I could really use your unbiased opinion

[Tankman]

What is your lawn service using?

[Sam Mac]

I can see this turning into one of those "Well I missed it" deals. Just keep waiting till someone else get's it.

[64fleetside]

If it is like CL around here its gone if you wait.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by 64fleetside

If it is like CL around here its gone if you wait.

Yep snooze you loose.

[Mike McKown]

I think in the Cub owner's manual, it tells you to not mow across any more that a 15* slope. I mow three different yards with a Cyclops and a lot of the three yards have slopes that are at least twice that steep. Have I checked the slope degrees for accuracy? No, but to quantify the steepness, if you don't get on the fender, you can't stay in the seat. Also, if the grass is damp, the tractor will sometimes scoot downhill while mowing across a steep slope. That defines how steep it is.

I have also mowed going up the slope to the point that the front wheels came off the ground on an 1864. Same slope with 1862, that doesn't happen because I guess the Magnum engine is heavier than the Command?

All cases above are with turf tires, not ags.

PS. I'm not advising the OP or ANYONE to do what I do, just that that is my experience. If you buy the Cyclops in the CL ad, you'll throw the rest of your grass cutting stuff away. Too bad though it's not an 1864 though.



PSS. My opinion could be biased as I've never tried the Gravely being shown here. Don't think I want to.

[Sam Mac]

Let me put it this way, 1864 last of the best GT's, 2284 last of the best Supers. I made a mistake when I sold my 2284 to CAD but I know it's in good hands. After that we got the true MTD stuff. Both the 1864 and 2284 have CH power and the sound is like a Harley. When you put a load on them it is music to the ears. They just grunt and get it done.

[CADplans]

Originally Posted by Mike McKown

PSS. My opinion could be biased as I've never tried the Gravely being shown here. Don't think I want to.

The Gravely shown earlier is basically a gear drive version of half of a Steiner (VenTrac, whatever) I have never seen a better hill machine than a Ventrac.

A local college mows a VERY steep hill with a Ventrac, the operator does not even do the "seat slide" or anything,,,

I have considered the Ventrac as a replacement if my 24G Gravely ever dies, but, I am now pretty set on the full size JD, it will be a big-un,,,

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

Let me put it this way, 1864 last of the best GT's, 2284 last of the best Supers. I made a mistake when I sold my 2284 to CAD but I know it's in good hands. After that we got the true MTD stuff. Both the 1864 and 2284 have CH power and the sound is like a Harley. When you put a load on them it is music to the ears. They just grunt and get it done.

I purchased the 2284 simply because of the sound, it makes garden work, well, just fun!!



The 2284 will never mow, I learned with the 1872 that the size of the machine is wrong for my mowing duties,,,

[Sam Mac]

Big John

I know you don't use that 2284 to cut with but all I can say is when that Bad Boy hit some nice dense 12" tall grass the sound was just awesome, that Big Dog could pull a 60" Haban like it wasn't even there. The pic is of CAD's 2284 before he bought it. John if you ever want to sell it I get first shot.

[olds45512]

My friend has a very steep yard( so steep its scary to walk up ) and there were several times he was mowing and almost flipped or the tractor slid down the hill, I was finally able to talk him into loaded tires and 2 link vbar chains and he hasn't had a problem since. He found some wheel weights on clist to add even more weight, all the extra weight brought the center of gravity down considerably and the chains prevent it from sliding and they don't chew up the yard at all since they never spin.

[Mike McKown]

Steep grades? I will only add that if you continually skate on thin ice, sooner or later, you're going to break through.