Just curious as to how many people that have a BX or B with a belly mower leave the FEL on while mowing? I usually do any loader work and when time to mow I drop the loader. Like I said, just curious.
FEL while mowing.
- Thread starter Hoserman
- Start date
I never mow with FELs attached on any of my tractor/mower combinations.
Good day.
I previously had a BX and now have a B. I just take only the bucket off (leave loader itself on) when I mow, unless I am bring a saw or pruners with me.
I have never taken the loader off my BX to mow, that would be a waste of time and effort. I simply drop off the bucket and three point weight box to shorten the overall length and lighten the load. Occasionally raise the loader arms to avoid obstacles when turning.
Loader and anything on the 3 pt always came off for mowing. Reasons:
1. Better ride and handling while mowing.
2. Less likely to take out roses, fences or sheet metal on wife's car, which is always parked in the worst possible location.
3. Was mowing a field, not a putting green. You can go a little faster without all that other stuff bouncing around.
4. Less weight means less work for drivetrain, less wear on moving parts.
1. Better ride and handling while mowing.
2. Less likely to take out roses, fences or sheet metal on wife's car, which is always parked in the worst possible location.
3. Was mowing a field, not a putting green. You can go a little faster without all that other stuff bouncing around.
4. Less weight means less work for drivetrain, less wear on moving parts.
Ditto - easier to maneuver around the house and deck, also safer on the slopes I have - so it depends on your situation.
It's rained 21 out of 26 days here so far this month. My lawn is way to soft to even try to mow with the FEL on. I've only been able to mow once (in 4WD) and left nasty tire impressions even with nothing but the MMM on. Almost got stuck on flat ground due to the mud.
^All these, plus one more reason for me - visibility. The 50 acres I mow every year is very rough, with some big holes PLUS big mounds from where a badger has dug up a gopher. The bucket and the loader arms obscure a lot of my vision right around the tractor. And yes, I don't need to have all that weight bouncing around on rough terrain.
At least on my M7060 removing the loader assembly takes only a few minutes, so why not?
JRHill
Active member
Equipment
Orange: B7100 Std and Woodmizer; Green/yellow JD Buck, Gator and 410j.
You can mow with the loader too. Simply set bucket about two inches below wheel level. Only have to do that once or twice per year, so saves a lot of time.I like to leave to loader alone and not mow.
I take the FEL off my B if I have to do a bunch of mowing. Flatlanders don't need to worry unless it is close quarters. But those of us that are on hills, that FEL changes the whole geometry of the tractor even when it is almost on the ground. And the B like someone said is a BX with a lift kit , in MHO becomes too unstable on hills with the FEL in place
I mowed my 5 acres for almost 30 years with a Deere 955 compact with 72" MM and the loader always came off first. Maneuverability was better and even without the additional loader weight there is a lot of weight on the front tires pushing down the grass ahead of the mower deck.
But after buying a Kubota F2690 2 years ago, the loader stays on the Deere all of the time. The only mowing it does now is some rough area south of the creek and that is with a 5' rotary cutter on the 3 point.
Even though the loader comes off quickly and easily, it is nice not having to remove it and the front deck F2690 with rear discharge is a joy to mow with and it provides a nicer cut. It is convenient having the "nose" of the mower going under trees instead of sitting over the deck and it definitely cut mowing time. The emissions controlled F2690 has a little less power than the Deere (which is rated 33 engine/27 PTO) but the Kubota has plenty of power for a 6' deck and I suspect the rear discharge helps since the grass is discharged over the entire width of the deck instead of being funneled out a chute.
Rodger
But after buying a Kubota F2690 2 years ago, the loader stays on the Deere all of the time. The only mowing it does now is some rough area south of the creek and that is with a 5' rotary cutter on the 3 point.
Even though the loader comes off quickly and easily, it is nice not having to remove it and the front deck F2690 with rear discharge is a joy to mow with and it provides a nicer cut. It is convenient having the "nose" of the mower going under trees instead of sitting over the deck and it definitely cut mowing time. The emissions controlled F2690 has a little less power than the Deere (which is rated 33 engine/27 PTO) but the Kubota has plenty of power for a 6' deck and I suspect the rear discharge helps since the grass is discharged over the entire width of the deck instead of being funneled out a chute.
Rodger
I mowed my property/yard with the FEL attached minus the bucket a couple of times. I didn't care for the additional length while in tight places so I just removed it.
It feels a lot lighter and maneuverable without it.
Its sitting on plywood in my shop behind my truck. If I need it, I just pull the truck out and attach it.
It feels a lot lighter and maneuverable without it.
Its sitting on plywood in my shop behind my truck. If I need it, I just pull the truck out and attach it.
Not a BX but me too. I leave it alone in the shed while using the tractor to mowI like to leave to loader alone and not mow.
Thanks for all the responses. Just re-enforces my thoughts on mowing without the FEL getting in the way. Plus I have a lot of obstacles to get around like trees, gardens, and outbuildings. The other reason I don't mow with it on is there is a large section that at one time was lake bottom that is now back to being river, so it is a little on the spongy side at times and I always have to use caution. The extra weight would not be a good thing.
Loader not removable on B26. Do remove bucket when mowing with 3pt finish mowers.
Mostly wooded property and always moving tree limbs. Keep the grapple on most of the time when rough mowing with the M59, again loader not removable. Do have Kubota soft ride hydraulic accumulators which reduces loader bounce.
Mostly wooded property and always moving tree limbs. Keep the grapple on most of the time when rough mowing with the M59, again loader not removable. Do have Kubota soft ride hydraulic accumulators which reduces loader bounce.
ken erickson
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100 hst, 2650 front mount snowblower, L2501 hst qa loader
I was mowing for the first yesterday with a 6 foot light duty Land Pride brush cutter.
I leave my loader on as I do a lot of grapple work as I mow depending on what dead scot pine fell across the trail. I will be delighted when the scot pines are a distant memory!
Another reason, that is pretty unique, I leave my loader on is that the vertical trolly channel I built for my seat lift anchors to the loader frame.
I leave my loader on as I do a lot of grapple work as I mow depending on what dead scot pine fell across the trail. I will be delighted when the scot pines are a distant memory!
Another reason, that is pretty unique, I leave my loader on is that the vertical trolly channel I built for my seat lift anchors to the loader frame.
It depends on the situation for me.
Majority of the time the loader stays on.
In the beginning of the season, I cut blueberry rows with the loader off. This prevents me from whacking bushes and in turn unintentionally pruning them. Lessening the harvest.
Then like around now, being weeks from first harvest, the tractor can't go anywhere near the bushes without blowing berries everywhere. Only our little mower that my youngin rides around on throughout the week can.
I'm of course not worried about any of this when cutting out front roadside and keep the loader on. I'll often have to use the bucket the first pass to pick up all the garbage useless individuals dump on me on a regular basis. Otherwise, the bucket comes off.
Same with our open section by the road
And then when I'm cutting the backside of our place and around the pond and pond dam, I leave the loader on for added weight down low. It's a fairly steep dam. Atleast to me.
Also got one muddy spot the 3301 got stuck in once and has made me nervous ever since when I around it.
Then at the end of the season, its fair game to rip up whoever wherever. I put the loader up and let it rip off any one hanging too far out or too low. LOL
Majority of the time the loader stays on.
In the beginning of the season, I cut blueberry rows with the loader off. This prevents me from whacking bushes and in turn unintentionally pruning them. Lessening the harvest.
Then like around now, being weeks from first harvest, the tractor can't go anywhere near the bushes without blowing berries everywhere. Only our little mower that my youngin rides around on throughout the week can.
I'm of course not worried about any of this when cutting out front roadside and keep the loader on. I'll often have to use the bucket the first pass to pick up all the garbage useless individuals dump on me on a regular basis. Otherwise, the bucket comes off.
Same with our open section by the road
And then when I'm cutting the backside of our place and around the pond and pond dam, I leave the loader on for added weight down low. It's a fairly steep dam. Atleast to me.
Also got one muddy spot the 3301 got stuck in once and has made me nervous ever since when I around it.
Then at the end of the season, its fair game to rip up whoever wherever. I put the loader up and let it rip off any one hanging too far out or too low. LOL
With a belly mower I take off the FEL due to having narrow spaces, tight turns, and hills to contend with. Raise/lower/raise/lower on the FEL and mower (due to rocks/ruts/large sandworms) is a bit tedious, managing just the mower makes things much easier.
Of course hitting a car with the Piranha Bar on would be like using a can-opener, but without knowing the contents beforehand.
I see some of y'all mentioning the loader throwing off the balance of the tractor.
I thought if you kept it down low it would be added weight also lowering your center of gravity.
Would this not be so?
I'm a fairly new tractor operator. A touch over 5 years in.
I thought if you kept it down low it would be added weight also lowering your center of gravity.
Would this not be so?
I'm a fairly new tractor operator. A touch over 5 years in.