How to set up my mx6 cutter to cut hay?

exiled · Jun 6, 2009

It was in the plans to buy a disc mower this year. Over the last year I've bought a JD 255 disc, a spreader, a few pieces of hay equiment, and the money got tight. Which was ok. I had a back up plan that my neighbor that always cuts for me would do it. Now I have to do it myself. I was told when I bought my cuttter that it could cut hay for square bays, but you had to set it up. Now its time and I've asked people what I need to do and I get all kinds of answers. Some say I need to remove the stump jumper and use a straight blade receiver. some say i have to remove either left or right safty chains out back. I would think both sides if at all would need to be removed. I dont understand the reasoning in the straight blade receiver. I've searched and learned alot of tricks and things just nothing about cutting hay.
Can anybody please shed some light for me? I would greatly appreciate it. I'm eager to get back out there and try some of the stuff I've learned, but I've got to figure out this hay thing first.

Oldmax · Jun 6, 2009

I have a Kingkuter Hayside . All they do is have a side that you can remove to let grass out . This leaves the back & two-thirds of one side open for the grass to go out. Will take picture of it . And send copy of parts manuel if you like. Some people I know use to cut hay they say is faster thin sycle mower. but some say they cut finer then sycle mower.

exiled · Jun 6, 2009

Oldmax, I remember some old cutters having removeable sides. JD's mowers today dont have them. I'm just goingto give it a try and see what I get.
I really dont have a choice. I've got to cut, cause the grass it getting taller than my calves. No way I'm wasting that grass w/ out even trying to save it.

Ford850 · Jun 7, 2009

I can't say for sure, but I would try a couple easy things first. Remove whichever side rear chains that normally have the pile of mowed grass behind the mower. On my rotary cutter, it leaves a row on the left side so I would remove the left side chains if I had them. That will encourage a more pronounced mound of cuttings on the one side.
Next I would expiriment with the rear wheel setting. I would think the typical 'rear edge 1-2" higher than front' would work best. That would let the hay out the back quicker without recutting it several times as you pass over it.
Try that on a short section of hay to see if you get satisfactory results.

Willl · Jun 7, 2009

I don't believe your going to like the results.

Regardless of how many 'sides' or 'chain curtains' you remove, it's just going to chop up your grass too much.

Oldmax · Jun 7, 2009

I have neaver used mine to cut hay as i have a 14-2 6' Dearborn . If you double click on picture you can see removable side.

exiled · Jun 8, 2009

Willl I'm sure it's not gong to be pretty. #1 hay would be nice. I dont look for getting a good bale. Although my grass is good and will be a great food source no matter what condiction the bale is in. It seems to me if it can be raked and the pickup on the bale will pick it up the rest is in the tie. I think what would help is if I could lower the pan down out of the cut champer. I've thinking about a bar blade holder and some how getting it out of the chamber. Where I'll be cutting is as flat and clean as a dinner table.
Oldmax, I've seen older cutters with removeable sides. JD dont have them any more. Or at least the MX,HX,or CX dont.
Thanks guys for yalls suggestions.

JoeinTX · Jun 9, 2009

@oldmax.......that is an interesting cutter. I didn't know ever KK made their cutters with that option. Haven't noticed on their website if they still offer that or not.

I know that years ago that wasn't as uncommon as it is today. A company by the name of Buffalo built rotary cutters with removable skirts for years and advertised them in things like 'Progressive Farmer' as well as others as a hay cutting alternative in addition to a maintenance tool.

If you're cutting fine stem pasture grass (i.e., bermuda or such) and can rig the cutter up to leave something like a row then I don't see a problem with it. What a disc mower and a set-up rotary cutter leave behind won't be terrible different for the baler to digest. I would be seriously concerned with bigger stemmed, heavier plants like Johnson Grass or Sudan and the like where you could seriously mangle the plant and its head using a roto cutter on it.

But, if you get a $600 shredder to cut and row haying grass decently on a consistent basis.............that economically beats all the **** of buying a late used disc mower for $3-5000.