MMM vs rear mower

[Mr_Ron]

I am on the verge of purchasing my first sub CUT. And I am confused on the different types of mowers. In addition to my lawn (I have that covered) I have 3+ acres of field that I need to keep “knocked down”. Most of it has been hit by a local farmer and isn’t too unruly, but one portion has a years worth of weeds that have grown quite tall.
Why would I choose a mid over a rear? What is the difference between a rotary and a flail? And is there a cure for this tractor/implement disease I seam to have contracted?
Thanks!
:Tractor2: :confused: :Orange_tr

[JDFANATIC]

Mr Ron,

Welcome to the forum! You ask a good question, well, except for the last one: there is NO cure! The kinds of mowers you are/will be looking at are:

RFM = Rear Finish Mower. Pro's: easy to put on/take off, less expensive than a mid-mount mower. Con's: not as good of a cut as a mid mount mower (but still good), you have to crane your neck to see behind you, and because of this, are easy to catch on things. This type of mower is not as heavy duty as a Brush Hog.

Rotary Cutter = Brush Hog. Pro's: very heavy duty, economical, easy to take off/put on. Con's: not as good of a cut as a RFM, dangerous (they tend to scatter materials, stones etc).

MMM = Mid Mount Mower. Pro's: very good cut quality, easy to see, easy to maneuver. Con's: expensive, not a Brush Hog, some are easier to take off and on than others.

Flail Mower. This type of mower more than likely cannot be powered by a sub-CUT.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

[johndeereL100]

Mr Ron, as the proud owner of a JD2210 with a 62" MMM and an LX4 rotary cutter, I can definitely tell you that both mowers have a purpose. I use the MMM to mow around the house/yard area and the rotary cutter to mow roadsides and water ways. The rotary cutter is capable of cutting and chopping up grass and weeds that are taller than the tractor and leaving an acceptable looking job. Besides, the only cure I found for the tractor/implement disease is to buy them.

[thesmartfarmer]

Mr Ron,

Welcome to the forum! You ask a good question, well, except for the last one: there is NO cure! The kinds of mowers you are/will be looking at are:

RFM = Rear Finish Mower. Pro's: easy to put on/take off, less expensive than a mid-mount mower. Con's: not as good of a cut as a mid mount mower (but still good), you have to crane your neck to see behind you, and because of this, are easy to catch on things. This type of mower is not as heavy duty as a Brush Hog.

Rotary Cutter = Brush Hog. Pro's: very heavy duty, economical, easy to take off/put on. Con's: not as good of a cut as a RFM, dangerous (they tend to scatter materials, stones etc).

MMM = Mid Mount Mower. Pro's: very good cut quality, easy to see, easy to maneuver. Con's: expensive, not a Brush Hog, some are easier to take off and on than others.

Flail Mower. This type of mower more than likely cannot be powered by a sub-CUT.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210


Could not have stated it better myself!!! :fing32:

[Mr_Ron]

:hatsoff: Thanks for the edumacation. If I go with a rear finish mower, am I asking for trouble with that first cut of the unruly tall stuff? I don't think it is any more than 1/2 acre.

[Mickey]

Since you have the house yard covered, I'd go with the rotary mower. Whoa, that's what I did. ROF

The rotary mower will also handles stuff bigger than grass. Think tree saplings, corn stocks, etc. A rotary is just what the Doc ordered for this stuff. New rotary's come with gaurds to help min stuff from shooting out from under them. Cost an extra Hundred or so but well worth it if flying object are a possibility.

[MowHoward2210]

:hatsoff: Thanks for the edumacation. If I go with a rear finish mower, am I asking for trouble with that first cut of the unruly tall stuff? I don't think it is any more than 1/2 acre.

Depends on how "unruly" it is! You could prep it first by cutting out the small trees and bushes.

Here's some discussion of my Rotary Cutter from awhile back.
Click here (http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=6904)

[draddogs]

If you are cutting weeds or mowing grass the choice is obvious....

[DYT4000]

As far as maneuverability, the mid mount can't be touched IMHO

[Keweenaw4310]

I know a guy who cuts taller stuff a couple times a year and has a lot to cut short closer to the house. He traded his rotary cutter for a rear finish mower thinking it could handle everything. Wrong. He now borrows a rotary cutter a couple of times / year to handle the taller stuff in the fields around his property.

[Carl]

I agree with Keweenaw4310. You sound like you will be keeping up with the mowing once you get it knocked down once. In that case borrow or rent a roterary mower/bush hog type. Put your money into something that you will use more.

[Volfandt]

You'll tear up a finish mower going into "unruly" stuff on a regular basis. They just aren't designed for that purpose. Thats a bush hog's (OK, brush hog or rotary cutter) forte.... :D

I had a similar situation, I finish mowed 1.5 acres and bush hogged 2.5. The BH kept the unruly stuff knocked down and from a distance the cut looked almost as nice as the finish mower's cut.

I now let a fellow cut hay on the back 2 and I finish mow the front 2. On down the road if it turns out I need to take care of the back again I'll be purchaseing a 4' BH to fit my Subcut. There are times I want to do that just to get some more seat time. :D

MMM & Rotary cutter = best of both worlds.

good luck
Volfandt

[lb59]

You can trim closer along the edge of a ditch with a RFM than you can with a MMM.

Just back the RFM out over the ditch.
You can't do that with a MMM.

another tip brought to you by the comedy crew.

[jdkubotamurray]

On the sub-cuts it's hard to beet the MMM unless you really need a rough cut bushhog.