Mowing TC29D - handle a sickle bar or disk mower?

[fred.hayfarm]

I need to cut tall weeds and grass hay on about 10 acres couple of times a season. Can I do it with the TC29D (I mean to ask the dealer next time he's open)? Seems a sickle bar mower would do well. What's the comparison between sickle bar and disk mowers - cost, maintenance, speed? I'm a one man operation so ease of maintenance is a big consideration. What should I look for (and look out for) in used mowers? Thanks.

 

[Mike120]

You can't handle a disc mower with a tractor that size although you may be able to run a drum mower....Check with Carter & Carter (CCM). You CAN run a sickle mower with it. For 10 acres that's all you need anyway. A disc is just faster and needs a much larger tractor. Lots of used sickle mowers around. Just check the bearings, guards, knifes, wear plates, hold-down clips, etc. Even if you have to rebuild the cutter bar, it's not than expensive and it will last a very long time if maintained.

I hate to say this but if you are looking for "ease of maintenance", I'm not sure you should be thinking about haying.......

 

[fred.hayfarm]

Thanks, Mike120, for the info. I figure it's all comparatively easy until it gets to the baler. That might be a cooperative or a hire in effort for a while, at least until I can move up a few notches of horsepower and have some more experience.

 

[Mike120]

Good Luck! For 10 acres it's hard to justify spending a lot, but if you take your time you can find some good deals. You can find local used equipment on Used Tractors at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Caterpillar. , Used Tractors and Farm Machinery from Fastline , Craigslist, etc. I just sold a lot of my old hay equipment this year and bought new. This is the first summer in years that I haven't had to repair something.....