Is my tractot big enough for a disc mower?

[Birch Hill Farm]

Need some advice if our International 444 could handle a disc mower. Its a heavy old tractor with wheel weights, suitcase weights and 38 hp at pto. We currently mow maybe 100 acres of hay over the course of the year and use an old massy wooden pitman arm sickle mower. I am tired of fighting with the finicky thing to the point I dread cutting the hay. I would really like to move up to a disc mower, currently looking at a hm235 new holland. Its rated for a min of 40 pto hp. Also thought about the hm234 which has a pto rating of 35hp min. My big concern is how the tractor will do with all that weight hanging out to the side. Our land is hilly for the most part but, not super steep. I have never seen a disc mower on this size tractor so that concerns me. We bale with a new holland 630 4x4 baler and it does okay, mostly low 2nd to 1st going up the hills. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated, Am i doomed to the frustration of an old sickle or do I need to look for a bigger tractor or could I make it through with a disc mower. Thanks

 

[big lar]

I have a New Holland TC45DA, rated around 38 hp., since it is a HST.

Works Ok overall with my HM 235, but does struggle in the heavy stuff, and going up hill.

Just sharing my experiences, everyone has a different story.

 

[Birch Hill Farm]

Thanks for the reply. Is it a 4wd tractor? How is it about wanting to drag the front end to the right?

 

[Birch Hill Farm]

Would I be better off with some kind of haybine like a new holland 472? Do these work better on smaller tractors?

 

[rbargeron]

The 444 would have an easier time of it with the 234 but might handle a 235 if the land is not hilly. I had a Vicon 7' disk (similar size & weight to the 235) that was way too big for a 35 hp Kubota, ok on a 50.

 

[Birch Hill Farm]

Thanks. the land is hilly to a bit steep in some areas.