Sickle Bar Mower

[Sodo]

This is worth repeating, over and over. Short of mowing over ditches or creek banks, I can’t think of one reason to choose a sickle bar mower over a drum mower. I really can’t even believe there’s enough market that they still make them new.

I cant REALLY argue that, having never used a drum mower. But I nave used a bush hog, don't like the steaming piles it leaves behind in some cases (pasture grass).

There can be improvements. Hydraulics for up/down. Some arrangement to move in/out would be an improvement then you could cut under a fenceline. It's kind of a PITN being hard-mounted to the right rear. Like the sickle mower was forgotten before the hydraulics era. Currently able to cut under tree branches & bushes that the tractor can't drive under. Sometimes its useful to rake up the cutting and burn them (if seedy).

 

[MMagis]

I cant REALLY argue that, having never used a drum mower. But I nave used a bush hog, don't like the steaming piles it leaves behind in some cases (pasture grass).

There can be improvements. Hydraulics for up/down. Some arrangement to move in/out would be an improvement then you could cut under a fenceline. It's kind of a PITN being hard-mounted to the right rear. Like the sickle mower was forgotten before the hydraulics era. Currently able to cut under tree branches & bushes that the tractor can't drive under. Sometimes its useful to rake up the cutting and burn them (if seedy).

A drum mower is another option for mowing hay. Very similar to a disc mower, but made for lesser HP tractors. A brushhog isn't made for cutting hay. For what you listed, a drum mower would do everything a sickle bar will do, except faster and cleaner. Of course, if the primary use isn’t cutting hay, then buying a used sickle bar is the smart choice. But as a primary means of cutting hay, and for equal money, the drum mower wins hands down.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
I mostly use mine in the vertical position...usually once a year to trim the sides of the road...I bought a cylinder to control the bar but have not had time to fabricate the mounting brackets etc...

That is what I'm wanting a sickle bar mower for - advanced hedge trimming.

This is worth repeating, over and over. Short of mowing over ditches or creek banks, I can稚 think of one reason to choose a sickle bar mower over a drum mower. I really can稚 even believe there痴 enough market that they still make them new.<snip>

Also ditches beside the road.

 

[MMagis]

If that’s the case, how about used? The very best used cutters around here won’t run you more than $500.

 

[newbury]

If that’s the case, how about used? The very best used cutters around here won’t run you more than $500.

What I've been seeing in my area is fair for $700.

 

[GLyford]

We had a lot of drainage ditches to keep tidy, so Dad's AC-B with the mid-mount was just the ticket, made it easier to keep an eye on the cutter to see what was happening.

 

[sweettractors]

I cant REALLY argue that, having never used a drum mower. But I nave used a bush hog, don't like the steaming piles it leaves behind in some cases (pasture grass).

There can be improvements. Hydraulics for up/down. Some arrangement to move in/out would be an improvement then you could cut under a fenceline. It's kind of a PITN being hard-mounted to the right rear. Like the sickle mower was forgotten before the hydraulics era. Currently able to cut under tree branches & bushes that the tractor can't drive under. Sometimes its useful to rake up the cutting and burn them (if seedy).

We currently stock the new Tar River 5.5 and 6 Ft drum mowers with Hydraulic lift or manual fold around on the cutter bar. Ken Sweet