[sbronemann]

What's up guys? Been a while as I'm currently not a JD owner. Looking to potentially change that. I currently have a Gravely ZT HD 60 for mowing duties. Mow about 4 acres. Love the Gravely and it mows fabulously. Also have a 2014 Branson 4520C with a loader and cab for snow removal and various loader work around our acreage. I am looking at downsizing to just a one tractor/mower combo. Looking hard at a 2019 JD 2038R with 72" MMM and the loader of course. How does the 72" mower mow? Obviously....the ZT mows great and pretty quickly. I can mow the 4 acres in about 2.5 hrs or a little less, depending on how tall it gets. The cab is nice on the Branson, but I'd like to just use one for both mowing and loader work. Any input would be appreciated from those owners that do this.

 

[Obscured_by_Clouds]

I can tell you that my LS MT125 SCUT with loaded R4s mows fine, but rides hard. I feel every bump, divert, mole run or acorn. I doubt JD added anything in the way of suspension that would counter that to any degree.

 

[sbronemann]

I can tell you that my LS MT125 SCUT with loaded R4s mows fine, but rides hard. I feel every bump, divert, mole run or acorn. I doubt JD added anything in the way of suspension that would counter that to any degree.

Trust me....my yard is rough. It can't be any worse than my ZT. They are horrible riding for sure. My X738 was much better even if it was just the spring on the seat that made the difference.

 

[Obscured_by_Clouds]

One other recurring comment I've seen about wider mowers is that they tend to scalp high spots and miss low spots. Mine is a 60" and it seems to be fine for the most part, but I have noticed a bit of that problem. I notice it more on gradual slopes where the low side will dig in a bit more than the high side.

 

[sbronemann]

One other recurring comment I've seen about wider mowers is that they tend to scalp high spots and miss low spots. Mine is a 60" and it seems to be fine for the most part, but I have noticed a bit of that problem. I notice it more on gradual slopes where the low side will dig in a bit more than the high side.

My yard is relatively flat. I know that can be expected with wider decks like that. I just hate paying on a piece of equipment and not using it as much as I'd like. The JD dealer gave me a pretty fair offer on the Branson. So I may just trade it and be done with it. Trying to sell the Gravely outright as well.

 

[Country1966?]

I hope your yard drains well also if you're planning on mowing it with that heavy tractor. my yard will be a mess this year especially if I tried to do that.

You have a good combination. I have ZT HD 60 also; I would not sell it.

JMO

 

[sbronemann]

Ya, there is one soft spot that I wouldn't dare to take my Gravely in. I just use the Stihl 131R and knock it down every few times I mow. Otherwise all the yard is hard. Eve after an inch of rain, I could easily mow that afternoon if it dries the grass.

 

[MrTaz]

What's up guys? Been a while as I'm currently not a JD owner. Looking to potentially change that. I currently have a Gravely ZT HD 60 for mowing duties. Mow about 4 acres. Love the Gravely and it mows fabulously. Also have a 2014 Branson 4520C with a loader and cab for snow removal and various loader work around our acreage. I am looking at downsizing to just a one tractor/mower combo. Looking hard at a 2019 JD 2038R with 72" MMM and the loader of course. How does the 72" mower mow? Obviously....the ZT mows great and pretty quickly. I can mow the 4 acres in about 2.5 hrs or a little less, depending on how tall it gets. The cab is nice on the Branson, but I'd like to just use one for both mowing and loader work. Any input would be appreciated from those owners that do this.

I have a 72" MMM on a JD 3039R. I use a mulching kit on the deck and it does a nice job as long as I don't let the grass get above 5 inches tall. I usually cut it to about 3-3.5 inches. The comments made about the wide deck scalping on uneven ground because of the wide deck is true. Wide decks do best on flat terrain. I have a smaller JD 330 Diesel with a 48" deck that I use for the slopes and around low lying trees. It help to minimize the 5 hours I spend on weed eating.

 

[sbronemann]

I have a 72" MMM on a JD 3039R. I use a mulching kit on the deck and it does a nice job as long as I don't let the grass get above 5 inches tall. I usually cut it to about 3-3.5 inches. The comments made about the wide deck scalping on uneven ground because of the wide deck is true. Wide decks do best on flat terrain. I have a smaller JD 330 Diesel with a 48" deck that I use for the slopes and around low lying trees. It help to minimize the 5 hours I spend on weed eating.

Ya...I am trying to sell my Gravely and just find a little 42" Craftsmen or something of that nature for under $1000 just to do the ditch and side-hill of the ditch and around some of the smaller trees that the ROPS hits. It sucks weedwacking for 2+ hrs every other week.

 

[sbronemann]

On a side note....took delivery on Friday. Put about 4 hrs on it that afternoon mowing and limbing some trees in the bucket. Loving it so far. It's absolutely fabulous it is so easy to take the loader on and off. That is very handy for doing loader work and then removing it to mow. I am very surprised how well it mowed. I think it actually stripes better than the Gravely did and cuts just as well. Just takes a bit more finesse in the wavy part of the lawn.

 

[Wiley Coyote]

Congrats on the new toy. You will never regret owning that thing.

 

[DKvince]

Very nice..
Congratulations.

 

[sbronemann]

Currently at 18 hrs already and loving the 2038R. The hydro definitely comes in handy for loader work much more vs the old Branson that had actual gears. It mows very nice as well. The ethrottle works very nicely for loader work as well. Only takes about 2 gallons of fuel to mow my 4ish acres so that is nice too. Is the block heater worth the $200 or so? I'm thinkin I will probably get one of those installed prior to snow flying this winter.

 

[Wiley Coyote]

I don't have the block heater on mine and had no problem starting it during the winter season. I live near Dayton, Ohio so maybe not quite as cold as your area. I do let it warm up for about 5 minutes in the barn before I take it out.

It's amazing how quick the diesel exhaust fills the barn when it's cold and all the doors are closed. When I was a young, strapping lad I used to love that smell, now not so much. Opening the end doors quickly brings in the fresh bone chilling air, occasionally blowing around 35mph and drifting snow or sleet. Anybody missing winter yet?

 

[sbronemann]

I don't have the block heater on mine and had no problem starting it during the winter season. I live near Dayton, Ohio so maybe not quite as cold as your area. I do let it warm up for about 5 minutes in the barn before I take it out.

It's amazing how quick the diesel exhaust fills the barn when it's cold and all the doors are closed. When I was a young, strapping lad I used to love that smell, now not so much. Opening the end doors quickly brings in the fresh bone chilling air, occasionally blowing around 35mph and drifting snow or sleet. Anybody missing winter yet?

Ya...we had about a two week stretch last winter where it never got above 0. There were about 4 in a row where actual temps were down into the -30's. It was COLD. Don't even wanna leave the house on those days and evenings! So those are the nights/days I'm worried about really. I wouldn't leave it plugged in all the time, just those days or nights when I know it's going to snow and I may need it.

 

[mcavvie]

Ya...we had about a two week stretch last winter where it never got above 0. There were about 4 in a row where actual temps were down into the -30's. It was COLD. Don't even wanna leave the house on those days and evenings! So those are the nights/days I'm worried about really. I wouldn't leave it plugged in all the time, just those days or nights when I know it's going to snow and I may need it.

My 3039r sits outside all the time. Never had to plug in it at all last winter even tho the temp was below 0 degrees F. Just turn the key on, wait until the glow plug light goes out, turn to start, starts no prob, and no smoke.

 

[MrTaz]

I don't have the block heater on mine and had no problem starting it during the winter season. I live near Dayton, Ohio so maybe not quite as cold as your area. I do let it warm up for about 5 minutes in the barn before I take it out.

It's amazing how quick the diesel exhaust fills the barn when it's cold and all the doors are closed. When I was a young, strapping lad I used to love that smell, now not so much. Opening the end doors quickly brings in the fresh bone chilling air, occasionally blowing around 35mph and drifting snow or sleet. Anybody missing winter yet?

I got the block heater and the transmission heater for mine. It gets down below zero where I'm at a few times during January. I figured the less warm up time on the transmission and engine the better. Especially with the emission crap they put on them. Less warm up time means less REGEN cycles which at some point means less repair time in the shop replacing exhaust emission related parts.