I think width is key when mowing 14 acres. I still think that to go wide you need to go away from a rotary cutter - a flail perhaps, or I guess a batwing which is a sort of rotary cutter. I'm a big fan of going slower and wider, which often means running a bigger cutter than the maker recommends - they have to spec it as if you're going to run full speed, if you're not then a) your back will thank you, and b) you can run a wider cutter.
Will an L3902HST do what I need?
- Thread starter pgmrdan
- Start date
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
curious... WHY are you mowing 14 ACRES ? Around me there are several fields like that , all are in crops (oats,soybean,corn), some used for hay for horses too.
for me mowing 1 acre was too much, turned it into a veggie garden,MADE money not LOST it.
for me mowing 1 acre was too much, turned it into a veggie garden,MADE money not LOST it.
I let cattle farmers come in and hay the place for shares for a few years. Watched the quality of the grasses diminish. Not enough money in that to make it worth while to fertilize and lime.
Want to keep the nutrients brought up to the surface by the grasses to be kept on my property. Not willing to keep cattle or horses. Too destructive. I also have a pond that I don't want torn up.
Decided to let the grasses lay on the ground. After a few years they are already improving. May still need to lime.
Also, want to let the grasses alone until after the ground nesting birds have finished for the season. Turkey and pheasant numbers aren't what they used to be. Sure that predators have a lot to do with robbing the nests too. Working on that.
May mow those fields only twice a year but want to keep the fire hazard down and make the place look better. Will also be removing lots of cedar trees that are popping up.
Will be using the tractor for general clean up of brush and small trees. May plant some hardwoods in the fields. Undecided on that.
Mowing shouldn't be a problem. We have a 2 acre yard that I mow with the BX. That's fun. I've mowed the 14 acres a couple of times in the past with a Ford 3000 and a 5' rotary mower. That was fun too.
I"m enjoying retirement!
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mcmxi
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
I ended up buying a Land Pride 12ft folding rotary cutter for my place and to cut my friend's place and it's a game changer for sure. It results in a faster and better cut than the RCR1884 7ft rotary cutter I have, and it's way faster than the 5ft flail that I also use. I've found that the MX with the flail and M with the folding cutter makes for a great summer pairing at my place.
I suppose a 10ft folding cutter from Woods, IronCraft, Bush Hog, RhinoAg or similar behind the L3902 would be the ticket, unless the property is really hilly. I like gear drive for pulling my folding cutter.
Cutting 14 acres with a 6ft or 7ft rotary cutter is going to take around 11 hours, and maybe more, and if the field isn't nice and smooth it'll make for a long day, particularly with a short wheel base and small tires.
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mcmxi
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
I have a spreadsheet that I use to figure out what I need to charge when doing tractor work for others over the summer months, but this chart from Woods is interesting. I don't think it accounts for changing direction at the end of a pass though, which can really add up.11 hours??? I'm in heaven.