JD 5085/frontier sb3107

[Nube]

I need to hook up my JD 5085M with a good sickle bar mower. JD now uses Frontier for their sickle mowers. Their 3107 is their 7 foot model BUT is rated for tractorsup to 50 hp, my JD is 85.

Do I roll the dice with the Frontier OR look for something else? If something else what?

I will use the mower to cut along ponds, dikes, steep mounds about four times a year. And trim trees & brush on hiking trails (vertical cut) maybe twice a year

Will the higher HP of the tractor damage the sickle mower?

Your suggestions will be appreciared

Thanks

 

[arlen4720]

no it won't damage it. The PTO is still spinning at 540 RPM
Sickle bar mowers don't require much HP.

 

[eagle628]

As long as there's a shearbolt or slipclutch ahead of the expensive parts of the sicklebar, I wouldn't think there'd be a problem.

 

[AKfish]

Ok, I gotta ask... Why a sickle-bar mower? The new price on the Frontier models I've looked at are just as expensive as a comparable brush-hog type.

And there's more upkeep and they're not near as rugged, either.

Is it 'cause you need the offset from the rear tire and/or the slopes you need to mow are short and steep?

AKfish

 

[Nube]

Ok, I gotta ask... Why a sickle-bar mower? The new price on the Frontier models I've looked at are just as expensive as a comparable brush-hog type.

And there's more upkeep and they're not near as rugged, either.

Is it 'cause you need the offset from the rear tire and/or the slopes you need to mow are short and steep?

AKfish

Yes can't get close enough w bush hog without sliding into the ponds

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Have you looked at any offset flail mowers? I agree w/ ak about the upkeep and ruggedness of sickle-bar machines, not that flail mowers are any less expensive but they can sure take some abuse.

 

[Nube]

Yes, I have looked into the flail mower and the disc mowers. From what I could see the flail mowers are almost 4X the price of a sickle mower and the disc mowers are about2X . Both are out of my price range

 

[dmac128]

Nube,
Your statement about trimming trees and brush with a sickle bar mower vertically really caught my attention. Does this work for trimming "reasonably" sized brush? I've got 2 1/2 miles of access road to a cabin with varying amounts of brush along it, and have been looking for a good solution. The hydraulic orchard trimmer saws are kinda overkill.

 

[Nube]

Nube,
Your statement about trimming trees and brush with a sickle bar mower vertically really caught my attention. Does this work for trimming "reasonably" sized brush? I've got 2 1/2 miles of access road to a cabin with varying amounts of brush along it, and have been looking for a good solution. The hydraulic orchard trimmer saws are kinda overkill.

My understanding is that they will cut from 90 degree vertical to 45 degre below horizontal.