Sickle mower buying help?

[countrybumpkin]

I'm looking at buying a older sickle mower to use around some pond banks and slopes on some property we just bought. Looking at john deere 350, Massey ferguson 41 , and new holland 451 style of cutters, I want one I can add hydraulic lift to the cutter bar if I don't find one already set up that way. Which brands and models to look for and which to avoid as far as parts availability and dependability? This will be used on a Kubota l3410 for now

 

[mkreitler]

I owned a New Holland 451 for years with no trouble. Before that a FORD 501.I would go with the New Holland 451 because it's pitman less and can mow straight up if need be.

 

[nc redneck]

I would look for a old Triumph / Alamo hydraulic sickle mower. They were used by a lot of states to mow roadsides. They will work at any angle and tough as nails. I made this for pond mowing.

 

[bcp]

If the cutter is driven by a pitman arm (usually wood), then it will not mow at much of an angle from horizontal. For more angle, you need one with a v-belt drive to the box on the end of the cutter.

Pitman Drive. You can see how the reciprocating bar would try to push the raised cutters 90 degrees to their normal way of travel.


Belt Drive:

 

[Gordon Gould]

Mine is a Superior or First Choice made in Italy. Works well for me and has a hydraulic lift. I have always been able to get mail order parts from Sweet Farm Equipment. It has a 3 belt drive.

 

[countrybumpkin]

That's the type of info from everyone I've been looking for. I really like the hydraulic drive unit, and being mounted on a SSQA would be really nice too. I found a really nice looking superior not to far away from me for 1000 but I'd still have to add the hydraulic lift to it. Also have a question on the new holland 451 hitch, seems the bulky U shape part has given some people issues with smaller tractors so could that part be remove if converted to hydraulic lift?

 

[flusher]

I bought an old belt-drive MF 31 sicklebar mower (not a pitman drive) at auction for $550 a few years ago and put about $200 in new parts into it. Rebuilt it several times. Still not perfect (clogs, narrow uncut strips, etc). Don't see any problem adding a hydraulic ram for the cutter bar. YOu can get the usual wear parts (sickle sections, etc) at Tractor Supply. Bearings might be a problem to locate and remove/install.




Good luck.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Thanks for the close up pics, that looks like about the type of cutter I have in mind no more than I'm going to run it each year.

 

[flusher]

Thanks for the close up pics, that looks like about the type of cutter I have in mind no more than I'm going to run it each year.

No problem.
What part of SE MO? I'm from the STL area.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I'm in Poplar Bluff,