What size disc mower?

ddivinia · Jan 28, 2008

chh said:
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.

Hum, I better get my guys to check their numbers. $1K here and there adds up.

Thanks,
D.

jwcinpk · Jan 29, 2008

Have you considered Fort First Choice mowers?
I've run a 9ft Fort for 5 years and no problems other than a drive shaft yoke because I hit the support wire on a telephone pole and couldn't stop in time. Only paid about $3700 for mine.

chh · Jan 29, 2008

They are $5795 plus freight now. I think I would rather have a local dealer.

HayDR · Jan 29, 2008

jwcinpk said:
Have you considered Fort First Choice mowers?
I've run a 9ft Fort for 5 years and no problems other than a drive shaft yoke because I hit the support wire on a telephone pole and couldn't stop in time. Only paid about $3700 for mine.

First Choice has quit selling Fort. Buy Smart mowers are now made by Galfre'. There were once 5 Fort distributors and now there is only one left.
The main reason for the increase is the devaluation of the US$ to the Euro from 1.08 in 2003 to 1.48 now. This means it takes $1.48 = 1 Euro.

mark.r · Jan 29, 2008

JESSE1 said:
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.

This is also a concern of mine. I have looked at the Kuhn's as well although smaller than the GMD700 due to running smaller tractor. I believe I looked at the 5 disc unit. I don't think it should be a problem when loaded on the trailer though.

ddivinia · Jan 29, 2008

CCI said:
First Choice has quit selling Fort. Buy Smart mowers are now made by Galfre'. There were once 5 Fort distributors and now there is only one left.
The main reason for the increase is the devaluation of the US$ to the Euro from 1.08 in 2003 to 1.48 now. This means it takes $1.48 = 1 Euro.

Yeah - I am debating a Krone on that perspective exactly. What about parts, etc. There are a lot of Krones out there and they are not a fly by night company. Parts might get totally crazy prices. I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

jwcinpk · Jan 29, 2008

chh said:
They are $5795 plus freight now. I think I would rather have a local dealer.

Wow what a jump in price. Almost 50% in just a few years. I was thinking of trading and getting a new one, but I geuss after seeing that price I'll just keep what I got and put a curtain and blades on it.

The dealers here in KY are still selling them.

chh · Jan 29, 2008

ddivinia said:
Yeah - I am debating a Krone on that perspective exactly. What about parts, etc. There are a lot of Krones out there and they are not a fly by night company. Parts might get totally crazy prices. I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

Not sure I have ever heard which are and which aren't. There are so many around that are "rebadged" I can't keep them all straight.

CCI?? Do you know offhand on this one?

ddivinia · Jan 29, 2008

I think we will be able to tell by price. Of course big companies can play games with the pricing depending on they pay. US dollar, local currency, etc. Foreign goods are going to keep going up, no doubt.

D.

HayDR · Jan 30, 2008

ddivinia said:
I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

There is not one cutter made 100% in the USA. The disc mower technology did not start here and many of the patents expired in the 1990's
Here is a list of the manufacturers that more than 50% of the unit is made in the USA. Most PTO's, blades and mounting hardware are imported and most of the castings are imported.