hay mowers

   / hay mowers #1  

barticus73

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2002
Messages
210
Location
Clarksburg, Pa(Between Indiana and Saltsburg Pa)
Tractor
Cub Cadet 7272,Farmall 544
Hi,

I do about 20 acres per cutting of hay and am ready to take a torch to my old sicklebar mower. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Soooooo, I am now in the market for a new mower. What I want to hear from you guys is which you would prefer, a brand new disc mower vs a new 7 foot haybine. I no a haybine has crimping action built in but leaving that aspect out which is a better option. I figure for as little as I do I can buy a separate crimper and go over the field again. I have been looking on the SweetTractor website at the FORT model disc mowers. I have a 50 or so hp Farmall 544 that I will be using the mower on. The one in this hp range is less than $4000. I haven't priced a new 7' haybine but I am guessing over $10k. So price is a big consideration. Does anyone have expirience with these fort mowers? How do they compare with other brand disc mowers? So, which mower would be best for my small hay making operation. BTW, my hay is timothy/brome grass mix in western Pa. Also, can you still buy crimpers new or are thay stricly used implements nowadays. I am looking to make this purchase in the next couple of weeks here so any input is greatly appriciated.

Thanx,
Jerry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / hay mowers #2  
Hello Jerry--Glad you are considering one of our disc mowers--For that acreage, You may consider the New D&T double action sickle mower with hydraulic lift on blade. Available in 6-7-8 ft cut--in the $2000-$2500 range??--Our customers are saying they can mow with Disc Mowers in most field conditions--(These New mowers are not like Grandpaps old sickle mower!!)---Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Hay Equipment Specialists*
 
   / hay mowers #3  
I know how you feel!! I'm sick of cutting my hay with my sicklebar mower also!!! But right now, I can't afford anything better.

I don't have a disk mower or a haybine, but almost all of my neighbors are full time farmers, and they've told me that disk mowers need less maintenance and cut better. If you can afford it, don't forget, they also make discbines. I'd sure like to have the money to afford one of those!!!!
 
   / hay mowers #4  
Disk mowers are the way to go.. most farmers have switched from the sickle mower to the disk mowers for several reasons.. as said.. easier to maintain.. the cut is better.. doesn't jam up like sickle mowers.. and does a better job cutting hay/wheat etc that it is laying down. Some also have the ability to spread out the material for drying.. or hill up the material for bailing. As far as the crimping feature.. it's usually describe as a mower-conditioner.. this crushes the grass/alfafa stalks and allows for faster drying. Some farmers just get the mower.. and use a bailer that's capable of of bailing (%50 or more moisture content).. then plastic wrap it for silage. In "Agriculture Online" news.. I believe they stated that last year was the first year that disk mowers out sold sicklebar mowers. Hope this help.. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
   / hay mowers #5  
The double action sickle mowers are a huge improvement over the old single action models. You can still jam them up but nowhere near as often as the old mowers. I realize disc mowers are the latest and greatest that is until you have to repair them. Maybe the newer models are better but some of the older ones were expensive to fix.
 
   / hay mowers #6  
My disc mower both cuts and crimps. I can tell you from having a sickle bar mower there is no comparison. You can cut day or night. Dry or wet. Any conditions and you don't have to worry about plugging. Takes about 2 minutes to replace any of the knives. You couldn't convince me to go back to a sickle bar mower.
 
   / hay mowers #7  
Just a few differences pro et contra disk mowers vs. double movement sickle bar mowers:
1. Disk mowers, like all rotary mowers, need constant, high speed for quality mow, and need big power to run disks fast. That means that you will need to run engine high for all time (to achieve 540 rpm).
That means you will need to engage full power tractor and you will have big fuel consumption. Also you need powerful tractor, not small CUT.
2. Double movement sickle bars are not sensitive to tractor rpm, and don't need big power. Just less acreage mowed with smaller tractor.
3. Disk mowers are heavy - you will need heavy tractor.
4. For sickle bars, small, light tractor (25HP or so) will be enough.
5. Double sickle bars can cut in +90 to -45 (sometimes -75, depends on manufacturer) degrees from horizontal.
6. Less dirt in mowed grass compare to disk mower.
7. Less dust during mowing with sickle bar.
8. And biggest advantage: sickle bar mower CUT GRASS LIKE SCISSORS, grass will have less stress and will grow faster, compare to rotary cutters (any type) which tear off grass.
9. Double movement sickle bar mowers are cheaper than disk mowers.
10. Disk mowers are faster
11. Disk mowers are easier to maintain, haven't friction parts, and cheaper to repair (not mean changing gears and bearings), because sickle bars have two (expensive) wear parts to replace.
12. Less risk when buy used disk mower (usually need to change oil and replace blades), than sickle bars which usually need rebuild (from own experience - I have lateral mounted single mow sickle bar mower, not 3 pt).

Hope this helps.

Gaspardo
G&S
BCS
Busatis
 
   / hay mowers #8  
165%20DRUM%20MOWER.JPG

New CCM Drum mowers are $1,800 and the most durable of any mower on the market.
 
   / hay mowers #9  
Mark.. do you have the pto hp requirements & other spec information? Thankyou! Ken
 
 
 
Top