opening field with hydroswing mower conditioner

Looks like we may have a dry week starting on Monday, so I can finally try out my new to me 499 New Holland haybine. I haven't used a hydroswing before, or a 12' haybine, so there will be learning curve I'm sure.

What I'm wondering is, what folks who use these normally do for opening the first few passes around the field? With my old 9' side pull haybine, I would take first cut around the field clockwise, keeping the tractor a few feet from the edge. Then take 3 or 4 more clockwise passes, then mow as lands, then take outside cut counterclockwise before I left the field, since that's usually where I would hit the clumps of dirt, etc.

With the 12' mower now, I'm not sure how well I will be able to judge how far to stay in from the edge on the first pass. Thinking that if I misjudge it and get too close, I could end up picking up the windrow on the counterclockwise cut and plugging the mower. So I'm thinking maybe take the outside pass first counterclockwise, then clockwise after that. But I don't like the idea of mashing down the crop on an inner pass either.

Just curious what others do. It will probably be clear to me what to do after I get half way around the first pass, but I'd like to avoid causing more problems for myself if possible.

When I had mine,I'd go CCW first.

I"ve got a 12' hydroswing. It doesn't make any difference which way you go on the first pass. The only thing for you to think about is which side you want the mower on when you make the last swath around the outside of the field. I personally, like for the mower to be on my right side. 'Seems it's easy for me to watch the fence and move the mower with the hydralic lever with my left hand. I found that I need to be about 3-4 feet away from the fence on the first pass. It's a lot easier to mow the last pass if you've given yourself enough room. If you drive too close on the first round, you will constantly be adjusting the mower on the last pass. You will want to make six rounds around the field. What I do is mow five rounds and then cut the fence swath.This then gives me my six rounds. Any less than six and you won't have enough room to make the turns on the ends. Then, simply mow back and forth rotating the mower from side to side. Just stay away from the fence the first few times. After you've gotten used to the mower, you'll get better at judging the distance. Since this is your first hydra swing, I'd probably advise keeping the mower on your right side for the first initial rounds. You'll catch on real quick how it feels to have the mower on your left side. It's different! You'll soon get used to it. It's the neatest thing there is!! You're gonna like your hydra swing!!

Thanks for the info. I think I'll leave myself plenty of room on the outside for my first time using it. Seem to have best luck picking up the crop in the tire tracks if I'm cutting against the direction that I drove. Basically all rounds are CW, except last one CCW. Can't wait to try it out. As the saying goes, experience is a tough teacher, since she gives the test first and lesson afterwards! Have 20 acre field of alfalfa/timothy/orchard grass to mow. Have another 4 acres of timothy/orchard to mow for the horses, if I can get this thing throw a 14' gate! May use the swather for that otherwise. I'm running the 499 with a Massey 1100.

No matter what you do, you"re going to drive over standing crop, one time. Center the machine behind the tractor and cut the outside round, then make additional passes as needed for turning. I can"t imagine needing 70 feet to turn the machine (I"ve used a 14 footer), but for starters, try 4 passes total.

14' gates are bad. I"ve got 16 footers....and I have to be careful. In fact, I've decided that 16' gates are a thing of the past. My mower is a Hesston 1340 hydraswing. I love it. Do yourself a favor and take that end gate post out under "controlled conditions" rather than with your mower. You'll learn to manuever that mower real good. It's amazing what you can do with one.

I sometimes cut the backswath first... but the downside with that is that if there's any obstructions on the edge you're going to hit them wheras if you start cutting clockwise... you drive over whatever's on the edge. Think I'd stick to going clockwise and mabey drive a bit wide... and if you leave some hay, you leave some hay.

Rod

I have a 16' gate to go through to get to a field that I rotational graze, that should be OK. As an option I can take the long way around through there so I don't have to go through the 14 footers, just have to move the cows over a little while I drive through. Probably well worth the time to do that instead of mowing with the 12' swather. The 3' wide unconditioned windrows don't dry well, and this year I'll be lucky to get 3 dry days. Haven't had them yet, but next week looks promising.

With how tall the grass is, I'd hate to find some gremlin that's hiding in the roadside or by the woods on my first pass of the season. think I'll leave it for last.

right or wrong I always mow my very outside pass first. no need to "judge" how wide to go that way.