Sickle Bar Sickle Bar

[normde2001]

I get a www.com web address along with the picture, otherwise it should be pretty evident by now.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I get a www.com web address along with the picture, otherwise it should be pretty evident by now. </font>

I see it up in the address bar now, thanks /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[nomad]

Double blades or double actions much better than single blade or single actions. But you pay double money for the double action. In my area, double action or double blade mowers are being sold more than single action single blade mowers. But sales of single action mowers is also very good as there are many farmers who think single payment is enough.

 

[allenp]

As has been posted several times, the question here is “Country of Origin”. Without a doubt CCM has provided a wealth of information on who makes what and where, and in some cases, provides his own opinion regarding the quality of the equipment. For example, I gleaned the following from several of CCM's postings:

Sicma, Coroni, Sitrex: Made in Italy, they also make private label equipment for others

First Choice Tillers: Made in Italy by Sicma, good quality
Based on what I have read in several postings, it leads me to believe that CCM was once, but is now no longer associated with First Choice.

Industrial Tillers: Made in Italy by Sicma, cheaper version, sold by Goforth

Rhino Tillers: Made in Italy by Sicma

Muratori Tillers: Made in Italy, sold by Leinbach

Kioti Tillers: Made in Italy by Sicma

…..and numerous postings that spell out who is using what components; what country they originate from; what models are no longer on websites; who is traveling where looking for alternate sources; who copied who, and so on.

…..but dances around direct questions (who makes what and where) regarding his own products. In my opinion, and I stress my opinion only, one should not make subtle digs on others if you are not willing to disclose the same information.

I do find some of the information very interesting, however, I can do without the digs.

 

[nomad]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( one should not make subtle digs on others if you are not willing to disclose the same information.
)</font>

No one would be posting anything here on these forums if everybody was asked to pay back by giving info also about him/herself for each info he/she gave about the others for free. Free info isn't being appreciated - but asked to pay back. Never do a favor- was a saying of who? I don't remember.

 

[Inspector507]

Sounded like a dealer pi$$ing contest there for awhile /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rambler]

Actually, it's close to a dealer [censored] contest - but not quite. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif More of a dealer & international distributor trying to look like something they are not.

Thanks for taking the high road, Ken. I'd be listening to you - knowing the players as I do. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just my 2 cents worth. PM's are welcome....

--->Paul

 

[HayDR]

Thanks Ken,
The exposure your questions have give us on the Super 65 mower have created much interest and many internet sales on these units. Now even more customers know of the high quality of the Busatis cutterbars and the "Low End" prices (as you described) that CCM offers.
CCM serving customers since 1972

 

[allenp]

Rambler - I tend to agree with you. I don't have a bias toward the quality of products from either dealer, however, Ken comes across as more of a "straight shooter".

The comment I made about "subtle digs" was in NO way directed toward Ken or Sweet Tractors...in fact, it was more of a compliment on him. He asked a basic and direct question - where are they made?

 

[normde2001]

I got a dumb question....Why do we care where they are manufactured? Is there a country out there making farm equipment that we don't like???

 

[allenp]

Generally, I do like to know where things are made. Does it really matter to me personally - sometimes no, sometimes yes. It all depends on what I am buying, how much it costs, long term support and so on.

In this case, it's simply a matter of principle. I resent one dealer making subtle negative comments toward other brands or dealers - when a lot of the comments are directed toward to where they are made - and not divulging the same information on his own products.

Back to the original posting on sickle bar mower, I'm sure it's a good value for the price and at least part of it is made in Austria.

Once again, this is my opinion only.

 

[rambler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I got a dumb question....Why do we care where they are manufactured? Is there a country out there making farm equipment that we don't like??? )</font>

Parts.

Everything breaks. Farm equipment (should) last a long time, all you do is replace the consumable replacement parts. There are a lot of 50 year old tractors running hard days, my baler is 40 years old & I can walk into the dealer & buy 90% of the parts it needs off the shelf - the other 10% is an overnite order. Same with my sickle mower, my mower/conditioner, etc.

Hay making is an extremely time-sensitive activity. You can't wait 3 weeks for parts. You've then lost 2 crops - more than the value of a sickle mower! Sickle sections, guards, ledger plates, hold-downs, bar stock, and such are all wear items on a sickle mower. you need to replace these periodically, or your mower is worthless.

So, where do you get parts for an imported sickle mower? How long will those parts be available? How expensive will they be (A _real good deal_ can get real expensive when you only have 1 supplier of these parts & they charge double what any other brand charges...)? Can you get parts from Sloan, Shoup, the farm supply store, a national dealer network? Or is XYZ Company going to be the only source? What happens if they quit, or stop handling those parts?

In addition, are the bearings, sleeves, and so forth aan easy to find common size, or are they some oddball from another country that we can't find here in the States?

I do not know the answer to those questions for the machinery discussed in this thread. I would have to know before I even bothered to look at the equipment. It would be a waste of money to buy something that has no quick parts support or a 25 year lifespan of product support.

I do not wish to pick on anyone here, I mean this reply in a much broader sense. (Since it has been asked where these mowers come from, and there is no reply at all - I am using it as an example. However, I don't know anything about them, and do not want to imply anything negative or positive about these specific mowers/ dealers.) There are a lot of import dealers showing up with the popularity of small-scale farming. They sell all sorts of stuff from all over the world. They are cheaper than name-brand stuff you have heard of before with dealer networks. Some look like good deals. some are built flimsy & are cheap. That's fine if that's what you want. Some items have been around forever & you will always find parts for them. Some are built from very common parts you can get from the local auto parts store.

And some are odd metric sizes or have wierd casting housings that don't fit anything we can find. They get used for 1-5 years and are shot, not because they were poorly built or bad - but because it will cost $800 to ship/ manufature a replacement part that no one else can get for an item that was a 'good deal' at $1000 total.

So, parts is the thing. If you buy something new, it should be a long-term purchase. You need to consider resale value, etc. Without knowing where the thing is made, you can't figure out where (or if) you will be able to get parts for it.

That is how I go shopping anyhow.

Again, to emphisize, I have not dealt with any of the dealers or the machines mentioned in this thread, and I am not speaking out against anyone specifically here. Just my general ideas on how I shop for equipment and why. That is what you asked.

--->Paul

 

[normde2001]

Nice (long) answer, however those questions could pertain to 95% of the products that we use.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">those questions could pertain to 95% of the products that we use. </font>

I agree; they do pertain to most of the products we buy.

However, it doesn't matter to someone so much if their foreign made washing machine, clothes, TV or other products break. But if you depend on your tractor and implements for your livelyhood, I could see a very valid concern for parts availability for foreign made products, or even US made products with some foreign parts.

Our family had many VWs back in the 60's when I was a kid. Most of the time the dealer could fix them in a day or two. However, I distinctly remember several times when we were without a car for months, waiting for parts from Germany. Of course, that was 35 years ago. Things with cars have changed since then, and I'm guessing things with tractors have, too. Most major tractor brands, be they foreign or US seem to have a good supply of parts, from what I have read. I don't know how it is with implements. Maybe the dealers can enlighten us on this subject.

 

[Fisherman305]

I have found this posting to be informative to me. I have made up my mind of what i am going to do, however I do wish that someone had replyed that had purchased the super 65. It is my intention to purchase this from ccm unless someting develops before i get there. In additions will also probable purchase the hay rake.