on a cloud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSSaI7KEmmY

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Aug 7, 2016

You will find that the grass will require multiple passes with the tiller to get a good bed for new grass. Don't forget to include the cost of seed for a field that will give you no income, only be an expense to mow.

Flawed logic?

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