Advice on this hay cutter, please.

   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #1  

EddieWalker

Epic Contributor
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
25,144
Location
Tyler, Texas
Tractor
Several, all used and abused.
I saw this ad on Craigslist today and was hoping somebody would recognize it and tell me something about it.

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/grd/405835196.html

I have a 35 hp Century 4x4 CUT tractor that I do all my mowing with. I don't have any hay, nor plan on ever having any hay. I do have two ponds that I have to mow around and can only get so close before sinking to my axles along the shoreline.

My thought was that something like this might be able to cut my shoreline while allowing me to keep the tractor far enough away from the waters edge to not get stuck. For $400, it's a very cheap solution to a very big problem.

Thanks,
Eddie
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #2  
Hi Eddie, my main concern would be the gear box.Do you know what brand the mower is?If you Know the brand you can get a heads up on parts cost and availability. I run a New Idea 3206,skid shoes are reasonable but a gear box (bare box no gears or bearings) is $1,300!! Good Luck
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #3  
Looks like a Kuhn, but like rusty says, the gear boxes on these will kill your pocketbook.
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #4  
I recently purchased a Bush Hog DM90 (9 foot) similar to this. If it works and all you really need is new blades and maybe a few disc bearings it would be worth the money. I had to buy a new gearbox for mine but I figured worse case when I bought it. A new 9 foot unit of any quality is $9K and up and I have $2K in mine with a new assembled gearbox, new drive bearings, new belts, blades, refaced turtle covers, new safety covers, and a new 10 ounce tarp for a cover. A new Bush Hog curtain was $500. After pricing all the parts to rebuild my gearbox, I was able to buy a new complete assembly for $900.

I am not familiar with your tractor but be aware these things put a lot of side weight on a tractor. Even my 72 and 82 HP tractors know this 9 footer is out there. I would be real careful using a mower like this on smaller tractors especially on side hills.
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #5  
Eddie, I agree with Purple. Using these types of mowers along ditches and ponds can be a quick way to taking a bath with a small tractor. On perfectly flat ground they are fine but if you hit a sink hole with the right rear tire while mowing the slope along the pond it might get ugly in a hurry.

A sickle bar mower would be a better option as it doesn't way as much but does the same thing and is generally cheaper to repair.
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #6  
I think that thing would put a little tractor on it's side if you tried to lift it while on any sort of side slope.

I would probably look for a sickle bar mower which does the same job and would be much easier to control.
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #7  
Looks too heavy to be hanging on the low side of a tractor as it goes around a pond on a slope. I have a brand new haymaster drum mower that is similar in width as that one, and probably lighter in weight at 1,000 lbs, and those pond banks would have to be darn near flat, and completely dry, before I'd attempt to mow 'em. These type mowers turn real easy to the right, and as for left turns, ever hear the country song "Give me 40 acres..."?:D :D
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please. #8  
Eddie,
Look for a non-pittman armed sicklebar cutter. The slow moving (relatively) back and forth action of the cutter is fine, you run it in the water to get at growth that is out in the water too.

I recommend at least a 7 footer.
 
   / Advice on this hay cutter, please.
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Thanks everyone. It was just an idea that came to me when I saw the ad. He replied to my email and said he runs it on his 80hp tractor and didn't think mine was even close to big enough. He said he thought it was a New Holland, but wasn't sure.

I'll keep my eyes open, sooner or later, the ideal bank mower will turn up.

Eddie
 
 
 
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