Plotting down the road plans - very much interested in a discbine of some sort. Definately want a mower with a conditioner as my Hesston 1110 did a great job conditioning my timothy hay this past summer - amazing!
However for me - this haybine vs discbine is a two sided coin, each with their advantages and disadvantages.
Haybine advantages: Biggest IMHO is low hp requirement. We like to say we farm at 50 and under hp. Any tractor on our farm, even my brother's Ferguson TO-20 (IMHO) could run a sickle haybine if required. Along with that thought is - no need to upgrade to a higher hp tractor.
Haybine downside: Evening/early morning cutting before or after day job hours. It would be nice to mow (if necessary) after the dew and dark falls - just to finish up the job. My Hesston does a great job, but as our fields thicken, not sure it would work to well without plugging with dew/dark? The other is maintenance guards and sickle sections. Poking an eye out on the reel tines or cutting a finger on the knife! One broken section and my precious daylight begins to escape with a repair.
Discbine: Advantages - cut anytime. Unless going into a gearbox, simple to remove and replace the blades. Super simple maintenance IMHO.
Discbine disadvantages - higher hp requirements. MAYBE I could reasonably run a New Idea 5209 (aka MF 1359) or a JD 625 moco if I keep my ground speed down. Honestly, anything over 5 mph on our place might get you thrown off the seat. If minimum hp is based on 10 mph, maybe we've got a chance with 50 PTO hp at 5ish mph. So with higher hp, we likely need another tractor. Higher hp = more $$$'s too.
So I toss around in my mind - run the Hesston 1110, keep an eye out for a deal on a 9 ft sickle haybine and continue with the fleet I've got, plus some 50's era yesterday's tractor to be added later.
Or - bite the bullet and get a discbine and higher hp tractor.
Or maybe it doesn't matter.
Maybe these discbines are somewhat overrated and a haybine can deliver the mail - long term.
Anyone prefer a sickle haybine over a discbine? If so - why?
BTW - below is a link to a New Holland Workmaster 55 pulling a Kuhn mower conditioner. The mower conditioner cut width is 9ft-9in. The Workmaster PTO hp is 47-49. Don't know how long that tractor is going to last with that load (maybe it isn't a load) or the coolant needle pegging into the red, but impressive IMHO. Note the JD 625 is an 8ft-2in moco and might be work with my 50 PTO hp JD - will never know unless I give it a try - one of these days.
Workmaster 55 and Kuhn FC300 at work
However for me - this haybine vs discbine is a two sided coin, each with their advantages and disadvantages.
Haybine advantages: Biggest IMHO is low hp requirement. We like to say we farm at 50 and under hp. Any tractor on our farm, even my brother's Ferguson TO-20 (IMHO) could run a sickle haybine if required. Along with that thought is - no need to upgrade to a higher hp tractor.
Haybine downside: Evening/early morning cutting before or after day job hours. It would be nice to mow (if necessary) after the dew and dark falls - just to finish up the job. My Hesston does a great job, but as our fields thicken, not sure it would work to well without plugging with dew/dark? The other is maintenance guards and sickle sections. Poking an eye out on the reel tines or cutting a finger on the knife! One broken section and my precious daylight begins to escape with a repair.
Discbine: Advantages - cut anytime. Unless going into a gearbox, simple to remove and replace the blades. Super simple maintenance IMHO.
Discbine disadvantages - higher hp requirements. MAYBE I could reasonably run a New Idea 5209 (aka MF 1359) or a JD 625 moco if I keep my ground speed down. Honestly, anything over 5 mph on our place might get you thrown off the seat. If minimum hp is based on 10 mph, maybe we've got a chance with 50 PTO hp at 5ish mph. So with higher hp, we likely need another tractor. Higher hp = more $$$'s too.
So I toss around in my mind - run the Hesston 1110, keep an eye out for a deal on a 9 ft sickle haybine and continue with the fleet I've got, plus some 50's era yesterday's tractor to be added later.
Or - bite the bullet and get a discbine and higher hp tractor.
Or maybe it doesn't matter.
Maybe these discbines are somewhat overrated and a haybine can deliver the mail - long term.
Anyone prefer a sickle haybine over a discbine? If so - why?
BTW - below is a link to a New Holland Workmaster 55 pulling a Kuhn mower conditioner. The mower conditioner cut width is 9ft-9in. The Workmaster PTO hp is 47-49. Don't know how long that tractor is going to last with that load (maybe it isn't a load) or the coolant needle pegging into the red, but impressive IMHO. Note the JD 625 is an 8ft-2in moco and might be work with my 50 PTO hp JD - will never know unless I give it a try - one of these days.
Workmaster 55 and Kuhn FC300 at work