Sickle Bar More sickle bar mower questions

[Builder]

Interesting. That Befco mower looks a lot like my old MF 41 sicklebar.

View attachment 139501

The manual says that the cutting angle is "unlimited". However, I mow hay, not hedges, so I've never tried it with the cutter vertical.

Hey, I like that sickle, Flusher. There's one available near me for $975. If it mows vertical, it's for me.

Think I should jump on it, Flusher? If your's is hooked up and not too much trouble, can you see if it'll run in vertical?

Does your's adjust with a hydraulic cylinder?

 

[Neil L]

This has been informative, but has any one put a cylinder on an IH 1300?
Is it an option? can you get to 30* down? Thanks, Neil

 

[40_acre_mule]

I've been running the Befco for about two years now. The teeth move, but the fingers don't. I trim along 4 miles worth of walking trails with the bar in the vertical. This thing will cut through branches and saplings up to 1 1/2 inches easily as long as you are not in a hurry. It will also cut through branches and saplings a little over 2 inches if you're willing to sit there and let it gnaw for a minute. I think it leaves a pretty good, smooth cut (YMMV). I also cut around the edges of my 2 acre pond. It seems pretty heavy duty to me.
It was a little pricey. $5000 installed with the extra hydraulic lift kit, but I expect to use it on these trails for the next 40 years. That works out to $125 a year (assuming it lasts that long). Well worth it in my book. Befco also sent a complete, extra tooth bar.
I got the 7 footer. I've got more reach than I need in most places. Also, with the 3ph all the way up, I can easily cut branches over my canopy. My 45 hp Kubota handles it easily. In cutting hay, it works fine. You do have to be VERY patient. If you go too fast, it will bind up.
I'm happy with the Befco.

 

[Builder]

I've been running the Befco for about two years now. The teeth move, but the fingers don't. I trim along 4 miles worth of walking trails with the bar in the vertical. This thing will cut through branches and saplings up to 1 1/2 inches easily as long as you are not in a hurry. It will also cut through branches and saplings a little over 2 inches if you're willing to sit there and let it gnaw for a minute. I think it leaves a pretty good, smooth cut (YMMV). I also cut around the edges of my 2 acre pond. It seems pretty heavy duty to me.
It was a little pricey. $5000 installed with the extra hydraulic lift kit, but I expect to use it on these trails for the next 40 years. That works out to $125 a year (assuming it lasts that long). Well worth it in my book. Befco also sent a complete, extra tooth bar.
I got the 7 footer. I've got more reach than I need in most places. Also, with the 3ph all the way up, I can easily cut branches over my canopy. My 45 hp Kubota handles it easily. In cutting hay, it works fine. You do have to be VERY patient. If you go too fast, it will bind up.
I'm happy with the Befco.

Can you expand on that a little? You mean when cutting hay it will bind up? Seems like that would be the one time you could go fast.

When you say "the extra hydraulic lift", do you mean the lift cylinder? Or is there an additional hydraulic adjustment?

Thanks for the great write-up. It really helps to know that you can cut branches that thick.

 

[40_acre_mule]

Can you expand on that a little? You mean when cutting hay it will bind up? Seems like that would be the one time you could go fast.

When you say "the extra hydraulic lift", do you mean the lift cylinder? Or is there an additional hydraulic adjustment?

Thanks for the great write-up. It really helps to know that you can cut branches that thick.

It binds up on both grass and on branches if you go too fast. I only run in 1st gear with this mower. I was a little surprised that it would clog up on the grasses. I don't normally use it for hay mowing, so it has been a while since I tried it. I may have had the bar set too high. It might work better with the bar close to the ground. I also don't remember if I used it on the grass (Bahaia [sp] grass mostly) before or after I cut a bunch of branches. It may have been dull. I bought this thing specifically to use as a giant hedge trimmer. In that regard, it does exactly what I hoped it would. I use it to cut back the tree branches, vines, briars, and other undergrowth that start to protrude into the walking path that winds around my property. I actually make two passes. The 1st is with the bar set at a 45 degree angle and the 3ph in the lowest position. That gets any saplings and bushes starting to grow right at the edge, plus briars and branches that arch out into the path. Then I go around with the bar straight up and the 3ph in the highest position. That gets all the overhanging branches that stick out from about belly high to two feet above my canopy/rollbar. You know, the ones that smack you in the face while you are running the bushhog along the edge of the treeline. I also use it to trim the trees in the middle of the fields. This thing can do in one day what it would take me a week or more to do by hand (with loppers, chainsaw, machete, brushcutter).
As for the hydraulics....the "hydraulic lift kit", with the cylinder, comes standard on the mower. I was thinking of the rear remote controls and connectors I had to install on my tractor. I just worded it poorly.

 

[Builder]

Perfect, thanks!

 

[st96badboy]

I really like the used NH 455 over the Gribaldi. It fits my budget and it's heavy American steel. I just can't seem to get a 100% straight answer as to if/why it will/won't cut vertical.

Thanks.

Sorry to bring back such an old thread. But I had this same question. Now I have the answer in case someone else is looking. I based my even looking at one on Orangeguys reply.
Answer: The NH455 has a hydraulic cylinder that pulls a cable to lift the sickle. It goes up.. but not vertical. You can push it by hand vertical then it will fall to the folded in position. I made a 6' "bolt on" diagonal brace to hold it up vertical. It works fine in that position. I thought about doing it with a hydraulic cylinder so I can choose my angle but have not yet. Vertical cutter cost me $410.00 total including the new belt I bought.
Pros:Cheap,The 455 is heavy duty for sure,cuts 1 1/2"or bigger.Cuts the heck out of pine trees. Can go for hours/miles.
Cons: Branches wil eventually stack up on the trailer and I stop and unload it. Misses the bottom 10" and branches that are near vertical.

 

[vainva]

I've been running the Befco for about two years now. The teeth move, but the fingers don't. I trim along 4 miles worth of walking trails with the bar in the vertical. This thing will cut through branches and saplings up to 1 1/2 inches easily as long as you are not in a hurry. It will also cut through branches and saplings a little over 2 inches if you're willing to sit there and let it gnaw for a minute. I think it leaves a pretty good, smooth cut (YMMV). I also cut around the edges of my 2 acre pond. It seems pretty heavy duty to me.
It was a little pricey. $5000 installed with the extra hydraulic lift kit, but I expect to use it on these trails for the next 40 years. That works out to $125 a year (assuming it lasts that long). Well worth it in my book. Befco also sent a complete, extra tooth bar.
I got the 7 footer. I've got more reach than I need in most places. Also, with the 3ph all the way up, I can easily cut branches over my canopy. My 45 hp Kubota handles it easily. In cutting hay, it works fine. You do have to be VERY patient. If you go too fast, it will bind up.
I'm happy with the Befco.

40 Acre Mule, Are you still happy with the Befco sickle bar mower for brush trimming? Any new advances since 2005? We are looking to do the same kind of work on our farm. 500 acres, lots of roadside, pond and pasture maintenance with brambles, alders, small VA pine, am sick and tired of getting whacked with branches backing in and out in tight and wet ditches and places with a big bush hog. A heavy duty sickle bar looks like the way to go. Are the Befco blades bolted or riveted on? Serrated or plain? Belt driven or pitman arm? Breakaway? Sorry - I'll go to the web site for those technical things. What are maintenance chores like? I will be the mommy (re: maintenance and repair) for the sickle bar. We never have run any sickle bar mowers and am wondering about work on them. I may be a grandma, but AM mechanically inclined!
vainva

 

[mekongrabbit]

I am new to this site and this is my first post. I also live in the Southeast (SC) and agree that there seems to be a scarcity of used hay equipment. I have a Massey Ferguson 41 sickle mower that is pretty worn. A bolt attaches the knife head to the center lever of the drive unit. Although I use a grade 7 bolt, I have had problems with the bolt shearing. (In fact, that is the case now.) I am thinking of buying a new Frontier SB 1107. Does anyone have experience with this model?

I hate to spend $4,000 or better, but I'm tired of having breakdowns in the middle of a cutting. My field (coastal) is only 9 acres so it's hard to justify spending a lot of money. Used mowers like the JD 350 are $1,500 and up (if you can find them) and I'm wary of getting something that is worn out.

 

[mekongrabbit]

I've used 3 point equipment for many years but never anything with an hydraulic hook-up. I just bought a Frontier SB 3107 sickle that I would like to have the option of using with either my New Holland TN 65 or John Deere 4400. The coupling from the sickle fits the NH TN 65 but is too large for the JD 4400. It seems to me that I should be able to purchase an adapter (larger female end for the sickle coupling and smaller male end to fit the valve on my 4400). I have not yet looked but there are likely different diameter adapters. Is there anyone who knows what size adapter I will need? I appreciate any help.