Drum Mowers

[Cossack1917]

Hi guys,

New to the Forum. I have 40 vertical acres here in W. Pa, with about 2 square yards level. I've been cutting about 30 acres of hay with an old New Idea sickle bar, but it is just too slow. A friend mentioned drum mowers, and I am not familiar with them. I've checked online a bit, and I have found 2 so far, Reese, which seems to be centered in New Zealand and an outfit called SFI in Texas. Anyone have any experience with these machines, or should I hold out for a disc mower. I have 3 tractors I use for cutting, a 1959 MF65, a David Brown 990 and a Kubota 3010.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Welcome!

I don't know a lot about drum mowers but this seller is a regular contributer on this forum. His web site is pretty informative.
HayMAGNUM Drum Mowers by CCM

 

[sweettractors]

Hi guys,

New to the Forum. I have 40 vertical acres here in W. Pa, with about 2 square yards level. I've been cutting about 30 acres of hay with an old New Idea sickle bar, but it is just too slow. A friend mentioned drum mowers, and I am not familiar with them. I've checked online a bit, and I have found 2 so far, Reese, which seems to be centered in New Zealand and an outfit called SFI in Texas. Anyone have any experience with these machines, or should I hold out for a disc mower. I have 3 tractors I use for cutting, a 1959 MF65, a David Brown 990 and a Kubota 3010.

I am not sure where you are located, however, we have a good used Reese drum mower for sale here in central Ky 42765. The mower is field ready. Price is $2395 picked up here. Ken Sweet

 

[jlsmith]

I like the disk mowers myself. I use a New Idea 5410 which has done a very good job. It is made by MF and is now called a MF1330. :thumbsup:

 

[sweettractors]

We prefer the disc mowers as well, If all the tractors have a hydraulic outlet at the back? We do stock the model 2050 (7ft) New Fort First Choice for $5795 and we can deliver one to western Pa for around $150. It does require at least 1 remote line out the back of the tractor. Ken Sweet

 

[DaveOmak]

Cossack, Good morning,

I have researched drum mowers.
They are lighter, less expensive, operate with less HP than disc mowers, and do not need hydraulics.
Brad came up with a good place to start. CCM.
I am saving now to order one next year.
Dave

 

[Cossack1917]

You guys are great! Gave me lots to think about. How do the Reese mowers compare to the CCM to the SFI quality wise? I kind of like using the Kubota 3010 on the steep hills because of the 4WD, but at only 30hp and no hydraulics, no disc mower. Looking at the CCM mowers, if I run between the Kubota 3010 and the Massey Ferguson 65, which one should I look at , the 165 or the 190?

Thanks again

 

[sweettractors]

You guys are great! Gave me lots to think about. How do the Reese mowers compare to the CCM to the SFI quality wise? I kind of like using the Kubota 3010 on the steep hills because of the 4WD, but at only 30hp and no hydraulics, no disc mower. Looking at the CCM mowers, if I run between the Kubota 3010 and the Massey Ferguson 65, which one should I look at , the 165 or the 190?

Thanks again

The Reese is the Cadillac and has no gearbox to go out. Ken Sweet

 

[HayDR]

The HayMAG Drum mowers are the #1 selling drum mower in the USA and the World. Come visit us at the National Farm Machinery show West Wing 5044

 

[MotorSeven]

Cossack, I can love my HayMax 165( I assume the HayMag is the same mower?..looks identical). I am on my second year haying 40 ac(we do 3-4 cuts a season) and it has exceeded my expectations. Blade changes(6) take 5 min and are reversible so you get double duty out of them and cost less than 2 bucks a piece. I have a 40 horse HST and can mow in high range if the pasture is smooth.
You will have to tedder your hay as drums and disc mowers pile it up in rows that have to be scattered to dry.

 

[HayDR]

Thank you for your business. HayDR

 

[CarterandCarter]

depending on your horsepower, the 190 in my opinion is the best option, the bigger the better! Us here at CCM have been selling that design since 1982, and they are very durable and gaurunteed not to clog up and will mow as fast as you can stay on the tractor seat! we sold over 250 last year alone!

 

[whodat526]

Cossack, I can love my HayMax 165( I assume the HayMag is the same mower?..looks identical). I am on my second year haying 40 ac(we do 3-4 cuts a season) and it has exceeded my expectations. Blade changes(6) take 5 min and are reversible so you get double duty out of them and cost less than 2 bucks a piece. I have a 40 horse HST and can mow in high range if the pasture is smooth.
You will have to tedder your hay as drums and disc mowers pile it up in rows that have to be scattered to dry.

disc mowers don't pill the hay up in rows

 

[aczlan]

How do drum mowers condition the hay? I would be interested in one (to replace a sicklebar mo-co), but with our weather, the hay has to be conditioned or it wont dry before it rains again.

Aaron Z

 

[CarterandCarter]

there is no conditioning the hay with a drum mower, sorry

 

[Texasmark]

I bought the 6' drum from SFI. Getting used to it. It's heavy and takes a little heft to get it changed from the stow to operate position but not all that bad. Getting the PTO out of the way for that is a bit of a pain, but tolerable.

It is very smooth and quiet considering the drums are turning at a very high speed. Cuts nice and as stated will cut just as fast as you choose to drive. I have mine set up for the 3" cutting height and this is just right. Cuts good and smooth, but doesn't scalp and leaves a nice stubble for regrowth.

Does a good job following ditches, pool/pond dams, and uneven terrain....within reason...I mean the tilt of the drums from the tractor position is like 15 degrees up or down. The 6' weighs a little over 900# and when in the operate position and drums are not on the ground, a light front end tractor might have some left front wheel lifting concerns. I have 4wd with FEL and it works fine. It doesn't take a lot of hp to run. My 57 pto is more than ample.

6' isn't very wide but I have a small place and it does fine in the tight spots where a larger machine would cause me problems. I have my tractor wheelbase set up for 6' also so I just line up on the windrow from the previous cut and get a nice smooth cut.

I shopped for something to cut hay without having to use a sickle or haybine. Had looked at quite few used discs but were more than I wanted to pay and I didn't like all the moving parts....my choice. My disc runs off 3 parallel drive belts, has an oil sump for the gearbox that drives the drums, and has 3 zerks...2 year warranty. Can't beat that, for me anyway.

Would I do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat.

HTH,
Mark

 

[nomad]

How do drum mowers condition the hay? I would be interested in one (to replace a sicklebar mo-co), but with our weather, the hay has to be conditioned or it wont dry before it rains again.

Aaron Z

For conditioning, your need is a disc mower with conditioner. Neither drum nor sickle mower does conditioning.

I read somewhere above in that someone says haymax or whatever their names there are (originally all Turkay machines) are nr 1 sale in the world. Well, in Turkey, maybe, there are more than hundreds of drum mower manufacturers as it has been popular mower in last 2-3 decades here and I know some mfgs selling twice quantity more than that nr 1 in the world. Quality? Well, I know a small mfg who sells very small quantity, but, their quality is better than those nr 1s. I know of some small workshops who get components from part manufacturers (they are another mfgs) who make modified mowers according to each customer demand.

 

[mlaj43]

If you are only mowing 40 acres I would recommend a Reese 1600 a 6' Drum mower. I have used a drum mower Reese 2400HL 8' and disc mowers Vicon CM240 8'and a Krone am283S 9', both disc mowers worked good but the Reese mower worked with less cost to me and done a very good job, but you have to have at least 65hp but better with more hp about 80hp or more. the reese needs a tedder on the rear to spread the grass or it will end up in a windrow and you will have to use a tedder to spread the grass for drying. Hope this helps. Gordon 903-461-8110