Sickle Bar More sickle bar mower questions

   / More sickle bar mower questions #1  

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I mentioned in a previous thread that I would like to be able to use a sickle mower in the upright position to cut back a 1500' hedgerow and also use to cut some haygrass. I have looked at various models. Some are 3 pt, some have tires. One is a Gribaldi 7' model here:

NEW 7' Gribaldi & Salvia Superior 394 Sickle Bar Mower WARRANTY

The other is a pull type NH455 shown here: New Holland 7' pull sickle 455 Mowers for sale at Wengers of Myerstown

I have asked the dealer about the NH455 mowing in the vertical position. They said it would do it, but "it won't stay secure" in the vertical position? and "you would have to rig up a bracket" to hold it vertical, yet the pictures show it past the vertical position.
I don't understand this because if it has a hydraulic lift and belt drive, wouldn't it just be raised until it's vertical, then turn the PTO on and begin cutting?

Am I misunderstanding something? Is it something involving the spring that won't allow it to cut vertical?

Does anyone know of a model that meets the need for vertical/horizontal cutting?

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.
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions #2  
I had a friend over the other day who expressed some interest in an old John Deere sicklebar mower I have out back. He deduced that it would not cut in a vertical mode, which is what he also was after. Double check the mowers, maybe have them demo them before laying down your hard earned money.
David from jax
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I had a friend over the other day who expressed some interest in an old John Deere sicklebar mower I have out back. He deduced that it would not cut in a vertical mode, which is what he also was after. Double check the mowers, maybe have them demo them before laying down your hard earned money.
David from jax

Thanks. Everything I'm hearing is pointing to "no" the NH455 will not cut vertical. :(

But I don't yet know about the Gribaldi.
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions #4  
The primary thing that works against vertical mowing is the stuff to be cut itself. Compare to grass which is held secure by the soil within several inches of the cut. The hedgerow will "give", yield to the drag of the cutterbar, resulting in an irregular, untrimmed appearance. I've tried mowing along my lane in this fashion and not had good results owing to the light limbs tending to move with the cutterbar so the twigs and leaves tend to strip through rather than be cut.
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Check out the Befco http://www.befco.com/products/hayequipment/sicklebar

They can cut 90 degrees up and 75 degrees down. They are nice and some day I will have one to mow around my ponds and ditches along with the edges of the fields.

That's great. Just what I want. Any idea of cost?

I'll have to see if I can find a used one.

On edit: YEOUCH! expensive! :eek:

I'd have to live at the end of a long concrete driveway to buy one new! :(
 
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   / More sickle bar mower questions
  • Thread Starter
#7  
The primary thing that works against vertical mowing is the stuff to be cut itself. Compare to grass which is held secure by the soil within several inches of the cut. The hedgerow will "give", yield to the drag of the cutterbar, resulting in an irregular, untrimmed appearance. I've tried mowing along my lane in this fashion and not had good results owing to the light limbs tending to move with the cutterbar so the twigs and leaves tend to strip through rather than be cut.

That's good to know.

What's the max diameter of material a sickle can cut? 1/2"?
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions #8  
I have a NH 451 sickle mower (3pt vs trailer type). I suspect the hydraulic lift on the 455 refers to lifting the sickle bar off the ground during operation; generally 12" at the base and 3 or 4 ft at the end. You have to manually fold the sickle bar back for transport. To achieve operation at a 90 degree position you would have to create some sort of bracket to hold the sickle bar there. If such a bracket was built, the 455 would operate in the 90 degree position. I have cut branches up to an inch with my mower.

OrangeGuy
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions #9  
I have used disc mowers that would do what you are asking, but they are more expensive and a lots heavier. I have been looking @ a samurai sickle to use around the pond and in a few ditches but I have not heard any feed back from anyone that has purchased one.
Sabre Samurai | Features
 
   / More sickle bar mower questions #10  
Good green saplings up to 2" at low ground speed just to make sure the cutter bar doesn't pull them out. It's the hardness that works against a sickle more than the thickness. The diameter limitation relates to the spacing of the rockguards (fingers) and what will fit between the ledger plates.
 
 
 
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