GPM for a hay mower

[Farmer495]

Only hyd on a mower conditioner like a 1209 should be to lift it, and you don't do that while running, PTO runs it. a 30 PTO HP utility with 4.5 GPM AND the correct PSI should pull it, power it and lift it.

8 to 10 MPH? Forget it. Maybe in perfect conditions when machine was new, but it's not new and conditions are never perfect. There is a reason discbines & disc mowers are the goto now.

I have an old sickle manual, also says 8-10MPH which is a joke. More like 1-2MPH and plug all the time.

I disc mow at 7-8 MPH, fields usually too rough to drive any faster at PTO RPM. No way would a sickle machine eat what I am cutting at that speed.

 

[NormL]

Only hyd on a mower conditioner like a 1209 should be to lift it, and you don't do that while running, PTO runs it. a 30 PTO HP utility with 4.5 GPM AND the correct PSI should pull it, power it and lift it.

8 to 10 MPH? Forget it. Maybe in perfect conditions when machine was new, but it's not new and conditions are never perfect. There is a reason discbines & disc mowers are the goto now.

I have an old sickle manual, also says 8-10MPH which is a joke. More like 1-2MPH and plug all the time.

I disc mow at 7-8 MPH, fields usually too rough to drive any faster at PTO RPM. No way would a sickle machine eat what I am cutting at that speed.

I agree that the sickle mower is old school and out of date but it's what I have and all I need. I only bale a couple or three hundred bales total per year otherwise I would be looking to upgrade. I don[t even use the bales for feed as I don't have livestock. I use them to cover cisterns and holding tanks in winter.

 

[Farmer495]

I agree that the sickle mower is old school and out of date but it's what I have and all I need. I only bale a couple or three hundred bales total per year otherwise I would be looking to upgrade. I don[t even use the bales for feed as I don't have livestock. I use them to cover cisterns and holding tanks in winter.

For sure, you can buy a serviceable sickle bar for a fraction of a junk disc mower. If you are only cutting a few acres you can afford to take it slow and save $$$.

 

[Tx Jim]

JD 1209 is powered by pto shaft. Hyd's raises platform. IIRC 1250 psi is required to hydraulically raise platform

 

[workinonit]

You guys can keep talking sickle mowers but this appears to be a troll post that worked pretty well.

 

[5030]

I have a JD 12-20 MoCo parked in the barn as a backup. I'd never consider anything but a disc machine for cutting hay, any hay anywhere. I keep it just in case.

Never seen any hay mower that was powered hydraulically, all pto driven that I've seen.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have a JD 12-20 MoCo parked in the barn as a backup. I'd never consider anything but a disc machine for cutting hay, any hay anywhere. I keep it just in case.

Never seen any hay mower that was powered hydraulically, all pto driven that I've seen.

A New Holland 499 center pivot is hydraulically driven hay mower.
Came out in 1983 and is still in production today, I believe.
Might be the most popular hay mower of all time. Theres a hydraulic pump on the tongue driven by the PTO.

 

[LouNY]

There are several haybines and a few discbines that are hydraulically powered,
however none of those are powered by the tractors hydraulic system they all have there own PTO driven pumps.
Then most of those are also the hydra swing type that will trail behind the tractor going down the road,
then when you start mowing will swing out to either side of the tractor.
So you can pull into the field swing it out to your right side, do your head lands, turn around and do your back swath,
then start down one side, turn a 180 and hydra swing to the left side and mow right back up the same side, get to the end turn 180 swing the mower to the other side and repeat till done.
So they do usually require two tractor remotes one two for the swing cylinder and one single action or floating for the header lift.

 

[Hay Dude]

My first hay rake was hydraulically powered Deere roll bar. It was a very nice rake. Had a front “trike” wheel. Ran off tractor remotes, but fluid got hot running it after a while.
Man those were the days.