What size disc mower?

[ddivinia]

I have my rake and baler, now I need a mower. I am going to buy a disc mower and a mower caddy to put it on.

The real question is how long is just right. I started thinking about transport on a trailer, etc. I was thinking 10' 6" and by the time that is on my tractor and trailer - I bet I have a problem. Maybe 9' 2" is a better number.

What are you guys running?

The shorter one is a tad cheaper also.

So, 9'2" or 10'6"

Comments?

D.

 

[chh]

I'm back to looking a the 9'2" size also. They seem to run aout a $1000 cheaper around here. I can get 2 Krones for $7400 apeice new and can get 2 caddies for $2450 each. I may have to wait on the caddies though. From what everybody tells me they will sure make life easier though. Rhino had a disc mower out for $6500(if I remember right). They are not as heavy as some other brands.
At the Tulsa farm show the KMC caddy rep swore that they are the only brand that doesn't have bearing problems. I live 60 miles from where Stoney Point caddies are made though and can pick them up at the plant.

 

[ddivinia]

I'm back to looking a the 9'2" size also. They seem to run aout a $1000 cheaper around here. I can get 2 Krones for $7400 apeice new and can get 2 caddies for $2450 each. I may have to wait on the caddies though. From what everybody tells me they will sure make life easier though. Rhino had a disc mower out for $6500(if I remember right). They are not as heavy as some other brands.
At the Tulsa farm show the KMC caddy rep swore that they are the only brand that doesn't have bearing problems. I live 60 miles from where Stoney Point caddies are made though and can pick them up at the plant.

Which model Krone are you looking at? I am looking at the AM-283S a 9'2" and it runs $8700. Are you getting the same one for $7400 new?

KMC caddy is running me $2750 new.

Everybody I talk to says the Caddy is a "no brainer" after you have to put that mower on and off a couple times.

I have not looked at the Stoney Point caddy. Also, just because you can pick it up at the factory does not mean it will be cheaper. Many times they don't discount as much even though it would make sense.

With the dollar going in the crapper, all these European cutters are going to get more expensive. My dealer says he has a yr price guarantee or so.

In regards to parts, there seems to be plenty of dealers around here.

D.

 

[chh]

I'll check that price, but that is the model I was looking at. The dealer was cheaper on them than the MF/New Idea mower of the same size. The Krone looks to be a better built mower. I like offset wheel design of the KMC caddy better than the Stoney Point. The price you got is $500 or so cheaper than the quote I got at the farm show. I'm doing this deal on a strictly cash basis so if I get the 2 mowers the caddies will have to wait until next year though. The only real savings on the Stoney Point caddy for me is the "freight charge" the dealers tack on. When I can afford a caddy though we will see what I come up with. They are supposed to be a real back saver if you have to constantly hook/unhook to mow, rake, and bale. They are also supposed to enable you to cut a square corner. That elimates have to "cut out" the corners after cutting a field.

 

[ddivinia]

I'll check that price, but that is the model I was looking at. The dealer was cheaper on them than the MF/New Idea mower of the same size. The Krone looks to be a better built mower. I like offset wheel design of the KMC caddy better than the Stoney Point. The price you got is $500 or so cheaper than the quote I got at the farm show. I'm doing this deal on a strictly cash basis so if I get the 2 mowers the caddies will have to wait until next year though. The only real savings on the Stoney Point caddy for me is the "freight charge" the dealers tack on. When I can afford a caddy though we will see what I come up with. They are supposed to be a real back saver if you have to constantly hook/unhook to mow, rake, and bale. They are also supposed to enable you to cut a square corner. That elimates have to "cut out" the corners after cutting a field.

Why 2 mowers?

I know people that use their forklifts to put these mowers on. I guess if you remove them and place them in mind that you need to put them back on - it is probably a lot easier.

The Krone seems to be one of the best mowers out there. I believe that is what I am going to buy unless a smoking deal comes by on a used one.

D.

 

[Renze]

Why use a caddy on such a small mower ?

 

[JESSE1]

It takes me about 5 minutes to hook up my Kuhn mower. I think the real advantage of a caddy is to be able to use the mower with a smaller tractor. Picking up a 7 or 8 disc mower can almost lift the left rear wheel up on a smaller tractor. You could also tip the tractor over making a left turn with the mower raised.

 

[ddivinia]

Why use a caddy on such a small mower ?

I could probably live without it, but it sure looks like it could save me a lot of headaches. If I had to run it with my smaller tractor, it would be handy also. I suspect it will be easier to store it in my barn being on wheels, I can roll it back into a corner somewhere.

What size mowers do you have?

Do you use a caddy on any of them?

D.

 

[ddivinia]

It takes me about 5 minutes to hook up my Kuhn mower. I think the real advantage of a caddy is to be able to use the mower with a smaller tractor. Picking up a 7 or 8 disc mower can almost lift the left rear wheel up on a smaller tractor. You could also tip the tractor over making a left turn with the mower raised.

How big is your Kuhn mower?

They have an option for the mower caddy to add a 300lb weight on the opposite side. Not sure I need it on the 9'2", but I would put it on the bigger one.

The weight might make it safer to store the mower off the tractor in an upright position.

I don't have it all figured out yet, but I am working on it.

D.

 

[JESSE1]

Mine is the Kuhn GMD700, 7 disc. I think it cuts a 9' swath. My dealer didn't recommend the 8 disc because it's almost too tall to transport when hooked to the tractor and loaded on a trailer. The weight of the mower is not an issue with the 6400 JD I have.

 

[ddivinia]

Mine is the Kuhn GMD700, 7 disc. I think it cuts a 9' swath. My dealer didn't recommend the 8 disc because it's almost too tall to transport when hooked to the tractor and loaded on a trailer. The weight of the mower is not an issue with the 6400 JD I have.

I think that is good advice. I was leaning towards the 10'4", but I think 9'2" is the right choice.

Who makes the John Deere mowers?

Thanks,
D.

 

[JESSE1]

I think Kuhn still makes the JD mowers. About the only disadvantage to disc mowers is that the bar does not flex and follow the contour of the ground like a sickle bar does. The longer the bar is on the disc mower, the more likely you will skip over some of the grass when the ground is uneven.

 

[ddivinia]

I think Kuhn still makes the JD mowers. About the only disadvantage to disc mowers is that the bar does not flex and follow the contour of the ground like a sickle bar does. The longer the bar is on the disc mower, the more likely you will skip over some of the grass when the ground is uneven.

That is good info. I just don't think I want to deal with a sickle bar mower. They have a bad reputation around here.

How many acres are you baling a year?

D.

 

[JESSE1]

I'm only baling around 40 acres between 2 pastures. We started out in '82 with a New Holland sickle, 851 baler and 256 rake. The sickle mowers work well and follow the contour of the ground. Not good if the grass is too long, the sickle will try to ride over the top of the grass. They are light and don't take a large tractor to run. You have to remove the cutterbar to sharpen or replace the blades.

 

[chh]

Sickle mowers won't allow you to cut near as fast as a disc mower. I'm planning on 2 mowers so I can have one on each tractor. My wife and I work together, so 2 mowers will put us across a field faster. The main advantage for me on a caddy would be the ease of hookup. Both of my tractors have the slip ends on the 3 pt. lift arms though so that will help if I don't get the caddies. Hooked and unhooked the Fella mowers we used last summer several times and it wasn't that big a deal. Kuhn still makes JD mowers. I can buy a Kuhn at the MF dealer for several hundred dollars cheaper than I can by the JD though. Of course that's the JD dealer here and well......
The weight option on the caddy is for a counterbalance. They told me at the farm show it could support a 14'?? mower, I believe.

 

[HayDR]

I'm back to looking a the 9'2" size also. They seem to run aout a $1000 cheaper around here. I can get 2 Krones for $7400 apeice new and can get 2 caddies for $2450 each. I may have to wait on the caddies though. From what everybody tells me they will sure make life easier though. Rhino had a disc mower out for $6500(if I remember right). They are not as heavy as some other brands.
At the Tulsa farm show the KMC caddy rep swore that they are the only brand that doesn't have bearing problems. I live 60 miles from where Stoney Point caddies are made though and can pick them up at the plant.

Rhino uses a Comer cutterbar. It is the same as a Sitrex, Tonutti and NH econo mower. It is a conventional clam shell oil bath gear drive cutterbar.
You might want to check out the shaft drive HayMAXX 280 9'2" disc mower.

 

[JoeinTX]

"That is good info. I just don't think I want to deal with a sickle bar mower. They have a bad reputation around here.

How many acres are you baling a year?

D.."


Sickle mowers were king here for better part of the last century but the disc/drum mower has done a job on them.

-sickle mower? More sensitive....must mow slower with them.....require more regular maintenance and repair. But, they require less hp to run and and repairs are generally easier and cheaper for the average joker like you or me.

-disk/drum mower? Much more resistant to field obstructions and can cut much faster. But, they need more HP per foot and and, even though needing general repair less often, when repair time comes they are more expensive and complex than their sickle brethren.


It all evens out in the end, though. We have an old AC pull-type sickle bar mower and it's a hoss. 40+ years on and it cuts like heck behind a Ford NAA or 8N in light grass, admittedly, but it does so with about one tooth replacement per season and the grease needed to keep it lubed.

 

[HayDR]

It all evens out in the end, though. We have an old AC pull-type sickle bar mower and it's a hoss. 40+ years on and it cuts like heck behind a Ford NAA or 8N in light grass, admittedly, but it does so with about one tooth replacement per season and the grease needed to keep it lubed.

We have a drum mower that will work on a 8N Ford.

 

[ddivinia]

Rhino uses a Comer cutterbar. It is the same as a Sitrex, Tonutti and NH econo mower. It is a conventional clam shell oil bath gear drive cutterbar.
You might want to check out the shaft drive HayMAXX 280 9'2" disc mower.

I checked out the HayMAXX. My thing is I want to support my local dealers because I want them there when I break it. Not if, but when.

D.

 

[chh]

Which model Krone are you looking at? I am looking at the AM-283S a 9'2" and it runs $8700. Are you getting the same one for $7400 new?

D.

checked today, it is the Krone AM-283S 9'2" $7400 new, assembled, and picked up at the dealership. Even offered me a slight discount today if I would get 2.