Sickle Bar Cutter, rule of thumb sizing?

[Artisan]

"IF" a guy wanted a Sickle Bar Cutter, is there a rule of thumb
one might wish to employ sizing it? Maybe something like
1 Foot of Sickle Bar length for every 5HP etc???????

 

[keegs]

I've been looking at new and used sickle bar mowers lately also. If you look at the manufacturer's websites e.g. JD, Massey Ferguson, New Holland or if you're looking at an import from one of the reseller's websites e.g. (Temporarily blocked due to reports of company closure), you can typically find the tractor requirments for the various models.

If you find something used and there's no manual, there are lots of second hand operator manuals available on the web for the older models.

http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US...s_sickle_mower/sb11_series_sickle_mower.page?

 

[94BULLITT]

This one at ETA takes 20. Are you thinking of getting one for your bx? I saw one on craigslist on thought about it but it looked rough and was 2hrs away.

 

[Artisan]

Yes, for the BX....but I am wondering if there is a unit to fit it.
I guess I need to search harder..

 

[94BULLITT]

Yes, for the BX....but I am wondering if there is a unit to fit it.
I guess I need to search harder..

I know people ran them on the old Ford 8n's and they are 23pto, I don't know if they were 7' or not. The BX probably has more torque than a 8n.
Here is a chart for Befco's sickle bar mowers.

 

[nelsond7004]

"IF" a guy wanted a Sickle Bar Cutter, is there a rule of thumb
one might wish to employ sizing it? Maybe something like
1 Foot of Sickle Bar length for every 5HP etc???????

I have pondered the very question you are asking for some time. I know a guy that runs a 7 foot sickle cutter off a David Brown tractor that only has 25PTO hp. Seems to handle it very well.

 

[bcp]

...is there a rule of thumb one might wish to employ...

He who doesn't watch his thumb will have no thumb to watch.



Bruce

 

[Kioti Tom]

I know people ran them on the old Ford 8n's and they are 23pto, I don't know if they were 7' or not. The BX probably has more torque than a 8n.
Here is a chart for Befco's sickle bar mowers.

The Nebraska Tractor test #393 in 1948 rated the 8N at 23 belt HP and 21 Drawbar HP. There was no test for PTO HP. Altho, the belt HP was off the
belt pulley run off the pto.

I have the Dearborn 14-16 7 ft sickle bar mower. I also have all the added parts, the two lift arm extentions, the toplink bracket and both under axle
fittings needed to properly mow with the mower. I never had a problem with the mower, it worked great...The 8N handled it like a pro.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a Kubota L3010. PTO hp listed at 25.5.
My tractor manual also lists impliment sizes and limitations. Under Sickle Bar it says 7 foot at 1100 lbs.
My Sickle Bar manual says 25 hp required.
I have a 7 footer and have no problems driving the cutters thru anything I have used it on.

 

[94BULLITT]

The Nebraska Tractor test #393 in 1948 rated the 8N at 23 belt HP and 21 Drawbar HP. There was no test for PTO HP. Altho, the belt HP was off the
belt pulley run off the pto.

I have the Dearborn 14-16 7 ft sickle bar mower. I also have all the added parts, the two lift arm extentions, the toplink bracket and both under axle
fittings needed to properly mow with the mower. I never had a problem with the mower, it worked great...The 8N handled it like a pro.

Tractor data shows a nebraska test result for a 8n. TractorData.com Ford 8N tractor tests information I checked and you are right the Nebraska test did not test the pto power, but it should be close to belt.