It's easy for us to spend your money but i myself wouldn't have one of these CUT's w/o a loader. I simple use it every time I'm on the tractor it seems. It is far & away the most used attachment I have. I was lucky that my dealer found a good deal on an LX4 used bush hog for a good price. 5' mowers are easy to find used. 4' ones are a lot more scarce. You can get by with a 5' mower depending on your terrain pretty easy. I used a freinds 5' mower before finding a 4' & had no problems with it. In fact, the borrowed 5' mower leaked gear oil a lot so I shot the case full of corn head grease & it worked like a charm.

 

Spending wise well, the wife is on board :trink40: So at this point it's just figuring out attachments I'll need. I stated that I had field grass earlier but after talking to my local landscaper he deemed it as orchard grass. Just very ruff, patchy, grows slower then usual. So i know I will def need 60 inch deck, will prob hold off and get a used 48 inch bush hog, no bigger though since this has 18hp to the pto. Getting a FEL, gotta make that decision as I would use it for digging out island in the yard etc..

Future projects would include re sodding 4 acres of the orchard grass into actual turf grass. Also need to do some grading in my back yard to give it more of a slope then what's there. Right now some water just lays in my back yard instead of flowing down and out towards the field. So with that I gotta figure which implements I'll need as well. :greendr:

 

Just to update all that have give much appreciated feedback. After going over used tractors new tractors, attachments, hours etc..

With it being Deere season, seeing that its 0% financing for 48 months plus 500$ off if subcompact is purchased with at least 2 attachments. I think at this poing Iam going to go with the 1026R with 60 inch quick attach deck, and brush hog as well. Still rolling the idea around of getting a FEL or not, it would be put to use, but how much? is the main question, I do have somethings I could use it for, but after that, I'm not sure what I could use it for.

Just wondering if it would make sense to get a FEL, or if these can be rented? And would it make sense to buy a new bush hog from Deere, or just buy a used one?

 

Like has been said. The 655 is a very capable machine.
Also like has been said.......... Maybe a 7-8-955 or newer model will be easier to find accessories for.

I have used an 855 (1987) with 60" mmm to mow 5 acres with 6 buildings to work around. The only issue I ever had was the day I found the 20' cable used to tie a dog with...... ....... Funny now, but it wasn't while I was unwrapping it from the blades.

Good luck

 

Like has been said. The 655 is a very capable machine.
Also like has been said.......... Maybe a 7-8-955 or newer model will be easier to find accessories for.

I have used an 855 (1987) with 60" mmm to mow 5 acres with 6 buildings to work around. The only issue I ever had was the day I found the 20' cable used to tie a dog with...... ....... Funny now, but it wasn't while I was unwrapping it from the blades.

Good luck

Now we won't ask what happened to the dog...... I tell you no drinking and driving!

:trink40:

7

 

I bought a 1986 JD 655 4wd last November that came with just the Series 60 front end loader; no belly mower. I found another "Deere-aholic" with a 655 that was selling a JD 380 front blade for it. I was very lucky that when I went to pick it up, he had an extra 50" mid mount mower deck in very good condition that was made for the 655 and I bought that a few weeks ago. I am waiting for my lawn to grow so I can try out the mower. These 50" mower decks were just made for the 655 and finding one in useable condition is very hard to find. So if you can find a 655 that has the mower deck, that would be a great find.

 

From what you have to do, i think the 655 would fit the bill. :fing32: I had a 16 hp Yanmar tractor and ran a 40" bush hog on it. Yeah, it was a small mower, in thick grass I probably could have run a 48" mower but I also used it in the woods where occasionally you would need to be able to get through a 48" wide opening between trees which made the 40" mower nice. I would get the 655 along with either a new or used 48" bush hog and go from there. :fing32:

 

After I built my house my yard, or more like a rough field, was horribly thick & rough & didn't want to use the MMM in that rough of a yard so for the remaining 4 months of the fall growing season, I borrowed a friends 60" bush hog. The 2305 didn't bat an eye with it. In fact after I bought a 48" LX4, I sometimes still miss that 5' mower. Even with your lower HP I think a 48 will work without a hitch especially once you get it wound up like stated above.:thThumbsU

 

Well.....just as info.....the 50" mid mount is no longer available.Neither is the deck shell available from Deere parts.The 50" shell for the 332 and 430 might still be found,but i don't think it will be a "direct bolt on" for the 655.The wheelbase of the 655 prohibits the use of the 60".Maybe your dealer could clarify if any other deere deck will adapt to fit.The 655 is VERY manuverable.....so a rear mount finish mower might be a good option.Just for kicks,if you know anyone who has a 60" rear mount,you could see if they will let you try it out on the 655.That way you can see if it will handle it.

 

I currently have a 655 in my arsenal and i love it.It is not a powerhouse,true enough.However it WILL handle a 4ft rotary cutter.In thick growth too.I've done it.You have to think about it like this...a rotary cutter is a heavy mass to get spinning.But once that is accomplished,the weight helps to keep it spinning.An object in motion tends to stay in motion.However,a finish mower is another matter.The factory 50" mid mount mower,in thick grass,does work the tractor a little hard.Deere claimed the 655 could handle a 261 rear mount.I'm not too sure about that.Bottom line...I think you will like the 655!

 

I'm thinking that I would like the 655. I'll put offer in and see what this guy says. I'll prob come in at 3200$ as it has no attachments and is only 2wd. After reading above posts I think bush hog attachment wise I will prob go no bigger then 48in. After having my buddy cut my grass I'll just keep up with it monthly that way I can get it cut somewhat quickly, but not expecting to be going balls out with the hog attached.

I will also look into the belly mower attachment, this would help for cutting the "turf" that is around my house, leave the cow pasture grass to the bush hog.

If this falls through then I'll be looking prob into 755 4wd. All the ones I find have loaders on which are $$ and at this time I dont need one.

 

Have a look at this idea-

http://tinyurl.com/8473cy7

this might do the trick as well or better than a mounted or 3PT so you could get by with a lighter machine.


It's not what you earn, it's what you keep . . .

 

my 2305 with a 62" deck, cuts about 1.5 to 1.75 acres of lawn per hour. I have some obstacles, a ditch (slow movement) etc. You may be able to get away with 2 acres per hour for a 62" deck, when you have no obstacles. That's for cutting once per week. if i was to let it grow taller, i'd have to mow slower, etc etc...

so 8 acres would take 4 hours minimum.

if you end up using a 60" or bigger finish mower, you don't want to be limited by HP. 10HP for 60" of cutting width is not a lot!... you'll be bogging down a lot.

 

Well for the first overall cut I will have it done by a buddy of mine, but i do not want to have to rely on someone else to cut my yard. Storage wise, thats y I'm trying to keep it within the 655-955 range cause this will fit in my garage with ease. All minor upkeeps will be done by myself, but any major repairs needing done can be done at my dealer (JD) which is 1/4 mile from my front door...I know, I know they have no used tractors right now:crybaby: !

I do eventually want to convert most if not all of yard into just that turf, but until everything else gets accomplished getting something too bush hog it will just have to do for now.

 

If your aren't going to turn it into a lush garden-like lawn you might just consider renting a set-up three or four times a year. Even better, just have it done. It might even do to have a farmer come by to hay it off now and again.
Saves on maintenance, storage, repair and initial cash outlay.
Priced a shed big enough to cover that tractor and implements lately?

 

Thanks to both above. Reason I had said about the 655 is because the one im looking at could be a deal, prob will go for around 3,500-4k. However with as you both stated above, def not looking for an underpowered tractor. Would def like a tractor that could pull a 60 inch bush hog, or at least a 48 without bogging down.

Would u then say a 755, 855, 955 or even a 990 suit my needs more then the 655 would? Given it would mostly be used for cutting bush hog (possibly belly mower in the future). Loader could be a possibliy but that is a long time away.

Not looking to hurry through my mow job or daily lawn tasks, but do not want to be spending all day cutting if you know what I mean. When I say field grass it looks more like a cow pasture, low ruff grass spots, no higher then 3 to 4 inches right now.

 

The 55 series tractors were some of the best iron from Deere. The 655 was a capable tractor, but it was considered a bit underpowered and eventually dropped even before the 55 series line was. I don't see you running anything larger than a 48" brush hog and even that could get bogged down depending on the depth of grass. If you aren't in a hurry to accomplish your tasks, then the 655 may be more appealing. If you could find a 755 or a 855, you would be more impressed with the performance.

 

Welcome,
I believe the PTO HP spec is 10 HP, so you can forget the 60" bushhog. You would have better luck with a 42", though the 48" might be alright.

Also forget bush hogging at 10 MPH - you'll just push the grass over. High stuff you need to do at probably 2 MPH to get a good cut.

Once under control, it's actually a field mower you want, and a 60" model will be just fine for maintaining the grass.


But, as far as durability, the 655 will be just fine.