I did look at the First Choice 2070, but it calls for a minimum of 65 HP. I downloaded the manual on the 280 and then went to the Lely website. They pointed me to the Vermeer website. Is the Hay Maxx mower the same mower as the Vermeer? The reason I ask is, I have a Case-IH dealer right up the road from me that sells Vermeer. He has good prices on tractors and parts, but is way high on any attachment. For example, I saved $150 on a simple Herd M-96 seeder by driving an extra 30 miles further to a John Deere Dealer. And he wanted an additional $50 to put the seeder together. The money I saved on the CCM tiller over the dealers around here was more than enough to pay for the seeder. But if the parts on the mowers are the same…..
Questions on Disk Mowers
- Thread starter tkcomer
- Start date
Well I was at a dealer today looking for a FEL. They actually had a disc mower on site. The first time I was able to look at one up close. A New Idea 3408, 7’10” model. My gosh that thing looks huge. Quoted a price of $7500. And when I mentioned the 9-foot model, they said they didn’t think my tractor could handle it. I mentioned the 45 HP requirement for the 9 footer, they said my tractor would be very tipsy on a slight hillside and didn’t recommend it. Just how heavy are those cutter bars? The majority of the weight seems to be behind the tractor. I’ll definitely have to move the right tire all the way in to run one. I also noticed only one hydraulic line going to the cylinder. I’m guessing you use the float position to let it back down. This future purchase is starting to make me nervous.
TN75Jason
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2005
- Messages
- 40
- Location
- Senoia, GA
- Tractor
- TN75D, TC40, TN75D 4WD, 3930, LS180, Farmall Super M, Farmall Super A
TK,
I would recommend that you purchase a good used disc mower. I finally bought my first disc mower about 3 years ago. It was a 6 disc, 7' - 10" NH (260 model, I believe) and I ran it on an open station Case 485 (42 HP). The Case is a pretty heavy tractor and yours is somewhat heavier. No problems on hilly land at all. My hay fields are clean, but I wore sunglasses or safety glasses to ensure that nothing hit me in the eye because they will sling junk occasionally. It will cut wet grass, downed grass, giant wet anthills, etc. - all at a higher ground speed than the sickle. It will make you wonder how you ever got by with a sickle mower. I still have my NH 451 sickle, but never use it.
Of course, if your usage can justify a new one, go that route. When I bought my first one, I didn't know anything about them and ended up having to rebuild most of it. After that, I wasn't afraid of them anymore and have cut wide open ever since with no problems.
I would recommend that you purchase a good used disc mower. I finally bought my first disc mower about 3 years ago. It was a 6 disc, 7' - 10" NH (260 model, I believe) and I ran it on an open station Case 485 (42 HP). The Case is a pretty heavy tractor and yours is somewhat heavier. No problems on hilly land at all. My hay fields are clean, but I wore sunglasses or safety glasses to ensure that nothing hit me in the eye because they will sling junk occasionally. It will cut wet grass, downed grass, giant wet anthills, etc. - all at a higher ground speed than the sickle. It will make you wonder how you ever got by with a sickle mower. I still have my NH 451 sickle, but never use it.
Of course, if your usage can justify a new one, go that route. When I bought my first one, I didn't know anything about them and ended up having to rebuild most of it. After that, I wasn't afraid of them anymore and have cut wide open ever since with no problems.
A used one? I was at the dealer Thursday and that was the first one I ever laid eyes on. Much less find a used one. Just about everyone around here uses the mower-conditioner. And even those are worn out by the time a farmer gets rid of it. I keep hearing good things about this type of mower. If your 485 can handle the 7’10” model, my 685 should handle the 9’2” model with no problem. I have a 484. This tractor is way more stable than the 484. I’ll put the 685 on a hillside I wouldn’t dare take the 484 on. But that is for bush hogging. Not mowing hay.