Power requirements of disc mowers and lifespan

[Farmer495]

I don't think a smaller operator could wear a disc mower out from new if it's looked after.

Change the oil each year, keep indoors, don't cut stuff (bushes and tree, rocky rough terrain) that it isn't made to do.

I ran a "min 40 PTO HP" mower for years on 42 PTO HP. I was able to cut a 5 MPH with it in most going, heavy crop (tractor tire height) required dropping a gear.

If I ran the "min 40 PTO HP" on 35 PTO HP, I'd still be mowing, just a lot slower.

I'd be most concerned on how the tractor can lift and handle the mower, not just if it can power it.

I had one dealer not want to sell me a 3pt disk mower cause "your tractor can't handle it" despite it being a 6000 lb utility with loaded tires.

I now run the same mower on 64 PTO HP, much happier experience.

 

[scons]

@freedomlives, you also may want to take a look at a polish brand called "Jarmet" Producent Maszyn Rolniczych "Jarmet" – Węgrow.
Their prices seem ok, new player, not insane prices, so probably good enough for small farmers like us. Haven't seen a mower of them myself though.

The difference to get a disc or drum mower is more related to the soil and personal preference I think. Drum mowers do a better job on uneven and rocky terrain, they make smaller windrows, discs lay wider windrows (depends wether a swath deflector is mounted or not) so you can rake a little later. Discs used to be lighter when carrying in the 3-point. You don't want to tip over, so I would advise to not go to big with the Iseki.

 

[freedomlives]

@scons, thanks. I'm starting to think that drum mowers may be the best all around option for our fields, which aren't perfectly level, and often get wild boars disturbing the soil.

 

[Texasmark]

Most of the farmer here have disc mowers, then next is mower conditioners and a very few have drum mowers.
Most of the ones with disc mowers, have 3-5 of them. Two they hope will work and the rest are junk they are using for spare parts.
The ones with mower conditioners have 2-3, one good one and the others ones for parts.
The few that have drum mowers, just have one. That's all they need. The only drum mowers I have seen torn up, have had a large fence post ran through them.
In over 25 years of using a drum mower, I have had to replace 3 main parts. I have never need to add grease to the gear boxes or replace belts.
At one time I was cutting a very flat field with a Ford 4000 (45+ hp) using a 1.85. At times I would be in the fastest road gear. 15-16 mph.

When I moved from sickle bars to something else I looked at the used discs and decided on the fewer parts count more rugged drum. Been well satisfied.

On HP requirements, it's more about counter weight (keeping left front tire on the ground when in the mow position.......out to the side of the tractor) with the 3 pt. in the up position. When mowing it rests on it's own weight.

I don't know about discs, but drums throw rocks, if you have them. I did add some light-weight shielding to mine to keep from having to replace my cab glass....which would have been bad for me had the glass not been there. The curtain is useless as the turning blades suck it in and the oncoming grass pushes it back behind the forward blade tips.

 

[freedomlives]

Oh, that is the advantage touted about the sickle bars. Umph... This year and last while cutting in that field I ran over deer fawns with the walk-behind sickle bar mower. And they were a bit scarred and stunned, but then got up and walked away. I think if they would get run over by a drum mower, well, I'd have a little bit of venison... Though maybe from up on the tractor I'd be more likely so see the places in the high grass where they're lying down during the day.

I don't have any cab-- just a roof on the ROPS. There aren't many rocks though, unless I'd be mowing that hunter's feed plot.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I own a Deere 275 which is really just a re-branded Krone. It has cut 60 acres 3 times a year for 20 years and had no issues.

You mean Kuhn, right?
My JD 265 has Kuhn on the gearbox, and I just put new skid shoes on it last year and they were orange and came from a Kuhn dealer.