Disc mower question

[flusher]

I see quite a few disc mowers for sale on the Web

Question: since disc mowers don't have conditioning rollers like a mo-co, is the disc mower used much for haying? If yes, how is the conditioning done?

 

[JESSE1]

The disc mower is about the only type mower used in this part of the country. Most hay is coastal bermuda or bahia grass and it doesn't require conditioning. As hot as it gets, a field can be cut one day and baled either the next day or the day after depending on how thick the grass is. If additional drying is needed, a tedder can be used to fluff the grass. Tedders are very good to use after cutting thick grass or if the cut grass is rained on.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The disc mower is basically just a modern version of the old sickle bar mower. It cuts the fields without conditioning but does so faster with less down time.

 

[mark.r]

Pretty much what Jesse said. Even though I am in VA I am planning on going with a disc mower primarily because we will be using a lower horsepower tractor for mowing. It's either disc mower or haybine and I am not not really sure I want a haybine . . . at least as my only option. Both would be great but a small disc mower will be my first purchase. Using a tedder and planning around the weather makes up of not having the conditioning features of the larger mower/conditioner type cutters.

 

[flusher]

The disc mower is about the only type mower used in this part of the country. Most hay is coastal bermuda or bahia grass and it doesn't require conditioning. As hot as it gets, a field can be cut one day and baled either the next day or the day after depending on how thick the grass is. If additional drying is needed, a tedder can be used to fluff the grass. Tedders are very good to use after cutting thick grass or if the cut grass is rained on.

Thanks for the info.

 

[mlauk]

They also sell discbines which have disc cutters and a conditioner versus haybines which have sickle cutters with a conditioner. They require higher horsepower to run.

 

[mark.r]

Vicon makes a trick 3pt. dicsbine. I have been curious to talk to someone who has used one of these. Essentially the same as trailed discbine but set up like a 3pt. discmower. You have the extra weight of the conditioner but I would assume that if you have a good size tractor is would make much of a difference.

 

[jimg]

Kuhn makes something similar as well.

 

[mark.r]

Kuhn makes something similar as well.

I didn't know they did as well. Down the road once we upgrade our tractor I would almost be interested simply for transport reasons. I know transport keeps coming up and there are still many places where for example a center pivot trailed discbine would not be a problem. But on the same token there are also lots of places where the roads are tighter and more importantly with the urbanization the increased presence of idiots on the road in the early morning a 3pt. vertical fold 9ft. moco would be huge benefit on many of these back "B roads" as we call them.

 

[slowzuki]

You need a lot of tractor on those conditioner equipment models just for weight. They also don't behave as nice mowing corners as trailed and can be a @#%^ to hook up in a hurry.

That said, I would like to have one! I have small fields and it is wet here so conditioning is required.

 

[jimg]

The mdl I was thinking about is the FC202

 

[mark.r]

You need a lot of tractor on those conditioner equipment models just for weight. They also don't behave as nice mowing corners as trailed and can be a @#%^ to hook up in a hurry.

That said, I would like to have one! I have small fields and it is wet here so conditioning is required.

Yes, I can see where I LOT of tractor would be needed simply for the weight. It's a bit of a catch 22, you don't need a lot of HP (they are rated at 60-70pto) which is and advantage but you would end up needed a large tractor (READ: high HP) simply to handle the weight of the unit. I still think that the advantages would out weight the disadvantages depending on your location. If you were in the midwest or parts Texas for example I would go with a trailed unit but I live 45 minutes outside of Washington DC. It would serve me well I believe.

 

[slowzuki]

My neck would love to see front PTO's and front mounted mowers more common here. Doesn't take much machine to hang just the mower of a 9 ft disc bine off the front. That would be fantastic for tight fields!

 

[mark.r]

My neck would love to see front PTO's and front mounted mowers more common here. Doesn't take much machine to hang just the mower of a 9 ft disc bine off the front. That would be fantastic for tight fields!

Is there any real reason why front mounted mowers/implement haven't caught in the states?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Is there any real reason why front mounted mowers/implement haven't caught in the states?

They are different and we resist change

On the bright side there are more tractors now where you can buy front 3pt and pto available to us. But the cost is expensive and implements are limited here.

Hang one on the front and two on the back and you have one heck of a mower with great transportation mobility

 

[mark.r]

They are different and we resist change

On the bright side there are more tractors now where you can buy front 3pt and pto available to us. But the cost is expensive and implements are limited here.

Hang one on the front and two on the back and you have one heck of a mower with great transportation mobility

So you can order some of the larger tractors with a front 3pt and pto?

Your right about triple mowers. I was looking at the Vicon triple set up, WOW!!!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You can buy the TN95FA with front and rear 3pt and pto as well as the TV145 and I think the larger T series like the T7000 and T8000 but I am not positive right now.

Valtra offers this option as does Fendt on their large hp tractors. I am not sure if Deere does yet in the US but they do overseas.

Overseas just about every tractor has a front 3pt and pto available.

 

[slowzuki]

Lots of aftermarket front 3pt's in eastern canada, many with pto off the engine cranks. But it costs about 6000$ to add the you have to find equipment. The guys who contract snowblowing in the winter don't have trouble justifying it, and big custom operators always have them too but these guys put like 4000 hours a year on a piece of equipment.

 

[mark.r]

Drool . . .

 

[flusher]

Drool . . .

Neat setup. The front mower covers the tractor's wheel tracks nicely so you don't have those annoying unmowed strips where the wheels flatted the grass.