6 foot Rear Finish Mower for B2650?

[dirtydeed]

I'm thinking about picking up a rear finish mower for the B2650. Anyone on here using a 6 ft rear discharge RFM behind their B2650/LX2610? Likes/dislikes?

My rear wheel width is approx 58" with the spacers, so I'd like to be well beyond them if possible.

Alternatively, I may add another ZT mower (6 footer) to my collection.

 

[Flintknapper]

I'd say it depends largely on the amount of area you want to cut, what type of grass and how tall you plan to let it get, as to choosing between a finish mower and a Zero Turn.

I use a 6' finish mower behind my L2350 (similar PTO hp) to maintain some areas of pasture land that I like to keep short. It is fine IF I keep the blades sharp and don't let the grass grow taller than 8" or so.

But if you plan to cut 3-4 acres (or less), I would pick a good Zero Turn hands down.

I can cut the same amount of acreage with my Zero Turn (in less time and with better results) than with my finish mower. I just don't like to put the hours on my ZT and the tractor rides smoother.

6 foot finish mower:

5 Foot Z/T:

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm thinking about picking up a rear finish mower for the B2650. Anyone on here using a 6 ft rear discharge RFM behind their B2650/LX2610? Likes/dislikes?

My rear wheel width is approx 58" with the spacers, so I'd like to be well beyond them if possible.

Alternatively, I may add another ZT mower (6 footer) to my collection.

I added a ZT to my mix and wow am I happy with that choice.
Faster then a tractor by far.

 

[chim]

Been using and loving RFM's since '91 and can offer this. The weight of the deck has a LOT to do with how it will work. My small Ford 1210 handles a 5' Caroni very well. I tried the 5' Caroni deck once and it was more than the Ford could do. The B7500 was about at its limit with a 5' LandPride - especially in tall grass going uphill. Decks such as LandPride require more tractor than those with weight more like Caroni. I'd say that a 6' RFM would be the real upper limit for the tractors mentioned. My choice would be a lighter weight deck if you go with a 6-footer on either of those tractors.

Just a note - I always use 2WD and have the FEL removed when finish mowing.

 

[Old Machinist]

Should be fine. I used a 6 footer behind a JD855 with 19 PTO HP and it never complained. Even in high Bahia grass which is as tough as it gets.

 

[Elliott in GA]

FWIW, I mow with an LP 5 foot finish mower on my LX 2610 SU, and I am very pleased with the mower. I cut our small field (~2 acres) every month (we are at our land in north GA every month) - except during winter. I cut with the loader on, and part of the field is a hill. The tractor does not lug even up hill; I cut at 5.25 inches. However, our field has a lot of clover and the grass is not thick even when tall.

Could my LX handle a 6 foot finish mower under my conditions - yes. YMMV

 

[Like Tractors]

I'm thinking about picking up a rear finish mower for the B2650. Anyone on here using a 6 ft rear discharge RFM behind their B2650/LX2610? Likes/dislikes?

My rear wheel width is approx 58" with the spacers, so I'd like to be well beyond them if possible.

Alternatively, I may add another ZT mower (6 footer) to my collection.

I found a used Land Pride FDR2572 in perfect condition, I use it behind my B2650, I did ad a full set of front end weights, it works great.

 

[SDT]

I'm thinking about picking up a rear finish mower for the B2650. Anyone on here using a 6 ft rear discharge RFM behind their B2650/LX2610? Likes/dislikes?

My rear wheel width is approx 58" with the spacers, so I'd like to be well beyond them if possible.

Alternatively, I may add another ZT mower (6 footer) to my collection.

Suitability of RFM will depend upon weight of mower, what you plan to cut, how quickly you hope to move while cutting, terrain (hills), tractor ballast, etc.

There have been multiple threads herein about folks running out of power when using a 6' RFM with a 2650 and similar tractors.

RFM vis a vis ZTR depends upon other factors and is your call.

 

[dirtydeed]

Thanks for the reply guys.

I think I'll just look into adding another ZT. I have two already but one is a 54" small residential unit and the other a 60" prosumer (or heavy duty residential).

I'm picking up a mowing job at neighbors that will be a little over 4 acres (weekly cutting). I think a commercial ZT would be the way to go. I'll need to replace the little 54" mower that I have soon anyway. Hope I can find a 6 footer over the winter.

 

[Old Machinist]

Things to think about. A RFM isn't as maneuverable as a ZT but a tractor rides better than a ZT and gets you up and out of the dust when mowing in dry conditions. How many trees and obstacles you have to go around would be the deciding factor for me. Pick your poison.

I recently got a deal on this LX3310 Cab with a MMM that has been great for mowing in the dry summer. It's main drawback is having to keep my distance from trees. I have a 5' Swisher rigged up to pull offset behind it and I can gauge my distance and get closer to the trees with it. I'm getting a 10' path with the 6'MMM and 5' Swisher combined.

 

[Smokeydog]

Wife does most the mowing on our hillside farm. 6’ finish mower on B26. It also mulches and blows off leaves on our 1/2mile green tunnel driveway. Being able to back under landscaping and down creek banks a zombie can’t. Plus go in sum real ruff areas. Up graded spindles to trailer axles to meet the need.

 

[Old Machinist]

View attachment 140181
Up graded spindles to trailer axles to meet the need.

Those should last forever without maintenance.

I have a homemade ground powered mower I used trailer hubs for the spindles on. I machined the blade shafts out of stainless 1" bar stock.

 

[Smokeydog]

To be clear I modified the caster wheel stems to trailer axles. Was having excess wear and bending of the OEM 1” diameter stems.

Woods uses taper roller bearings on the blade spindles. Just rebuilt the first spindle this spring after 25years and about 2,000+ hours. Good design.

 

[biketopia]

I ran a land pride 72" RFM behind my B2650 for about a year and half when we bought our 5 acres. I got it super cheap because the PO was missing a link of chain for the tensioner and couldn't get the belt routed right so it would cut right. Our land is mostly grass, rolling hills, old pasture. The tractor did it just fine for weekly cuttings. Picked up a 61" Turf Tiger and it's been the ticket. Much, much faster, and more maneuverable. A 72" ZT is sweet, but they aren't as common as a 60/61" deck and depending on the terrain they have more of tendency to scalp. My Scag is an early 2000's with a 25HP Kohler, the newer ones are up into the 30 and evern 40hp, those suckers will cut as fast as your back can handle it, in thick wet grass. My ZT does much better than my neighbors John Deere ZT of similar vintage.