Ride on mower - Wow factor stripes - Forum

I'm in the reasearch process -We own. G2160 Kubota with a 48" rear discharge deck, a great commercial piece of kit, but over the past 8 months I've become ever much unhappy with the finish it gives.Unless worked in the dry, and being cut more than regular ie two weeks or less, and sometimes being having to higher the deck, and go over a second run to blow and disperse the cutting more clear.We are in the process of putting on a further 6-8 school primary and junior school contracts over the next 6-8 months, on top of the two we currently hold. If we are fortunate to gain this work, I would like to invest in a new machine. This must be the right machine to produce the wow factor finish. I want the head or Finiancial person to look and say wow look at that. I have to be honest I'm quite a perfectionist and sometimes I don't think that.....Im a member of a few facebook groups and having some good input. The advice I'm getting is a good triple cylinder like a ransomes triple or hayter triple. The right machine, but be careful it can be expensive for maintenance etc, to a powerful outdeck finishing flail with a built in roller to give that lovely deep strip.Sorry for the waffle, but if anyone can give me some constructive advice I would be much appreciative.I'm thinking this may cost me between 10-15k for the right machine. I don't mind doing my research and testing all my machine before making such a big decision.Flails I'm being recommended are the German made Muthing, I know there are others.Looking forward to hearing about your good experience on these machines

Replies

PRO

Seth Burgess September 9, 2017 at 12:50pm

You are looking for a cut and drop machine then?

Either a cylinder (triple or 5 gang) Front deck with a flail (I like trimax's but muthing are good too) or a roller mower on the back of a compact tractor. Those would be the 3 machine types I would consider for what I think you are asking for.
PRO

Andrew Watts September 9, 2017 at 4:17pm

We had the same problem, but different, smaller league. Had a Kubota GR 1600 Mk II. Lovely pickup, tough machine, 42" deck, but customers didn't like the finish compared to pedestrian rollers. Sold it and bought a nearly new 4wd countax 42" mulching deck with rear sweeper roller/collector. Went this way as I'd previously had a Westwood.

It's not a commercial machine, but leaves a lovely striped finish. We use on some gardens from 2000-5000sqm, used maybe a couple of times a week. So sorry not applicable to your problem, but see where you're coming from on trying to put finish top of the list.
- Jeff McCoy > Andrew Watts September 9, 2017 at 4:28pm
  
  Have you considered a compact tractor and a 5 or 6ft finishing mower? This is what I have in mind, you have the option of adding a chipper, power washer, hedge cutter, log splitter, Rotavator etc etc. Think versatility!
Andrew Michael Palmer September 9, 2017 at 4:43pm

Jeff, no I hadn't thought of that! I wish my supplier would have pushed me a bit further when I spent £8k!!! I could have got a more finishing ride in there and then, I appreciate my mower will cut longer grass and get it down which other models can't.
- PRO
  
  Adam Pilgrim > Andrew Michael Palmer September 9, 2017 at 10:01pm
  
  Just a word of caution, once you get into compact tractors thinks can get very confusing to the layman. Ie do you want manual or hydrostatic drive (manual better for rotovating, ploughing etc, hydro better for mowing and non draft work), generally you will want 18 to 25 HP, a trailer of at least 16 to 18ft. Also a finishing mower won't really stripe as they don't have a roller fitted as standard. This is work we do on a regular basis and there is a reason my we have four different mowing attachment's!
- PRO
  
  Richard Gadsby > Andrew Michael Palmer September 9, 2017 at 11:36pm
  
  Also don't think the cylinders won't cut long grass like a rotary, they will as long as you get the right one.
Alistair Simpson September 17, 2017 at 9:23am

I would suggest a front mounted flail. The trimax is the one i'm currently looking at and on a Kubota power unit coming in new some where around £16k so I have been suggested. (Not gone into figures to much yet). The finish looks very good and the option to cut long or short grass well and stripe is a really big tick as rotaries tend to be very unhappy with longer grass. Triples are good but from alot of experience using them you need to have someone who knows what they're doing using them and account for a decent amount of maintenance time, 15 minutes every day at least to set the cylinders up and grease etc.
- PRO
  
  Richard Gadsby > Alistair Simpson September 17, 2017 at 9:33pm
  
  Add to that the expensive cylinders! A lump of metal in the grass can cost you £450 trust me on that!
  That said get the right one and it will cut everything you put in front of it as long as it's only grass and look good after(in relation to a rotary in most cases)
  Annoyed with mine this week as I've just spent another grand on it!