Mowing Sickle Bar Mower - needs?

[quid_non]

Greetings All!
Considering the purchase of a sickle bar mower for my JD4600. Will be using it to clear around roadways and pond areas with steep grades. Considering a 51/2 foot unit with a hydraulic lift. What additional hydraulic "stuff" do I need to operate there units - my tractor has rear quick disconnects/power reverser for a backhoe but no levers to control the flow to the sickle bar mower. Any suggestions on a good mower and other items I would need for the hydraulic attachment?
Thanks!!

 

[beenthere]

Maybe time to add the 3rd SCV to your tractor. A search should turn up some threads that discuss the process.. used to be kits available, and your Deere dealer may have such info if they are.

As to sickle bar mower, I think going long as possible better than the 5-1/2 foot one. Tractor I'd think would have enough weight to handle a 7' sickle bar to reach down banks and stay back from pond.

See that there is a Deere Frontier mower SB31 Series. Not sure of bar lengths available..

Mowing | Frontier™ SB31 Series Sickle Bar Mower | John Deere US

 

[quid_non]

Thanks for the reply and info beenthere!
I'm new to this but my 4600 currently has:
FEL
4in1 bucket (operated by a JR Long unit - switch for bucket located on joy stick)
Power Beyond for 48 backhoe.

All said - then does that indicate I already have 3 SCVs and need a fourth?

As I mentioned - I want to get a sickle mower that is operated via the 3pt attachment and a separate scv to allow the up/down adjustment for the sickle blades

Any help/clarification would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Doesn't the mower run off the PTO?

Then you should only need one remote to run the hydraulic lift cylinder on it and you say you already have more than one..

SR

 

[kthompson]

Have you ever seen a sickle bar mower in fel? There is a brand made to bolt onto the bucket. Gives you options 3 pth never could imagine. Of course not saying what you want or could use. Should find them on youtube I would think.

 

[quid_non]

Thanks Rob - yes the mower runs off PTO but you control the height/angle of the cutting arm using the hydraulics.

 

[quid_non]

Interesting! Thanks I' ll look for one

 

[Woody65]

I believe if you disconnect the quick attach hoses on the rear of the tractor and connect the sickle bar mower your joystick toggle will control the mower. Try disconnecting them and see f the 4in1 bucket operates. If not, then that is your circuit to operate the sickle hydraulics.

Edit: Just noticed that rear remotes are for backhoe. The above might not work. Find the connections for the 4in1 and plug the sickle into them. Then the toggle on the joystick will operate the sickle.

 

[flusher]

I believe if you disconnect the quick attach hoses on the rear of the tractor and connect the sickle bar mower your joystick toggle will control the mower. Try disconnecting them and see f the 4in1 bucket operates. If not, then that is your circuit to operate the sickle hydraulics.

Edit: Just noticed that rear remotes are for backhoe. The above might not work. Find the connections for the 4in1 and plug the sickle into them. Then the toggle on the joystick will operate the sickle.

Here's a photo of my Allis Chalmers 80T 7-ft sicklebar mower that has an hydraulic lift and is PTO-driven. "T" means it's a trailed or towed mower that's attached to the drawbar, not to the 3-point hitch. Paid $125 for it, towed it home, and fixed it up (new belt, new blades). I have triple rear hydraulic remotes on my Mahindra 5525 and just connect the mower to one feed/return pair. If you have a small cut (25 hp or so), a trailed mower might be a better choice than one that hangs on the 3-point hitch.



Good luck.

 

[Bavarian]

Never buy a trailered unit. They are a PITA to maneuver. You wil have downed a lots of grass with your tractor before you get that stubborn beast in a corner. Handling a donkey might be way easier.
As for your hydraulic question, are you planning to leave the loader on tractor while mowing? I would take it off for visibility reasons and you have your needed hydraulics right there. You only need to run one hose to the mower. It's hydraulic lift and gravity down.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

Sickle Mowers are a hot ticket. They're great for mowing along roads, hedge rows and especially ponds. We offer these high quality mowers from Italy and usually sell out every year! They should provide a better value than the dealer models such as Frontier, which is a rebranded Italian mower.

For a 40hp tractor, most would choose the 7' model and I'd definitely go with hydraulic fold.
Travis

Sickle Mower Models at Everything Attachments

 

[quid_non]

Sickle Mowers are a hot ticket. They're great for mowing along roads, hedge rows and especially ponds. We offer these high quality mowers from Italy and usually sell out every year! They should provide a better value than the dealer models such as Frontier, which is a rebranded Italian mower.

For a 40hp tractor, most would choose the 7' model and I'd definitely go with hydraulic fold.
Travis

Sickle Mower Models at Everything Attachments

View attachment 591586

Thanks Travis - in fact I was considering yall but need to determine what additional $/hydraulics are needed for mine JD4600. Can you review my posts and suggest?

 

[EverythingAttachments]

You're welcome!
If you have a loader, the "cheap" way out would be to run a pair of hoses from the curl ports of the loader valve to the rear and actuate the mower with your joystick.
The best way, especially if you can see yourself with a grapple one day(Wicked Grapple...hint, hint), would be to use a 3rd function kit. We offer this custom kit by WR Long, and its intended for your to send a pair of hoses to the front, but you could instead send them to the rear. Even better, you could get an extra pair of hoses and install a cutoff valve in the line, which would give you the choice of using front or rear outlets!
I hope this helps!
Travis

Oh, if you order the 3rd function kit with a hydraulic attachment such as the sickle mower, grapple, 4in1 bucket, etc, you get $50 off of the order!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I have a 9' John Deere 350 cutter, and sometimes I wished it was 12'

I run it down into the water to cut the weeds growing underwater too.

I wish I had a trailer/caddy for it. But the model that comes with one is a 450 and they are rare as hens teeth.

BE VERY CAREFUL MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING A SICKLE. Never never never put your fingers in between the cutter knives. Even if it's not mounted to the tractor.

 

[quid_non]

Thanks Kyle - good advice. I'm a bit concerned about "stability" with a log bar - I'm in the mountains where "flat land" is a luxury. Perhaps 5" is too short -I'm reconsidering the length.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Here's a photo of my Allis Chalmers 80T 7-ft sicklebar mower that has an hydraulic lift and is PTO-driven. "T" means it's a trailed or towed mower that's attached to the drawbar, not to the 3-point hitch. Paid $125 for it, towed it home, and fixed it up (new belt, new blades). I have triple rear hydraulic remotes on my Mahindra 5525 and just connect the mower to one feed/return pair. If you have a small cut (25 hp or so), a trailed mower might be a better choice than one that hangs on the 3-point hitch.

View attachment 591469

Good luck.

Flusher, Consider yourself fortunate to find a caddy sickle like this for such a low price.

For those that don't know sickles, there are models that are pulley driven and can be articulated up or down at some really steep angles. If you're going to trim your pond, and there is a bit of slope, you will need one of this type. Not the old pitman stick type, unless there are some stick types that articulate.

My deere 350 is a beast to mount onto the 3 point. It uses a chain linkage that is connected to the tractor frame below the PTO that when you lift up the 3pt, it is supposed to raise the mower arm all the way up. This is in lieu of having a hydraulic ram to raise it. It would be nice to have a dedicated welded up frame to place on for storage, which should make it easier to remount on the 3pt, because it would be already lined up for the most part.

 

[beenthere]

For kicks, looked up the Deere 350, and found this tube video that is good for seeing the different parts and it running..
John Deere 35 sickle bar mower - YouTube

The Deere 450 looks to be a pull type..

Kyle: Are you making a frame for yours to store it? ... and for ease of remounting it?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

For kicks, looked up the Deere 350, and found this tube video that is good for seeing the different parts and it running..
John Deere 35 sickle bar mower - YouTube

The Deere 450 looks to be a pull type..

Kyle: Are you making a frame for yours to store it? ... and for ease of remounting it?

I said I wish I had a frame to store it. Wish in 1 hand, crap in the other.....which one fills up first. Reality is that I only use it maybe once or twice a year, I just set it on a pallet with a couple of cinder blocks.