RE: (ET) E12M/E12

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

Tractors designed for front mount ONLY have a short wheelbase.
Tractors designed for ANY mid mount have a long wheelbase.
Without a short wheelbase, a front mower will not have a good cutting 
radius.

Because of the position of the front mower with respect to the back tires, 
the size tree you can cut around with a front mower is larger than a mid 
mount 
mower.  This is NOT the same as the turning radius.  If you have used 
both, 
you probably have experienced this.  At first it sounds wrong, but an E12M 
with 
a belly mower can cut around a 30" or so object with no grass left.  Even 
though 
an E12 has a shorter turning radius, it can only cut around a 45" or so 
object 
with no grass left.  Your front and rear tire tracks are well withing the 
uncut 
area.  I know this sounds odd, but this is the way it works.

Front mount is much easier to put on, sharpen blades, and can cut under 
shrubs.  
You can leave grass much higher with front mount; I can cut OVER 
strawberry plants 
without hurting them for example.
I've not seen a mid mount with an electric lift, nor do I believe one was 
made.

Larry Elie