Mowing lawn. Bucket on or off?

VT_Kubota

Member

Equipment
B2650
Dec 7, 2020
42
19
8
Vermont
vthomesource.com
I ordered a 5' Bush Hog finish mower for my B2650 in February. It was finally shipped out last week, so I should have it soon!

For those of you that have a bucket on your tractor and also use your tractor for mowing your lawn:
Do you (a) remove the entire loader, (b) remove the bucket only, or (c) keep the bucket and loader on the tractor when you mow your lawn?

I understand the benefits of less weight and easier maneuverability around buildings and objects with the entire loader off the tractor, but I'm just curious about what others usually do.
 
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BAP

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
Dec 31, 2012
2,534
672
113
New Hampshire
I mow with my B2920 with 60”mmm. I take my loader of when mowing to make tractor lighter and more maneuverable in tight places. It also rides better without the loader bouncing.
 
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RCW

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,420
4,070
113
Chenango County, NY
Like BAP, I mow without the loader for same reasons. My BX doesn't have a SSQA bucket.

If I had an SSQA bucket, I'd definitely try it with just the bucket off.
 
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Goz63

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Equipment
Kubota L2501, LA525 loader, QH15,Land Pride RCR1860, BB2560, SGC0660, forks
Jun 19, 2021
299
349
63
Mississippi
I don’t use my rotary cutter for the lawn. I use a zero turn. I use the rotary cutter on the pasture. I leave the bucket on. I just lift it up to get tighter to fences etc. No issues.
 
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johnjk

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
B3200 w/loader, Woods RC5 brush hog, 4' box blade, tooth bar, B1700 MMM,
Apr 13, 2017
1,289
903
113
West Mansfield, OH
I leave my FEL on my B3200 when I brush hog with my Woods RC5. If I am in the fields, I can use my tooth bar to rip out saplings before they drag under the B so I don’t rip up anything and I’m not leaving sharp stumps to catch a tire on later. I also like having the ability to use the FEL as a possible extraction device. I’ve gotten in to areas that look ok but quickly get mired due to not having 4wd engaged or uneaven ground getting the B off balance. I love being able to use the bucket to help level and extract me from my stupidity
 
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rkidd

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2650, FEL With QA 60"mmm, 3pt FDR1672,homemade ballast box, BB 1572 box scraper
Dec 7, 2015
743
67
28
Jefferson Ohio
I do the same as Bap and Rcw with my B2650 and 60" mmm. I take the loader completely off to be more manuerverable and definitely rides much better that way.
 
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skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,190
2,852
113
SW Pa
OFF I dont know about your ground but I find that with it off the machine is more maneuverable and less tippy feeling on the hills. Flat areas no worries plus you dont have to worry about hitting something you had not intended to with the bucket
 
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SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
926
113
SE, IN
I ordered a 5' Bush Hog finish mower for my B2650 in February. It was finally shipped out last week, so I should have it soon!

For those of you that have a bucket on your tractor and also use your tractor for mowing your lawn:
Do you (a) remove the entire loader, (b) remove the bucket only, or (c) keep the bucket and loader on the tractor when you mow your lawn?

I understand the benefits of less weight and easier maneuverability around buildings and objects with the entire loader off the tractor, but I'm just curious about what others usually do.
Remove the entire FEL to increase maneuverability and reduce weight.

SDT
 
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ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,328
335
83
Canada
Guess it would depend on your ground, but I mow with my loader on. Comes in handy every time I have to stop and pick tree limbs and branches up.
My lawns are hard ground so the weight doesn't hurt anything.
 
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shelkol

Active member

Equipment
bx-2200, Woods BH6000 backhoe, Tach-N-Go quick attach bucket, snow blower
Nov 12, 2015
183
137
43
Westford, Massachusetts
shelkol.com
I leave the loader arms on but take the bucket off. Less work to just remove the bucket and still somewhat maneuverable.
 
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Crash277

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S
Jan 17, 2021
846
622
93
Canada
I leave the loader arms on but take the bucket off. Less work to just remove the bucket and still somewhat maneuverable.

thats what i have started doing as well. mostly because my yard is wet and even just walking on some parts leaves footprints.. so the less weight the better.
 
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i7win7

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Equipment
BX2370, B2650 grapple, tree puller, trailer mover, 3 point hoist, mower, tiller
Feb 21, 2020
3,252
3,781
113
Central, IL
BX w/mmm, I leave bucket on. Small front wheels & extra weight makes finding potholes in lawn easy. When butt returns to seat, shut off mower deck, drive over to your "spare dirt" pile and scoop up some fill material. After dumping and smoothing with bucket, re-engage mower and search for next pothole.
 
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orange crusher

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2680
Sep 30, 2017
356
479
63
ontario canada
BX w/mmm, I leave bucket on. Small front wheels & extra weight makes finding potholes in lawn easy. When butt returns to seat, shut off mower deck, drive over to your "spare dirt" pile and scoop up some fill material. After dumping and smoothing with bucket, re-engage mower and search for next pothole.

Sounds like you completed municipal public works training at some point.......LOL
 

S-G-R

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
LX3310, LA535, rear remotes, third function, R14's
Jun 17, 2020
921
1,660
93
PEI Canada
I have never had the loader off in a year but do remove the bucket when I mow.
 
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dlsmith

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2230, LA211
Nov 15, 2018
1,197
715
113
Goshen, IN
I only ever took the loader off my BX once, just to see how it was done. I leave it on for mowing, as it's really handy to stop and trim trees with low hanging branches and toss them in the bucket. Comes in handy when picking up trash along the road opposite the house when I mow that area. Effing litterbugs tick me off. :devilish:
 
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michigander

Active member

Equipment
B2601
May 29, 2018
547
234
43
Northern Michigan
Loader off , I've tried it with just bucket off for a few minutes.

Loader off so much faster moving around :)
Spring 2020 to spring 2021 I went a year with loader off lol
 
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