The right tool for the job is often found by experience and progression. Mowing hammers the weeds too! Thanks for sharing, a lifestyle I left 40 years ago, to live in Australia. Golden days and part of who I am!
The kubota F3680 is a great machine. We run a 72 inch side discharge mower and in the winter a 60 inch plow for sidewalks. The machine with loaded tires handles inclines very well and leaves a good grass cut. Plus the F3680 has an older diesel basically bulletproof engine.
Oh, to be in Devon in the sunshine.. Whoever would have thought I'd be quite happy to watch someone mowing grass, eh..? Lovely to watch, and I agree with all the other comments about it all. I love to watch the dogs massing about oil the background..!!
@@FarmerTorque I have just seen the gobbledygook spelling on my comment..! Clearly the dogs were messing about & no oil anywhere.. Spellcheck & tired eyes, sorry. Keep 'em coming Mr T..
Thank you for the vid. We're looking to buy a property with some steep land behind it, something like this (or a smaller option if such a thing exists) looks like it'd do the job. Cheers.
You really need to get yourself a Ventrac. I live in northeast Tennessee, and the slopes here are far more treacherous than what you have. My duel wheel Ventrac would laugh at that hill behind you.
The ventrac is great, but within the UK it sits at an increased price over the kubota, also parts for the kubota are easily and cheaply available. Don't get me wrong the ventrac is a very capable machine but it's only mowing weeds at the end of the day.
I know that film doesn’t really give a good impression of how steep that hill is, but the thumbnail pic does! Balls of steel, Farmer. I’m surprised you have time for motorbikes and other toys with all that hard graft to do. Effort equals rewards though - the grass looks great 👍 All the best, Andy 🏴
Ha ha - made me smile 😊 Will do a few more vids about jobs that need to be done here. Don’t fear though - I do ‘couch potato’ extremely well, apparently 🙄 Thanks for looking in 👍
What is the average angle of the slopes you are mowing? How often per season? That looks like a finish mower, so once a week or once a month? We do our sloped pasture of 15° about twice per season between grazing cattle.
How steep difficult to say Often more than 30 - odd bits nearer 40 - the average probably 35 - Its very difficult to get that over on camera! I probably top it 4 times a year with sheep grazing every 5/6 weeks
Thank you so much for this. We were looking for options on our steep pasture to update from our mid-mower New Holland 1025 4WD tractor. The only thing that looked beefy enough and designed for steep hills, has been the Carrero 4400. BUT, it is very expensive for what it is. A neighbour has the Torro equivalent of your machine, but with a mower deck. I like your arrangement better, with the mulched/flail, especially with our mixed pasture.
Hey, what machine did you buy in the end? I'm curious to know. The Carraro 4400 (or 3800 & 4800 as they're now called since emission changes) looks great, but as with all of those 'reversible apline tractors' they're so much money for what you get compared to a normal tractor. They put a swivel seat on it, lower the centre of gravity, and charge the earth. I was curious what you chose.
@@matthewhayes7765 Hi Matthew. We got the Carraro 4400 in the end. Got a used one with Turf tyres and saved quite a bit of money. Put on Agricultural tyres and filled with water. It has plenty of power, even for our overgrown kikuyu grass and weeds as high as the bonnet (hood). Goes everywhere except for a couple of places where there is loose soil stopping traction.
@@RaymondToms great stuff! Thanks for the reply. Out of interest, what size flail do you run on it? Since this has similar power to a out front mower (like farmertorque's) are you running a 1.6m cut, or bigger like a 1.8? If you don't know, don't stress it. I'm just curious
Because ground is so variable it’s tricky to say in figures however with good traction tyres and in dry conditions much steeper than a normal tractor - but there is always a risk of course - all depends how it’s driven
Hi Martyn, good reason for that - even at the folded height it would be enough to stop it rolling, but it has such a low centre of gravity that is extremely unlikely - obviously I wouldn’t want that to happen . Much more worrying though is when it’s raised there would be a serious risk of cracking my skull open on the frame even in a modest incident . No easy answer I’m afraid. It’s a job only I would do though. All the best, Farmer
@@FarmerTorque thank you very much... i now think about buying a f3680 with 1000 hours on the clock...with luck a kubota should be good for some more 1000 hours
@@FarmerTorque I wondered how you go on with that Wessex flail? I regularly use a Muthing on a Shibaura out front mower for a man. And it gets through roller bearings and so on, often. But it is doing commercial work. Verges, playing fields and so on. Anyway, I was just curious how you were getting on with the Wessex, it's a nice piece of kit 👍
We have steep slopes on the estate i work at. Estate manager pays a guy on a reform machine 600 quid a day and says "theres absolutely no other machine that can cut these slopes". Ok sure, whatever. Side note, you had any problems with that Kubota? I heard the larger engines arent as reliable.
How does that set up with the flail go through really thick/long grass like in a paddock that hasn’t been knocked down for a couple of years? Does the flail big down way more than a slasher/topper would on a similarly powerful tractor?
@@FarmerTorque It sure will do a nicer job, but I'm wondering if a slasher/topper/mulcher mounted on the front like the Major Cyclone with get through the big stuff much easier using less HP. For me it is less about the look and more about getting it knocked down.
Farmer, video never does justice to slopes but even from the film I can see that takes some nerve to cut. Could you ride the Scrambler up there on a dry day or not?(Please don't do it to prove a point, just asking!)
Your spot on - I have mixed feelings doing the job, it’s a real challenge so quite exciting but frigging hairy at times. I’m sure the scrambler would make it with a skilled rider but would make a right mess of the grass! I have some gentle, suitably embarrassing footage of riding the Scrambler round the farm - maybe I’ll edit 😳 Cheers
Have to disagree Scott - firstly the machine is exceptionally stable - secondly in upright position the roll frame is dangerously close to my head - ultimately though nothing is without risk on steep ground
@@FarmerTorque yeah it's close to your head but it's engineered to withstand a rollover and keep the operator safe if they are wearing a seatbelt. Yeah I agree there's plenty of risks mowing steep hills, I live in Eastern Kentucky where we keep mountains mowed and our property is no joke. I have a few videos posted also
I’ve answered this already but firstly it’s an extremely badly designed ROPS and is inches from my head so a serious head injury is highly likely - even a minor bang against the solid bar would have dire consequences - in the halfway position it would still stop 99 per cent of rolls With the flail on its has an extremely low centre of gravity so to get it to roll anyway would take some doing Lastly re the seatbelt, yes I’d like to stay alive - I’d like to be able to jump off in an emergency With the frame up being strapped in would concern me greatly My choice of course, but there is logic behind it Lastly, thanks for watching 👍
The right tool for the job is often found by experience and progression. Mowing hammers the weeds too! Thanks for sharing, a lifestyle I left 40 years ago, to live in Australia. Golden days and part of who I am!
Good to hear from you, Barry. Glad your enjoying the channel.
Hopefully more coming that you’ll approve of.
All the best, Farmer
The kubota F3680 is a great machine. We run a 72 inch side discharge mower and in the winter a 60 inch plow for sidewalks. The machine with loaded tires handles inclines very well and leaves a good grass cut. Plus the F3680 has an older diesel basically bulletproof engine.
Oh, to be in Devon in the sunshine.. Whoever would have thought I'd be quite happy to watch someone mowing grass, eh..? Lovely to watch, and I agree with all the other comments about it all. I love to watch the dogs massing about oil the background..!!
That handy you like the dogs Stephen, cos it would be tricky to keep them out ok the shot😂
Cheers, Farmer
@@FarmerTorque I have just seen the gobbledygook spelling on my comment..! Clearly the dogs were messing about & no oil anywhere.. Spellcheck & tired eyes, sorry. Keep 'em coming Mr T..
No worries - spellcheck 🤒
Wow, that is an impressive hill.
Excellent video. Very nice
Thank you 🙏
Thank you for the vid. We're looking to buy a property with some steep land behind it, something like this (or a smaller option if such a thing exists) looks like it'd do the job. Cheers.
You really need to get yourself a Ventrac. I live in northeast Tennessee, and the slopes here are far more treacherous than what you have. My duel wheel Ventrac would laugh at that hill behind you.
The ventrac is great, but within the UK it sits at an increased price over the kubota, also parts for the kubota are easily and cheaply available. Don't get me wrong the ventrac is a very capable machine but it's only mowing weeds at the end of the day.
@Mike Mancini a Ventrac
Hi there from the Sunshine Coast Hinterland steep slopes in Australia! Do you mind sharing how steep the steepest part of your slope is that you mow?
Hi Pieter - difficult to actually measure but id say between 35 to 40% in places
I know that film doesn’t really give a good impression of how steep that hill is, but the thumbnail pic does! Balls of steel, Farmer.
I’m surprised you have time for motorbikes and other toys with all that hard graft to do. Effort equals rewards though - the grass looks great 👍
All the best,
Andy 🏴
Ha ha - made me smile 😊
Will do a few more vids about jobs that need to be done here.
Don’t fear though - I do ‘couch potato’ extremely well, apparently 🙄
Thanks for looking in 👍
What is the average angle of the slopes you are mowing? How often per season? That looks like a finish mower, so once a week or once a month? We do our sloped pasture of 15° about twice per season between grazing cattle.
How steep difficult to say Often more than 30 - odd bits nearer 40 - the average probably 35 - Its very difficult to get that over on camera! I probably top it 4 times a year with sheep grazing every 5/6 weeks
@@FarmerTorque Very nice. Great property! Thanks!
00:39 I SWEAR I thought your dog was fake or automated like a plastic flamingo 🦩 🤣
Impressive
Awesome I love my kubota
Thank you so much for this. We were looking for options on our steep pasture to update from our mid-mower New Holland 1025 4WD tractor. The only thing that looked beefy enough and designed for steep hills, has been the Carrero 4400. BUT, it is very expensive for what it is. A neighbour has the Torro equivalent of your machine, but with a mower deck. I like your arrangement better, with the mulched/flail, especially with our mixed pasture.
Very happy you found the vid helpful , just make sure you get the traction tyres and good rear weight 👍😊 All the best - Chris
Hey, what machine did you buy in the end? I'm curious to know. The Carraro 4400 (or 3800 & 4800 as they're now called since emission changes) looks great, but as with all of those 'reversible apline tractors' they're so much money for what you get compared to a normal tractor. They put a swivel seat on it, lower the centre of gravity, and charge the earth. I was curious what you chose.
@@matthewhayes7765 Hi Matthew. We got the Carraro 4400 in the end. Got a used one with Turf tyres and saved quite a bit of money. Put on Agricultural tyres and filled with water. It has plenty of power, even for our overgrown kikuyu grass and weeds as high as the bonnet (hood). Goes everywhere except for a couple of places where there is loose soil stopping traction.
@@RaymondToms great stuff! Thanks for the reply. Out of interest, what size flail do you run on it? Since this has similar power to a out front mower (like farmertorque's) are you running a 1.6m cut, or bigger like a 1.8? If you don't know, don't stress it. I'm just curious
@@matthewhayes7765 I am running a 1.8, but with ‘lawn’ flails, not the heavier brush flails.
Is there a reason for a 1.5m flail vs 1.8 etc. looking at front mowers Great vid THANKS
Ive no experience I'm afraid but you definitely wouldn't want anything heavier than the 1.5 - hope that helps
and what do you think ist the max inclination it could handle with 4 good tyres
Because ground is so variable it’s tricky to say in figures however with good traction tyres and in dry conditions much steeper than a normal tractor - but there is always a risk of course - all depends how it’s driven
I could not help but notice you felt confident not to raise your mowers roll over frame for working the slopes
Hi Martyn, good reason for that - even at the folded height it would be enough to stop it rolling, but it has such a low centre of gravity that is extremely unlikely - obviously I wouldn’t want that to happen .
Much more worrying though is when it’s raised there would be a serious risk of cracking my skull open on the frame even in a modest incident .
No easy answer I’m afraid.
It’s a job only I would do though.
All the best, Farmer
Hey mate what’s the steepest incline you do with it? 20% or would it cope with steeper stuff too?
Probably 30/35 degrees- tricky to measure but lot more than 20 👍
If the hills are a litte more rough from cow grazing, do you think this machine could handle it too? Thank you for advice
The fields in the video are tougher than they look Frank so I’d say yes, should be ok, not ideal though
@@FarmerTorque thank you very much... i now think about buying a f3680 with 1000 hours on the clock...with luck a kubota should be good for some more 1000 hours
Hiya farmer torque. Im curious, do you still miw this hill and do you still do it in the same fahsion, same machine and flail? I'd really live to know
Yes, same way 😊👍
@@FarmerTorque I wondered how you go on with that Wessex flail? I regularly use a Muthing on a Shibaura out front mower for a man. And it gets through roller bearings and so on, often. But it is doing commercial work. Verges, playing fields and so on. Anyway, I was just curious how you were getting on with the Wessex, it's a nice piece of kit 👍
We have steep slopes on the estate i work at. Estate manager pays a guy on a reform machine 600 quid a day and says "theres absolutely no other machine that can cut these slopes". Ok sure, whatever.
Side note, you had any problems with that Kubota? I heard the larger engines arent as reliable.
Hi Peter, no problems so far but its only 15 years old !!!!
Nice
Thank you 🙏
How does that set up with the flail go through really thick/long grass like in a paddock that hasn’t been knocked down for a couple of years? Does the flail big down way more than a slasher/topper would on a similarly powerful tractor?
Two years is a big ask, so tricky to answer - but a flail will always do a better job than a topper
@@FarmerTorque It sure will do a nicer job, but I'm wondering if a slasher/topper/mulcher mounted on the front like the Major Cyclone with get through the big stuff much easier using less HP. For me it is less about the look and more about getting it knocked down.
Farmer, video never does justice to slopes but even from the film I can see that takes some nerve to cut. Could you ride the Scrambler up there on a dry day or not?(Please don't do it to prove a point, just asking!)
Your spot on - I have mixed feelings doing the job, it’s a real challenge so quite exciting but frigging hairy at times.
I’m sure the scrambler would make it with a skilled rider but would make a right mess of the grass!
I have some gentle, suitably embarrassing footage of riding the Scrambler round the farm - maybe I’ll edit 😳 Cheers
@@FarmerTorque Hah, hah! No more embarrassing than a video of me riding around my land would be I am sure!
That 8 Wheeler dose look very Cool. Is there a reason that you need to"top" as opposed to letting the sheep eat the grass?
Yes Phil, Bit like is humans animals can be rather fussy eaters!
Constant battle against bracken, gorse and brambles.
Ho hum......
To make it look good enough to impress your friends when they visit for a game of bridge
Hello what's that machine you use to top ? Thanks
I do say in the vid! Kubota 3680 + Wessex flail
Checkerboard cut it :)
steep hills & grass? in my opinion small and lower is the way to go to not ruin the pasture and to do the job safely. the kubota is a wise choice
Does seem that way Aldo - although still had one or two 'moments' !!!!
Not going to live long with that rops in that position
Have to disagree Scott - firstly the machine is exceptionally stable - secondly in upright position the roll frame is dangerously close to my head - ultimately though nothing is without risk on steep ground
@@FarmerTorque yeah it's close to your head but it's engineered to withstand a rollover and keep the operator safe if they are wearing a seatbelt. Yeah I agree there's plenty of risks mowing steep hills, I live in Eastern Kentucky where we keep mountains mowed and our property is no joke. I have a few videos posted also
Folded ROPS and I didn't see a seatbelt in use. It's beautiful ground I hope you manage to stay alive 🤨😐
I’ve answered this already but firstly it’s an extremely badly designed ROPS and is inches from my head so a serious head injury is highly likely - even a minor bang against the solid bar would have dire consequences - in the halfway position it would still stop 99 per cent of rolls
With the flail on its has an extremely low centre of gravity so to get it to roll anyway would take some doing
Lastly re the seatbelt, yes I’d like to stay alive - I’d like to be able to jump off in an emergency
With the frame up being strapped in would concern me greatly
My choice of course, but there is logic behind it
Lastly, thanks for watching 👍
@@FarmerTorque 10-4 🙄
If the ROPS are down the Manual actually says to not use the seat belt so you can jump off