Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Grass cutting

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Middopman

04-25-2005 03:33:59




Report to Moderator

We have approximately 2 acres of agricultural land that is laid to pasture. It is quite hilly/undulating. We don't particularly want to keep animals on it as we use it for recreation. For the past 3 years we have kept it mowed using a 38" Westwood rotary ride-on mower. It takes several hours to cut it and seems to be at the limit of the mowers capability. I'm considering getting a small tractor with a mowing attachment and would appreciate some advice on the most cost effective combination (make/size etc.) to go for. If you have any other suggestions they too would be appreciated. Thanks

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Robert in TN

04-26-2005 00:45:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
Hi Middopman,
I have a 5020 AC with a 5' groom mower, about 23HP tractor. It does a great job as well as chores. I also have a Gravley PM152 zero turn, 23HP and 52" cut. It will run circles around any other type of lawn mower. You do have to be very careful on the hills if they are steep. Good luck...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dug

04-25-2005 21:11:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
Hey Middopman,

The choices are endless. I went through a similar search last summer and settled on a JD F935 outfront mower. Commercial grade to handle the rough ground, 22 horse diesel, 60 inch deck and the mower setting outfront allows you to reach into areas. My property has an abundance of Cedar trees and I can reach in to trim around them without eating a bunch of limbs. The outfront mower is not a true zero turn, but mighty close. One thing to consider is the traction, depending on the grade of your hills, traction could be an issue. I plan on switching my tires to a more aggresive tread.

If you go the tractor route, buy a high quality finish mower. The rotary mowers or "bush hogs" will not give you a clean cut for recreational use.

Dug

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Michael in NC

04-25-2005 18:01:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
I have the only 50hp. lawnmower in the neighborhood. I use a 6ft. landpride with a 801Ford diesel/powersteering. The is no such thing as the grass being to deep.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lou Kocon Jr.

04-25-2005 07:38:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
If you look around, you can probably find a decent tractor with a mower deck and wide front end for a reasonable price. This web site is a good place to start the search (photo ads). Last November, I picked up a 1947 Farmall A with 5' mower deck (locally) that needed a clutch for $600.00. The rest of the tractor was in great shape. They are out there if you want to do some searching. Good luck.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don L C

04-25-2005 07:14:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
No question about it a 5 or 6' " zero turn" rideing mower would do the best job in less time..... ..... .....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Middopman

04-25-2005 06:08:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
greenbeanman in Kansas
phil(va)
3010 Ken

Thanks for the great information/feedback guys. I now have some great options to consider...

...and I"ll go careful on the hills!

Middopman



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
greenbeanman in Kansas

04-25-2005 05:40:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
Another option that has not been mentioned yet is to add one or two offset hitches on the rider you have now and pull trail-behind mowers for additional cutting width. I don"t know if your rider would have enough traction or power to pull extra.

Assuming that you overlap each swath by 4", that leaves you cutting 34" on each pass. Going to a mower that has a 48" cutting swath will also cut down on mowing time considerable for starters because you don"t loose so much overlap on say a 100 foot wide strip.

Many tractor mowers do a really nice job if an area is kept mowed on a regular basis. They aren"t as handy if you have objects to mow around.

A "finish" mower on a tractor would leave a nicer cut than a regular rotary mower.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
phil(va)

04-25-2005 04:55:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
If you like old machinery, you might want to consider one of the older tractors with a wide front end, which will give you stability and not hurt your pocketbook too much. Consider a Ford NAA or Ferguson TO-35 or some such. Those are excellent old tractors and parts are readily available. They have 'category one' three point hitches and thus can use three point hitch equipment and can handle mowers up to six feet if the grass isn't too high, or five feet in most any grass. Also, if you decide to get a plow or disc, etc., for gardening you will be all set. There are a number of good mowers, the Caroni being one that is not so expensive as some of the others and does a good job. You can also put a bush hog behind these tractors, and some bush hogs sit low enough and cut clean enough that they can almost do the job of a mower in a large field such as yours.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
3010 Ken

04-25-2005 04:33:46




Report to Moderator
 Re: Grass cutting in reply to Middopman, 04-25-2005 03:33:59  
Good Morning Middopman; Around our place the terrain is hilly also.A good tractor/cutter combination that we use is a John Deere model #870 tractor and a woods 5'finishing mower.The tractor is rated at about 28 h.p. Maybe a zero turning radius mower would be better for you though as they do cover a lot of ground in a hurry. Just be careful on those hills!! Have a good day. Kenny



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy