Sickle Bar Sickle bar mower

[Donnyj]

Need some advice. I would like to keep the weeds and grass down around the edges of my 2 fields and keep the weeds down on both sides of the driveway. I was thinking about a sickle bar mower for doing this. Would I need anything special to attach one to a new tractor? What should I look for and what brands would be a good buy? What kind of price would I be looking at? If not a sickle bar mower, what other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Donny

The size of the fields are 10 acres and 5 acres and the driveway is about 1,000 ft.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

Find a used Ford 501 sickle bar mower. Will probably run $400 to $600 depending on shape. Good stuff. BobG in VA

 

[mathey]

if you buy one, can I borrow it? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I need one for about 1 hour per year...i'm thinking of posting an ad in the local paper asking if someone will let me beg, borrow or rent one for an hour...never hurts to ask

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I decided a sickle bar was what I needed to trim around my pond. After researching as much as I could, I decided I needed as long as I could find. The Ford 501's I found were only 6-7 feet. They are good sickle bar cutters if you can find a clean one. The cleaner 501's I saw were closer to $1000.

Anyway, I finally found a JD 350 9 footer. I ended up rebuilding it with about $300 worth of parts and manuals. It is the style of cutter with a belt and pulleys rather than a wooden pitman "stick". This helps cut at all angles possible, -45 degrees to straight up 90 degrees. It does a great job but the 9 feet is awkward is tight spots but trims out over the pond fantastik. They don't like to tangle with metal T-post fence posts.
Another option is a flail mower if you are mowing over a gravel road and you are concerned about slinging rocks.

PS. I've been asked to come and mow around ponds but haven't accepted due to liability concerns. I WOULD NOT LOAN OUT MY SICKLE BAR. There are too many ways to easily tear it up if you aren't careful.

 

[Donnyj]

I found a NH451 sickle bar mower in the local paper for $250.00 obo. Ad said it works. I callled, it was sold. Probably the cheapest way to go with the fields is to cut all the overhanging trees back and take the 6 ft. mower up against the edge. The driveway is a whole different situation. Some of the gravel driveway has a steep bank on the side of it. Not very tall though. The other side has a dropoff of maybe 10 ft. The sickle bar would work great {I think} on the driveway sides. If I get it cut down I could keep it down with spraying. Maybe I should start spraying earlier in the year before the weeds get up.

 

[sweettractors]

Go to our website and view many used and refurbished pitman and beltdrive sickle mowers. We have over 40 Used JD,Ford,IH,New Holland,Oliver,Dearborn,Massey, Case/IH in inventory today. Click HERE To see pictures and prices. Ken Sweet
Email sweet@scrtc.com
Phone 270-528-3323-Mon-Fri-8-5-CST

 

[deere755]

How much pto hp. does it take to handle a 9 ft sickle mower?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

It doesn't take much HP to run it, BUT....

I actually bought it thinking I could run it behind my 4310 with 25 pto HP. I would have to buy or fabricate some longer 3 PT hitch arms to fit it. It has a frame which won't fit between the tires. It is cat 1 but was made like for an old 2WD tractor or such that the wheels are wider.

.....So, I run it behind my FIL's 5420 which doesn't even know its back there.

Word to the Wise, learn from my mistake and make sure that any implement will fit your tractor before you purchase.

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> How much pto hp. does it take to handle a 9 ft sickle mower? </font>

Our customers are using 9 ft sickle bar mowers on 40 hp and up--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Everyday Fair Pricing*

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It doesn't take much HP to run it, BUT....

I actually bought it thinking I could run it behind my 4310 with 25 pto HP. I would have to buy or fabricate some longer 3 PT hitch arms to fit it. It has a frame which won't fit between the tires. It is cat 1 but was made like for an old 2WD tractor or such that the wheels are wider.
)</font>

Kyle_in_Tex,
I'll bet some photos of that would speak 1000 words. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

You can turn the pulley by hand, but the HP needed is dependant on what you are cutting.
link to picture

This is not fully hooked up yet, the chain link must be connected to the "raise arm"

 

[sweettractors]

That is a nice looking JD 350--Ken Sweet

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks Ken, and you are right again. I have pondered giving it a quickie paint job. I think I'll wait until we have a shed built.

Folks, Ken knows a bunch about sickle bar mowers. He usually has some used ones in stock at very reasonable prices. I nearly bought one from him but it just so happened that mine showed up in the local classifieds (and I wanted 9 footer).

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks for the kind words. It is hard to find a used 9 ft in our area, however, we do have in stock a 9ft JD 350 and a 9 ft NH 451 both in excellent condition --Ken Sweet
Email sweet@scrtc.com

 

[HammerFour]

I use a IH 100 Balance Mower sickle mower ( 7ft cutting bar ) on my Kubota L2350 ( 25 hp ) with no shortage of power at all.

Sickle mowers don't use much power it seems to me, I have cut some very thick fields with it, it will plug of course, but all sickle mowers will under some conditions.

 

[nomad]

Did you check KD101 on Agri-Supply?
http://www.agri-supply.com/catmain/2000009.htm

165 cm ~5ft sickle mower is sold there for $1089. However, I have the same one here, bought for less than $1000.

 

[sweettractors]

Are those 2 you speak of made in Turkey?--Ken Sweet

 

[nomad]

Yes. Agri-Supply (like CCI) has also several top selling items made in Turkey. You imply Agri-Supply sells low quality items?

 

[Dachshund]

There are SEVERAL good units out there. Drive around and look for ones "in the weeds" many of these units are VERY fixable (if not operational) for cheap. BIL just bought an IHC 1300 for $50 - a little tinkering and works good. This may sound odd, but size does matter, especially on a "mounted' (3 point) type. Some of the smaller HP tractors are not made to run some of these units. While they may operate them, they are not meant for them. Had a friend a couple years ago who pulled himself right into a pond because he was using a 9' mower on a small (30 HP) tractor (Be careful on down slopes).

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> In regard to Turkish Manufactured Implements </font>

I would be willing to bet there must be good Ag Mfgrs in Turkey, however, my personal experience with Turlkish made machines left a lot to be desired in quality and workmanship and any dealer network for support parts in the USA. IMHO, 2 or 3 USA retailers dont make a network capable of long term product support--Ken Sweet