Just introducing myself

gbin · Aug 4, 2016

Hi, everyone.

I'm eagerly exploring the full potential of my recently acquired Kubota BX2670 tractor for helping me take care of my almost-as-recently acquired property in upstate NY, with nearly 100 acres of woods, wetlands and lawn, and a question I have about a potentially very useful 3-point hitch implement prompted me to register here. (Specifically, I'm hoping to obtain recommendations on a sickle bar mower that would work with my tractor given its relatively small size. Don't worry, I'll post that request in the proper forum.)

In any event, I'm glad I found y'all!

Gerry

woody · Aug 4, 2016

Welcome to site and I am sure there is someone here that can help you

mddorange · Aug 4, 2016

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Gerry. We are glad you joined with us. A lot of people will wonder why you choose a sub compact tractor with that many acres?

mguitas · Aug 4, 2016

:welcome:

gbin · Aug 4, 2016

mddorange said:
:welcome:
To the TBN forum Gerry. We are glad you joined with us. A lot of people will wonder why you choose a sub compact tractor with that many acres?

That's a good question, mdd.

I started out by thinking of what all I wanted my tractor to be able to do (which didn't specifically include run a sickle bar mower because I didn't realize such an implement existed). Bear in mind that I just want to do a good job of maintaining my varied acreage; I'm not farming it or anything like that. The property came with a zero turn mower which works great on large expanses of grass, so I didn't need the tractor for straight mowing. Probably the biggest task that I knew was ahead for me and whatever tractor I got was snowblowing (preferred over snowplowing) the 1/3 mile-long driveway on my new property, but also turning a large compost heap, hauling around things such as wood, rock and dirt, maintaining modest service paths through the woods, etc. So something equipped with a front loader and a front snowblower that I could interchange with the season, and that had just enough horsepower (I figured around 25 hp)/PTO horsepower (I figured around 20 hp) and a 3-point hitch to handle implements for dealing with at least a few tasks I hadn't yet thought of, seemed perfect. That led me to look hard at the biggest subcompacts and the smallest compacts.

Then I went out and sat on some tractors and imagined working the controls. I considered mainly how a big guy such as myself (6 ft, 275 lb) fit on them - and yes, even how comfortable they were. Surprisingly I found some subcompacts fit me better than some compacts. Ultimately I liked the "feel" of a John Deere compact best, and that of my Kubota BX2670 second best. I wavered back and forth between these for a while, but not very long; comparably equipped, the Kubota cost a solid $10,000 less than the John Deere.

I still don't know whether I chose as wisely as I could have. I certainly hope so, though!

Gerry

Wagtail · Aug 4, 2016

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

jeff9366 · Aug 4, 2016

Sickle bar mowers are obsolete. Too prone to jamming. Too prone to breaking.

Consider a rugged, dependable Rotary Cutter AKA: Bush Hog.

LINK TO TBN ARCHIVE: sickle bar site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

Farmwithjunk said:
A sickle bar mower (one that's in good condition) will give you a really nice cut. Problem is, they just lay down the clippings and DON'T grind them up like a bush hog OR a finish mower would. That presents a problem in 2 ways. 1 is obvious. You'll have to LOOK AT the dried clippings as they lay on the ground. 2nd is the fact that sickle bar mowers don't like cutting through downed "crop residue" on the NEXT mowing. If you keep the field mowed, and don't let the clippings get too long, you can get away with a sickle bar. If you go several weeks between cuttings, you might want the rotary cutter.

Sickle bar mowers require next to no HP. 30hp would EASILY handle 7' to 9' bar as far as power required. 30hp would probably be best off with a 5' rotary cutter. Sickle bar mowers are also MUCH more "maintenance intensive" than a rotary mower.

gbin · Aug 4, 2016

I'm sure your advice is well-meant, Jeff, but I'm really only interested in sickle bar mower recommendations for my Kubota BX2670 - and those should go in the thread I started for that purpose on the Kubota Owning/Operating message board.

Gerry