Sickle Bar Finally used my JD #39 sickle bar mower...........

[kentuckydiesel]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I hooked it up which was kind of a challange the first time because the mower was sitting on a slope. Once I got it on there I lowered the bar, got on the tractor and started the PTO. It clattered allong just like it should. I started by mowing a nasty area with lots of very thick Johnson grass which it cut right through. I hit a hidden stump and the break away part worked just like it shoud, I just shut it off and backed up, it clicked right back into place. I then went up to a small pasture that I haven't mowed for about a month. It had some thick stuff in it (not in diameter, just in quantity). I went through and it cut fine but material kept piling up on top of the bar. I finally figured out (after about 30 seconds) that I can't go through the material that I already cut or that will happen every time. As long as I stay in the uncut stuff, it slices right through. A good general mower? No. I'll keep on using one of the bushhogs or the hammerknife for that. Will it work for what I bought it for, Hay? Yea, I think it'll do just fine for that. -phillip

 

[KiotiJohn]

Thanks Phillip for this post. I've been thinking about a sickle bar if I get the larger tractor I'm planning on, and this is a big help. I don't have any hay to cut, but was thinking about slopes and banks. Do you think one would be in order for these tasks since you've tried your out? John

 

[kentuckydiesel]

Mine couldn't do slopes and banks because it has a pitman drive. You can get them where they are set up to do banks and that sort of thing, probably wouldn be too bad fo that task. They are kind of a pain in how they are mounted. They are really a piece of hay equipment though, too easily torn up. While it may cost more, If I had a bunch of slopes and banks that I wanted mowed but couldn't weed eat, I would get a side mounted flail mower instead. Check out "Alamo" for that. -phillip