Medium duty cutter on an LX2610SU?

[davep]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of buying an LX2610SU. One of the implements I'm getting is a rotary cutter. I had requested an RCR1260 but the dealer only has an RCR1860 in stock. I've found a few places on here saying the RCR1860 will work fine on the LX2610/B2650, but the tractor PTO is slightly below the minimum. PTO on tractor is 19.5HP, and min PTO required for implement is 20HP.

Does anyone have experience running an RCR1860 on an LX2610 or B2650? Just trying to understand how well it would work.

 

[SDT]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of buying an LX2610SU. One of the implements I'm getting is a rotary cutter. I had requested an RCR1260 but the dealer only has an RCR1860 in stock. I've found a few places on here saying the RCR1860 will work fine on the LX2610/B2650, but the tractor PTO is slightly below the minimum. PTO on tractor is 19.5HP, and min PTO required for implement is 20HP.

Does anyone have experience running an RCR1860 on an LX2610 or B2650? Just trying to understand how well it would work.

Depends upon what and where you plan to cut, how fast you plan to travel while cutting, and the weight of the mower.

The 2650/2610 Owner's manual recommends nothing larger than a 4' rotary cutter and certainly nothing heavier than 500 Lbs.

I certainly would not use a 5' cutter with a 2650/2610 in anything but ideal conditions and then, only the lightest one that I could find.

I use a Frontier RC2060 5' cutter with my B3350 with a full set of front weights but the 3350 is nearly 35% more powerful than is the 2650/2610.

SDT

 

[davep]

Thanks for the info. It's for cutting pasture. Probably between 6-10 inches high. I may take it off the order and wait until a RCR1260 becomes available. The Land Pride matched implements lists the RCR1260 as compatible, but doesn't show the RCR1680 compatible with anything lower than an L33.

 

[jimh406]

I have a RCF2072 for my L2501 at the recommendation of my dealer. It has worked fine and is 745 lbs and that’s pretty heavy. I had rear chains put on the cutter which is supposed to help distribute cuttings better. It seemed to work. It’s hilly where I mow at 4000-4500 ft elevation. Yes, my tractor is heavier than yours will be, and I have the rear tires loaded. The HP is very similar at PTO.

The manual specs show the RCR1860 as 599 lbs and a RCR1260 is 496 lbs.

I can’t tell you if my L2501 is 250 lbs more capable than your LX. Btw, I also mowed with a QH15 on which makes the weight on the rear probably over 800 lbs some of that is supported by the tail wheel. Of course, the bigger/heavier rotary cutter will cut bigger stuff and will be more durable. I got a model with a slip clutch as well which is also a consideration.

 

[davep]

Thanks for the info. And yes, will definitely get the model with the slip clutch. Like you said, it's only about 100lbs heavier and costs only about $300 more. Good to know you've had a good experience with an even bigger cutter with similar PTO power.

 

[Elliott in GA]

I run an RCR1860 on my LX2610SU, and it works very well. I wanted a slip clutch and a 2 inch material rating to avoid problems with unexpected things. I have used mine to mow a rough field, mow the remaining rough areas of the field and to reclaim parts of the field from privet hedge and small cedars.

My dealer's only question was would I remove the FEL when mowing. My answer was no, and he correctly said that I would be fine. The weight of the FEL helps keep everything in balance. The tractor lifts it without any issue, and I travel up and down a steep driveway with it up.

In terms of weight, my finish mower (recommended for my tractor by Land Pride) weighs slightly more** than the rotary cutter. While it is true the finish mower rides on 4 wheels when in use, the rotary cutter rides on its tail wheel while cutting. I also go up and down the steep driveway with the finish mower raised.

YMMV

Edit - the finish mower weighs 22 lbs less.

 

[davep]

This is helpful. I hadn’t thought of keeping the FEL on while mowing. Do you also keep the bucket on it?

 

[Elliott in GA]

I usually have the grapple on it, by default, but I have mowed with the bucket too. Neither present a problem; however, it does make you pay a little extra attention when you are mowing close to a fence. On the flip side - if a large limb has fallen down in the field from a storm, you can take care of it with the grapple.

 

[davep]

Hah. That’s pretty cool. Good tip.

 

[Jared 756]

We ran a B2650 and RCR1860 in the rental fleet for two years with no problem especially if you're only cutting 6-12" then no problem at all

 

[davep]

Wow you all are very helpful. I didn’t expect this much of a response.

 

[PaulL]

My view is that with a given amount of HP, you can cut a given amount of grass. For your tractor, you can cut 4 foot wide fast, or 5 foot wide slow, or overlap the already cut area with your 5 foot cutter so you're only cutting 4 foot. But it's still the same amount of grass cut per hour, and the limit is the grass cut, not the cutter itself.

To put it another way, the tractor will spin it, but with a 5 foot cutter you can feed so much material in that you lug the engine on your tractor back (which is bad for it). So long as you're aware of that, and if it starts lugging you slow down, no issues. And also so long as you don't complain that your tractor's no good, and you're aware that it's a lot of weight (so loader on the front, or ballast weights), and it's a lot of weight to pull up hills etc. If you're mostly on the flat those aren't big issues though.

Conversely, a 4 foot cutter has a maximum cut rate - once you're going as fast as you can safely drive, that's it even in light conditions. Whereas a 5 foot cutter at that same speed is probably also not overloaded, but it's cutting 25% more territory per hour.

I know it's not always a popular view, but I'd lean towards the larger cutter - I feel that in heavy conditions you can just go slower and get pretty much the same outcome as the smaller cutter. Whereas in light conditions with a 5 foot you can go faster, with the 4 foot cutter you can't go fast enough to load it up.

 

[jimh406]

I would just say that other factors are how short are you planning to cut. In my case, it’s hilly and I’m not going to mow fast or very short to avoid hitting rocks. I’m going to be in L, period given my slope.

 

[davep]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

 

[Goz63]

I’m another supporter of the 1860. Much better mower. I run it on my L2501 with loaded tires and QH15. I have zero issues. My buddy has the 1260 on my same tractor. He said he would never buy again. Jmho

 

[davep]

Thanks. I went back to the dealer and talked to them again about it. They said they always recommend the 1860 over the 1260 due to the build quality. For the few hundred more, you are getting a much better unit and they went through the differences. So that made me feel better as well.

 

[SDT]

Thanks. I went back to the dealer and talked to them again about it. They said they always recommend the 1860 over the 1260 due to the build quality. For the few hundred more, you are getting a much better unit and they went through the differences. So that made me feel better as well.

I doubt that anyone will argue that the 1860 is not a better cutter than is the 1260 but that is not the issue. It's too heavy for the design of the hitch of the B/LX series.

Of course your BX will lift it but, again, that is not the issue. Kubota specifies maximum weight for various implements based upon multiple issues including design criteria of lift components. I would closely inspect the attachment points of the lift arms of the LX vis a vis the L series before making a decision.

BTDT.

SDT

 

[davep]

The three point lift capacity was actually one of the reasons I chose the LX. I was surprised to learn the LX capacity at 24 inches is 1676lbs where the L25 is 1389lbs. L33-47 is 1433lbs. I couldn’t believe the LX had a higher 3 point lift capacity than even the L47.

 

[TomRC]

I would be less concerned about its ability to turn the mower but I'd take the loader off and have them lift the bush hog on a slight slope and see how the front end does. I've learned on my B2601 with the FDR1660 finish mower I have to be "careful". I like to cut with the loader off to save gas and have more power and while the B2601 lifts it fine on level ground, turns the mower with ease but on a slope with the loader off one must be cautious......very cautious! Get into heavier implements with the LX which is not that much heavier than a B2601........exercise caution! The light front end will get you if you aren't paying attention!

 

[davep]

Thanks. It does seem like I’m going to need to do something to keep weight on the front based on the comments here. Either the loader or weights?