Sickle Bar Sickle Mowers

[Bird]

I had one of the bigger Stihl string trimmers and also had the metal blade (just like an 8" circle saw blade) that would cut pretty good sized saplings. But when the doctor told me to try to avoid, or limit use with, things with vibration like that and my chain saw, I sold it to my brother and he still uses it. I looked at several other brands of the wheeled trimmer/mowers, and sure didn't like the price of the biggest DR, but it does seem like the best machine. I use different sizes of string for different jobs and I also have a "Beaver Blade" which is a 12" diameter metal blade with a chain saw chain around it that will cut down saplings in a hurry. Of course, most of my use is with heavy string (.130") with the head cocked off to one side to mow under and/or along fences and around trees and buildings. And while my ground is a bit rough, it's relatively flat, except around the three culverts and borrow ditch across the front, and free of rocks. Now I'm certainly too lazy to say I like it, but I haven't found anything better for the jobs that have to be done./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[W5FL]

I found the string in bulk, but it was a little smaller than the .130. The pre-cut are way too expensive to use. Any good sources of .130 in bulk and approx price or price/ft.

The metal blade that fit my Sears trimmer was more like a smooth blade with notches in it not like a saw blade and it just didn't work very well on the big stuff.

 

[Bird]

Yeah, Wen, Country Home Products sells the .130" in bulk or pre-cut, but I buy it cheaper locally and cut it myself (about 2" longer than they recommend), and I prefer the 4 or 6 sided string to the smooth round string. And for just the grass in the yard, I prefer the .105" to the .130"

Bird

 

[wurso]

Bird,

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Right now since I've been cut in so many places without success (it looks like I've got zippers going up both arms), I'm a bit surgery shy. But perhaps the day will come when I ought to take a trip to Dallas.

Thanks again,
--Wayne

 

[Bird]

I know the feeling, Wayne. I've been in for surgery 5 times in the last 5 years, and only once in 43 years before that. I don't know how a person is supposed to find out which doctors are good and which are not, but I do know that this doctor specializes in hands and arms only, and folks come long distances, even from other states, for his services. And the other thing I liked about him is that he discusses options, leaves the decision up to you, and believes in surgery only as a last resort. When he operates on one hand, he prefers to wait 6 months to do the other one, but after 3 weeks, I told him to heck with that; the one he cut on didn't hurt anymore and it was time to get on with it on the other one.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

I own a horse drawn sickle mower, but no horse.
-----------------------------now for the off topic stuff.
I had a doctor tell me that wearing wrist braces while you sleep would fix 90% of the carpel tunnel cases. It was all I could do not to laugh at her. I absolutely didn't believe her, but have been doing it for 5 years now and the situation stays completely stabilized without surgery. Guess some of the old country docs DO KNOW what they are talking about. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[wurso]

Thanks for the good word, Wen. I've tried the braces (only at night, then only in the day, then 24 hours a day, etc.). Accupuncture, physical therapy, Active Release Techniques, Chiropractors, Aquatic Therapy, Surgery (multiple times), etc. In short, if I thought it had a chance at working, I tried it. Perhaps something at some time will work, but no luck so far.

Thanks again,
--Wayne

 

[Bird]

Wen, I think if you catch it early enough, the wrist braces might help (anybody need the two pair I have?). I've read that the best thing is immobilization. But I'll guarantee if they hurt bad enough, you'll shed those braces in a hurry so you can move your wrists and get at least a little relief.

Bird

 

[JimBinMI]

Wen,

Are those 6 hp engines diesel? Or have you been sniffing too many diesel fumes on that M6800 and now you're comparing gas engines to diesel engines? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[W5FL]

Jim,

6 HP diesel is exactly the same as 6 HP gasoline.

They really compare very favorably, when properly designed.

I have driven a lot more gasoline tractors than Diesel tractors and they are low speed high torque engines also. Diesels are excellent choices as they will run on really bad fuel, have a lower cost of operation provided you use one enough to benefit from it, and have almost zero ignition problems. They probably would not have become so popular if the present emission controls had been in force at the same time controls were placed on gasoline engines. For someone that uses a tractor 100 hours per year, a diesel is not as cost efffective as a gasoline engine.

On a string trimmer, probably one buyer out of 1000 would be interested since they burn only a few gallons per year.

 

[JimBinMI]

Re: Diesel vs Gasoline

Wen,

You said, "6 HP diesel is exactly the same as 6 HP gasoline."

Wow! This is not what I've read here and on other boards for over two years. So, a 68 hp gas engine put into your M6800 would do all of the same work? Same torque? Same economy?

Why do they make diesel truck engines if they are exactly the same as gas and gas engines cost less? Why do Semi's use diesels if gas will do the same?

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[Hawgee]

Re: Diesel vs Gasoline

6 apples = 6 apples. One group has more juice. Different taste. Different smell. Different chrome trim.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

 

[gerard]

Re: Diesel vs Gasoline

HP is a measure of the amount of work an engine can do. It doesn't care how much fuel it takes to do the work or waht the torque curve is. Diesel is more efficient for steady load with more torque which is why it is preferred for tractors, semi's etc. It also develops more torque at lower RPM's than a gasoline engine. (Also less complicated, heavier built and better longevity) I think what he meant was 6hp is 6hp whether from a gas engine, a diesel engine, an electric motor, or 6 horses!!

 

[W5FL]

Re: Diesel vs Gasoline

Not sure about the real horses (they are strong) or electric motors - which pull some fast ones of their own.

Yes, design determines the torque curve rather than the fuel. That said, diesel is much higher compression and can get higher torque with a smaller piston and better fuel efficiency. Highest gasoline compression I ever drove was 11 1/4:1 and it sure wasn't a tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[TomG]

Re: Diesel vs Gasoline

HP is a fairly limited concept of work. It doesn't tell you much about how a machine actually performs on the ground. However, the definition if HP is fairly standard and is identical for diesel and gas engines, not withstanding various alternative definitions such as Metric and French units.

Torque/HP curves are determined by engine design. However, diesel fuel probably has an inherent advantage at low RPM's, and most diesels are tuned to produce power at low RPM's.

 

[jgh]

Re: Carpal Tunnel/mowers \"off topic\"

8/9

Wen, my wife also wears the braces a lot and her CTS is indeed pretty stable. But all she has to do is something like bus tables in our restaurant one night, or, worse, work in the kitchen swinging our heavy 6 gal pots, and trouble happens. My own non-professional conclusion is that with NSAIDrugs (anti-inflamatory) the braces can hold off the need for surgery, but cure is a big leap. Time will tell.

Some of you have referred to vibration (such as trimmers and walking mowers) as an aggravating factor. Anne would say a big yes to that, also /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

Good luck to ye sufferers and "use more implements" /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif,

Jim

 

[TomG]

Everybody might check out a book called "Pain Free," by Peter Egosque. There is a section on CTS.

My wife came across the book, and it does seem to be good for what 'aches' me. I've had lower back injuries most of my life except when I was in soccer training, but I did have a flock of other sports related injuries.

I did manage to escape CTS despite 10 years of Conga drum playing. I believe the surgery has a fairly low success rate, and it's good news if yours turned out well. Surgery or not, CTS often is a career ender for a percussionist.

The methods described in the book require very few exercises, but laying around in odd positions is required. The methods seem to be a good management tool for me. I don't like drugs or surgery Chiropractic seems to get rid of the pain quickly, but may not produce a long term remedy for me. Physio (physical) therapy may have potential, but you about have to show up in a wheel chair before a physio can think of anything other than ultrasound. I shouldn't knock physio, because a year and a half of it did save me from back surgery. I did a real number on the back doing my own roady work in the sound business. Guess I should have been a 'hard businessman' and just left clients with big ideas and small budgets fend for themselves. Client supplied roadies weren't very reliable.

Anyway, using methods in the book seems to be putting visits to professionals much further apart than in recent years.