Larger lawn tractors

[JasonB]

Anyone have one of the larger (48"-52") mowers that are readily available now? I'm looking at upgrading from my 42" in a year or two, but am concerned that the wider decks may cause an uneven cut. Gotta do something. It takes me 3 hours to mow with current equipment. 1.5 acres....

 

[Belchy]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

As long as a wider deck is at the proper height, and you don't cut grass at 15 mph, you should be ok. To get an even cut, go with a deck that has a few large blades, but if have a lot of uneven ground, go with blades that are smaller. I would recommend looking at a Toro. They are a very high quality of lawn care equipment. <br /><br />Belchy

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

The 60" wide are okay provided you have a smooth surface. The 60" deck is harder to manipulate and does not do a good job on uneven lawns.<br /><br />I feel for you ... I too do a huge lawn close to two acres and it's not a picnic. When you add in the trimming it sure takes time.

 

[ED21]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

You need teenagers. For a nominal fee they ask if they can cut the grass. <br />Nothing like sitting on the deck with a beer & watching one of the kids cut the grass.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

If you have smooth lawn, a big deck works well. Any uneveness and it's scalp city! I think the best cutters in large scale are the multiple reel units that you tow behind. Because you have 4 or so individual cutting decks, they can each ride the curves of your lawn without scalping. But they do requre adjustsments now and again. Much improved over the ones from the 60's and 70's.<br /><br />I have seen power units that have three large decks, one with a motor. Two drivshafts with universal joints drive the blades on the other two decks. This too will follow the contours of you lawn.<br /><br />There is an advantage to towing a cutting deck; you can remove the cutting deck from your tractor and use it more like a tractor without hanging the deck up on uneven ground, or snow.

 

[JB]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

I mow about 10 acres, except during wildflower season when I mow more like 3. I also "field" mow another 25-30 acres for horse pasture.<br /><br />I use a Kubota BF2150 4X4HST Diesel tractor with power steering and rear mount mowers. My "field" mower is a 60" single blade Bush Hog type and I also use a 60" three blade "finish" mower on "finish" lawn. It still takes about 4 hours to finish mow 5 acres.<br /><br />It is worth the trouble to smooth out rough areas so that scalping doesn't happen. My finish mower does a nice, even job where it can, and a large weed eater is required to trim where it wont reach.<br /><br />Scalping is as much a result of mowing too short as uneven ground. I find that many city and suburban lawns are mowed too short.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

Growing up and still to this day still cutting the same aprox 4-5 acres <br /><br />Growing up, used a Bolens Hydrostat, 42" then we went to a 48" 3point mower behind a massy.. both of these methods took ALL DAY, if you rushed, you could mow all the grass in around 6 hours<br /><br />Now use a Great Dane Commercial zero turn, If I'm book'n it, I can do it under 3<br /><br />If I use my brother's new diesel Kubota zero turn, I knock another half hour off and use a 3rd the fuel<br /><br />Big tractors are nice if you wait until it's big and need the brushhog, .. but if you keep it mowed, you want speed, and the zero turns with a big engine is your key, you can mow at your tractors highway gear speed.<br /><br />My $.02

 

[JRJ]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

JasonB, thats a lot of time on an acre n'half. You must have too many ornamentals in the way We got tired of the 3-4 hour mowing and sold the place. I should have done some paving and built a large garage instead

 

[Mark42]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

If you want to mow in top gear at WOT sharp blades are the key. A sharp blade will only stay sharp for a few hours even if you don't slam it into the dirt. <br /><br />On avarage a sharp blade lasts about 3 cuts, or 6 to 9 hours at my house. It really depends on how many twigs are hit, how much sand it sucks up, if it scalps a few times etc.<br /><br />Also make sure the blades are straight and true. If one blade is slightly bent, then that blade is doing almost double work as the lower edge takes a bigger deeper cut and the higher side has to help "mulch" it before blowing it all out the chute. Blades take less HP to do their job when sharp and straight.

 

[surplusman]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

I have been on all kinds of mowers and can fairly tell you, you get what you pay for. I had a 25 horse crafsman 51" deck to cut my 2 aces with. I spent $2400 on this thing and it cut like a piece of sh!T, as do most sears tractors, mtds, murrys, bolens etc. Oh yea, it also took me 2.5 hours to cut my place. I began to cut my grandfathers 2 acres also, and that took 5 man hours with two garden tractors. I demo'ed an Exmark commercial z turn riding mower with a 52" deck. That thing cuts perfectly with tons of power, and I can mow my two acres in about 35 - 40 minutes, including bagging. If I go full bore and side discharge, I can do it in about twenty minutes. Oh, and my grandfathers?, One hour start to finish. For your situation, I would look for a good condition used z turn commercial walkbehind. They are just as fast and good quality. A walkbehind is self propelled, so no effort, and cost a lot less than a rider. I also bought a used Toro Proline walkbehind 52" deck for $750. It is fast, powerful, and will cut rings around any riding lawn mower. You will spend the same money for a new homeowner mower as you would for a used commercial, but will get twice the mower, even used. As always keep the blades sharp, and the deck clean. DO NOT buy any homeowner z turns, tey are overpriced lawn tractors, low quality for the money. If you want a z turn, go commercial, eiter used or new.

 

[notinbig]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

Surplusman, what are you talking for the exmark? about 5-7 grand. I bought a nice yard machines(MTD) and maintain it like I do everything else, and I have the best lawn in the neighborhood. I only mow about half an acre so this size is fine, however I do agree on a nice used walkbehind I have used Lesco's and Toro's and both were very good machines.

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

A couple of weeks ago I got a deal on a used Woods 48" zero turn. Sold two late 80's lawn tractors (MTD and Toro)for about a third of the cost of the Woods and could not be happier. I can honestly take the Woods and mow my acre in less time than my two teen boys took using both of the lawn tractors. Does a better job too. This machine actually makes mowing fun...never thought I would say that.<br /><br />Can't say enough about the Woods. It is built like a tank. The deck is made out of about 1/4" plate & everything is simple, easy to get to for maintenance and built to last. For reference, I paid about $2300 and saw one go on eBay a couple of weeks ago for about the same money. It is more mower than I need, but really cuts down on the mowing time and is a pleasure to use. As a matter of fact, I haven't taught the kids how to run this one yet...and may not. They can do the dang trim mowing with the pushmower and the weed eating. Do need to add a cupholder though

 

[Barlow]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

...Blades take less HP to do their job when sharp and straight.<br />

I'll add to that .. ** and balanced **<br /><br /><br />hmm... wasn't someone just talkin' about goats??

 

[Barlow]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

hmmmm... how about this..<br /><br />

<br /><br /><br />and ya need the attatchments ....<br /><br />

<br /><br /><br />" get'er done!! "

 

[surplusman]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

notinbig, Yea your right, my exmark rider was 7100 on sale, plus another 1500 for the bagging system; they are not for everyone. I was also cutting 5 acres a week including all of my grandfathers property since he was no longer able to do it anymore. Since I was going this route, I made the decision to go full out and picked up a handful of grass customers in order to pay for the equipment. But as I said above, for the average homeowner, finding a used commercial walkbehind is the way to go. My Toro walkbehind is a very good machine, and will cut perfectly. I use it as a backup if anything were to happen to my exmark rider. I would choose it over any riding lawn tractor, and I only paid around 750 for it.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Larger lawn tractors

Originally posted by Ed:<br /> You need teenagers. For a nominal fee they ask if they can cut the grass. <br />Nothing like sitting on the deck with a beer & watching one of the kids cut the grass. <br />

Or get a goat. Let it eat, then eat it. Done deal. <br />That is what I am going to do.