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What Size Mower Do I Need?
There are really 3 things that you need to consider when shopping for a mower.
1- Finish mower or rough cut (brush) mower.
A finish mower will leave a nice smooth cut look because it has 3 smaller blades that spin very fast. The blades, however, are more delicate and are not as good for areas with stumps, sticks, rocks, etc. The rough cut mower or brush mower has 1 heavy blade that is great for areas with trash or debris but does not leave quite as nice of finish. With a brush mower you can often mow branches over 1" in diameter without damage.
2- Mower Size.
It is a good rule of thumb to have 4 horsepower for every 1 foot of mower. For example, a 16 horsepower Yanmar tractor will have enough horsepower to run a 4' mower. There are obviously exceptions to this rule and a 16 horsepower tractor will not run a 4' mower through 1' tall grass. You will need to adjust this rule to fit your lifestyle and your needs. Below is a chart that will let you see the amount of acres you can cover with different size mowers at different mowing speeds. 80% productivity takes into account the wasted time while turning around and overlapping.
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3- Mower Weight
Just because your tractor can power a 5 foot mower does not mean that your tractor can handle a 5 foot mower. The compact design of the Yanmar tractor is one of the things that has made them so popular. It is also one of the things that makes mower selection a little more difficult. If a mower is too heavy it will be difficult to steer and your tractor will want to do "wheelies" when you start to move forward because of all of the weight on the rear of the tractor. If possible, it is a good idea to test out a mower on your tractor before you buy it. You should be able to lift the mower and drive around without the front end wanting to come off of the ground. While it is possible to add weights to the front of the tractor it is best to select the correct mower to begin with. There are many brand mowers, each of which have different designs and different weights. Howse brand mowers, for example, are lighter weight mowers that work well with the compact Yanmar tractor. Modern Manufacturing mowers tend to be very heavy- which is good for extreme durability but is bad if you are looking for a lighter weight mower. You will also want to attach your mower as close to the tractor as practical. The closer to the rear wheels the mower is the less leverage it will have and the lighter the mower will feel.
Have questions or comments about this article? Feel free to email us a Parts@HoyeTractor.com.
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