[scrub]

I recently purchased the one and a half acres next to my property and will now need to purchase a finish mower for my 1025R. I am seeking wisdom from the learned.I considered the deck for under the tractor but i would have to remove my duals and i really dont want another bad case of the puckers.Quality of a finish mower for me is paramount. Any good advise is appreciated.Thanks in advance.

 

[smalltime]

Tough to beat a Woods. They make the JD (Frontier) ones.

 

[scrub]

Have you had one for long?And what size?

 

[smalltime]

Have an old Woods finish mower on an even older IH 244. I put it on my 1025r and worked just fine. It is a 5 foot - I think you can get away with a 6 foot as long as you are mowing a lawn, but get into heavier stuff and it may be a bit much. Five foot is plenty to cover your tracks.

 

[scrub]

Thanks. I really appreciate the input

 

[Busman]

Here's what I use. A Frontier GM1072E 3 pt finish mower. 72" wide. Works fine. The 1025R has enough PTO power handle it, provided you are just mowing lawn, as was mentioned earlier.

 

[Dr Maphesto]

Stop by a local short line dealer and see what advice they have to offer/ Perhaps they will let you try one to see which size fits your application best?

 

[Old Machinist]

I have had a 6 ft. Chinese made Agmate from Agri Supply for a few years. The best part about it was the price but everything has gone up these days.

When I bought it I had a JD855 with 19 PTO HP and it pulled it fine.

Never been disappointed with it but being a tinkerer I am always looking for a way to make things better. I changed the drive pulley to a larger one that came stock on the 5 ft. mowers to increase blade speed. This year I am going to replace all the driven pulleys to the smaller size to spin the blades even faster. It's on it's 5th season so I am going to replace all the spindle bearings while I have the pulleys off. The mower cuts fine out of the box but I figure if I can get the blades to spin faster I can mow faster with the same result.

With any mower the quality is a combination of blade alignment, blade height, blade speed, and travel speed. Most finish mowers do not have a blade speed that is equivalent to a regular mower blade speed. You usually have to travel a little slower to get the same or similar results that your would with a lawn tractor or zero turn.

A lot of people will encourage you to buy a dedicated zero turn. The only zero turn I owned would beat you to death and cover you in dirt. One nice thing about a finish mower is the comfort of the tractor ride and having all the dust and debris behind you.

If I were to replace what I have I would consider one of the 5 blade Caroni mowers if I could find one.

I would look for how the belts are adjusted. Both the Agmate and Caroni have two belts that tension with a simple movement of the gearbox. I have yet to need to adjust mine during normal use. Any design incorporating idler pulleys will have unnecessary parts. I prefer the rear discharge.

Search You Tube for finish mower. You will be hard pressed to find any accounts of anybody that is disappointed with any brand. Some will have features others don't but they all have a similar design and performance. Kind of like tillers. They all have the same Chinese gearbox.

Your 1025 will probably be limited to a 6 ft or smaller.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=John+Deere+1025+with+finish+mower

 

[Tlyons83]

I ran a 72” land pride 3pt mower, great unit. Just be careful on the weight, it can make the front end pretty light

 

[machineryman]

most of the 72" models too heavy....for the 1025r the 5' economy Frontier is the best....I've tried the two Landprides in 5' and they are just too heavy....

 

[scrub]

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice. I have some time before cutting season so i hope i can find one with all the shortages going on. I probably will go with a 5 footer because of some close trees and the advice of smaller pulleys to increase speed sounds like a good idea. Thanks again

 

[FortClatsop]

I’m a fan of the Frontier 1060E. It’s actually a Befco. I’ve beat the snot out of mine on a very rough pasture for 16 years. At one time it was my only mower on 7 acres. It has suffered all kinds of abuse and I’ve repaired it accordingly. Last spring I got a smoking deal on a never used one. When I update my tractor I will stick with the rear discharge RFM. The grass is often tall, thick, and wet, and not lawn quality after being run over by four tractor tires though it’s a nice cut and way faster than a rotary cutter. Even at full retail it’s cheaper than a MMM.

 

[machineryman]

My approach to the equipment is basically to do the research then have on the hands experience. I've owned both of the 5' Landpride finish mower. The FDR1660 is better for the 1025r but is still too heavy....definitely don't use quick hitch as you shift the mower 4' more to the real....the lift will get it off the ground but it's still little to heavy....I own the GM1060E and it at 375lbs and is exactly the correct weight...manuvering the tractor is easy and the weight does not throw it around Flatscatslop is right on target....the spindles are 1" and heavy....nauturally the deck is lighter and frame is lighter but with decent use no rough housing there should be no problem....I haven't tried the 72" model but the specs of weight are on these sheets. It's not so much about H.P. as the weight shifting the front and rear end around.....I owned one the box store brands and I think they are more lower end machines....years ago I did have a King Kutter and found it a little wanky on hook up and design....I've owned a First Choice many years back...it was a copy of the Landpride design....

 

[machineryman]

Landpride quit making the FDR2560 model. I suppose it didn't fit into their product line may have been too heavy for the compacts.....it's a great mower...very heavy gear box....Landpride used the same gear box for rotary and finish mowers....very pricey....

 

[Old Machinist]

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice. I have some time before cutting season so i hope i can find one with all the shortages going on. I probably will go with a 5 footer because of some close trees and the advice of smaller pulleys to increase speed sounds like a good idea. Thanks again

The 5' Agmate already has the size pulleys I am switching to.

Finishing Mower, 5 Foot Finishing Mower | Agmate 65058

This Agmate 5 foot rear discharge finishing mower has a cutting with of 58.27 inches and cutting height 1.38 inch to 4.53 inches with a series 4 driveline.

www.agrisupply.com

 

[machineryman]

That might work but you're still over 500 lbs for the subcompact....good looking mower....know nothing about parts or dealer availability

 

[Old Machinist]

That might work but you're still over 500 lbs for the subcompact....good looking mower....know nothing about parts or dealer availability

Agri Supply is the dealer and sells all the parts.

Not sure where you live in relation to their stores. Shipping may be a deal killer.

 

[machineryman]

I live at Western Ky. Have had lots of experience with finish mower....this one looks good for the money....

 

[machineryman]

I took a little time to show the setup.....I've tried every combination but I think this is best unit for the 1025r

 

[machineryman]

Befco makes the lighter units....Woods makes the heavier ones....