Bush Hog disc mowers

[chh]

Have decided to go back into the hay business next year after being out of it for the last few years. We have started shopping for new equipment, looking out for some year end deals. My dealer of choice has New Idea 3010/Massey Ferguson 1330's in stock but is not really discounting them at the moment. I have run across 2 new Bush Hog 2409's that are $1800 cheaper than the others. It is about a foot shorter on cutting width but sure seems like a good price. Was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them. The last mowers I owned were Vicon's(about 12 years ago) and have been using a pair of Fella mowers in a partnership deal the last couple of years. The mowers I have been looking at seem to weigh quite a bit less than the Fella's, but I see a lot of them being used in our area.

 

[professor]

I owned a Bush Hog DM70 for several years and it gave me good service. I pulled it with a NH 3930. I cut primarily orchard, fescue and bermuda grass.

 

[HayDR]

Have decided to go back into the hay business next year after being out of it for the last few years. We have started shopping for new equipment, looking out for some year end deals. My dealer of choice has New Idea 3010/Massey Ferguson 1330's in stock but is not really discounting them at the moment. I have run across 2 new Bush Hog 2409's that are $1800 cheaper than the others. It is about a foot shorter on cutting width but sure seems like a good price. Was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them. The last mowers I owned were Vicon's(about 12 years ago) and have been using a pair of Fella mowers in a partnership deal the last couple of years. The mowers I have been looking at seem to weigh quite a bit less than the Fella's, but I see a lot of them being used in our area.

The Bush Hog mowers are made by Taarup. http://www.kvernelandgroup.com/welcome/

Were the Fella disc mowers gear drive oil bath style mowers or their newer shaft design disc mowers?

 

[chh]

Thanks for the link. The Fella's are about 4 years old, shaft drive models.

 

[HayDR]

Having a heavy 3 point mower is not an advantage. Realize that most of the disc mowers coming from Europe are design to be used on cab tractors in the 75-100 HP range. You will find the design and of the New Idea/Massey works better on tractors in the 40-75 HP range than the heavier mowers. With $3 a gallon fuel, you will see fuel savings in using these smaller & lighter tractors. Look at the Kubota and Korean Manufacturers tractor weight. These tractors weigh thousand of Lbs. less than Massey, JD, NH and other European brands. They are nice tractors and have all the HP stated but do not have the mass so the shaft designs like the New Idea, Vermeer/Lely, and HayMAXX are designed for the lighter tractors. These designs are proven and have been around since the 1980's. The heavier mowers are not any more durable and all the mowers will mow close to the same.

 

[chh]

Still shopping around, called back about these Dec 31(didn't need the purchase on last years taxes), was given a price that I was told was dealers cost and that they needed to move them. Tried looking at them again on the Bush Hog web site and they are no longer there. Looks like Bush Hog may have discontinued them.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well, if they are discontinued you should be able to swing an even better deal

 

[chh]

You'd think so wouldn't you.

 

[DLMaine01]

CCI posted on another site that the Bush Hog Disc mowers are indeed discontinued. Also mentioned that parts could/would be a problem.

 

[chh]

Thanks for the post, I also heard that today from another bush hog dealer. Next up the list in price is New Idea/MF. I can pick up 2 of last years model from a dealer $800 a piece higher than the Bush Hog. The dealer for them is closer and they are much more common locally. That looks like it may end up being the best buy.
I found out I had a Vermeer dealer about 40 miles from me also. The rebates are still on and they are close in price to the NI/MF. He had no mowers or balers in stock and is not sure he will keep the dealership as he claims he has too many other irons in the fire. The next closest dealer is almost a 100 miles away. That knocks Vermeer out of the running, which is too bad since I liked their blade change system best.