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disc vs drum mower

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chief 83

07-20-2004 20:55:07

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Now that I have purchased some horsepower I'd like to step up to a disc or drum mower. The sickle bar works OK but the newer mowers cut through about anything and much closer to the ground. The drum mowers seem much less expensive than the disc. I'm guessing there's a reason for that. Should I stay away from a drum mower? I'm not really even sure of the differences in them.

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chet

07-23-2004 10:37:44

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

Ditto what BUD said, I could not justify a disc mower $$$$. T-165 cuts without any problems. I only do a few acres of square bales so it works well for my situation.

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BUD

07-23-2004 03:37:15

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

I BOUGHT A CCM165 DRUM MOWER FROM CARTER/CARTER MACH. AND IT WORKS GREAT , DOES EVERYTHING THEY SAY. BEST MONEY I HAVE SPENT .

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Stu

07-22-2004 15:03:45

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

We use Vicon mowers. One is a mower/conditioner & the other are just plain disc mowers. The mower/cond. will make 90 degree corners & you can cut ANY hay as fast as ground conditions allow (keep rpms up). If you cut large stem hay you would be better with a conditioner, other wise buy the standard because you can cut banks & ditches that would be impossible/unsafe with a brush hog. Stu.

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havvey

07-22-2004 03:25:14

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

drum mowers never caught on here but sweets farm equipment sells disc mowers at a much cheaper price than the big names! there are afew others like landpride etc that are good for small farmers

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Hay Dr.

07-22-2004 09:58:16

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to havvey, 07-22-2004 03:25:14

Sweet Sell the Fort/Morra/First Choice Mowers and they are cheaper for a reason.

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Joe Crow

07-22-2004 02:00:53

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

If you don't have a conditiner it is like not having a fiddle in the band

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Rob

07-22-2004 16:36:13

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Joe Crow, 07-22-2004 02:00:53

I agree, I like the conditioning my 488 haybine does, but I think the impeller would do a better job than the rollers. I used to use a sickle mower, and I don't want to go back to not having a conditioner.

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Hay Dr.

07-22-2004 10:56:37

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Joe Crow, 07-22-2004 02:00:53

Of the 20,000 hay mowers sold last year in the USA only 17% had conditioners. Looks like you are in the minority

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Davidj

07-22-2004 04:24:56

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Joe Crow, 07-22-2004 02:00:53

Joe, being a fiddler myself, I like the way you think.

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Ken

07-22-2004 10:00:18

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Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Davidj, 07-22-2004 04:24:56

What if all the veneer has come off your fiddle and can't play worth a darn?

The rubber has come off the conditioning rolls on the 489 we use and it wraps and plugs solid every 50 ft if not carefully, every 1000 feet if you are very carefull and stop to let it clear every 50 ft.

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Tim(nj)

07-22-2004 10:18:19

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Re: Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Ken, 07-22-2004 10:00:18

If you're only doing grass hay, Gehl and New Holland both make disc machines with tine conditioners. They'll let you put up hay even faster than the disc mower/ tedder combination. But they are $$$.

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Hay Dr.

07-21-2004 12:11:25

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

Drum mowers fit a niche for smaller farmers that want the technology of disc mowers are half the price.CCM DRUM Mowers start at $2,000. Both mowers mow the same way and use similar blades. The CCM drum mowers do not need exterior hydraulics. Most all disc mowers use hydraulics.
This design was first patented by a Dutch company, PZ, in 1969. The drum mower is proven to be the most durable design among all hay harvesting mowers. Exterior Hydraulics are not needed
Safety Release to prevent damage
CAT 1 T-135 and CAT 1 & 2 hitch for T-165 & T-185
Comes complete with a PTO with an over-ride clutch
Belt Driven & with quick change blades
Mows up to 5 acres an hour and WILL NOT CLOG UP

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RayP(MI)

07-21-2004 18:24:44

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Hay Dr., 07-21-2004 12:11:25

At the risk of being risque, what's under the skirt? What is the mechanism of a disk mower? How does it differ from a drum mower?

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Roy inUK

07-21-2004 23:22:27

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Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to RayP(MI), 07-21-2004 18:24:44

Something with no skirt on!

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Steve450

07-21-2004 12:38:12

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Hay Dr., 07-21-2004 12:11:25

Hay Dr., does the drum mower condition also or does it just mow??? Just wondering.

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Hay Dr.

07-21-2004 13:19:16

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Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Steve450, 07-21-2004 12:38:12

CCM does not have a conditioner on them. The drum mower will mow when the grass is wet from dew or raining. With a sicklebar mower or haybine you will have to wait until the grass dries off before you can mow. You will gain a day's curing time with a standard drum and disc mower over a sickle bar or haybine. With a tedder and a standard drum or disc mower you will put up grass hay quicker than any haybine out there.

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Cliff Neubauer

07-21-2004 11:36:53

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

I've never even seen a drum mower in this part of IA but there are disk mowers all over the place, I can't help but think that if the drum mowers were as good as disk mowers they would be more popular. This is our third year with our NI 5409 disk mower and our only regret is not buying one sooner. We have cut our mowing time by more than half and the disk mower is so easy to use it makes mowing hay fun. We've mowed well over 200 acres of hay this year and our total repairs have been two blades, a bolt and a nut totaling less than $10.

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Chris Brown

07-21-2004 10:54:45

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

I may be a dumb hick,but what is a drum mower? I know a disk,a flail,a sickle,and a rotary(brush hog). But don't think I've ever seen a drum mower. Anybody got a picture of one?

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Jerry A.

07-22-2004 13:13:54

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Chris Brown, 07-21-2004 10:54:45

A drum mower has any number of "drum" that hang from a gearbox mechanism and spin very fast. These drums have small knives that are attached to the lower lips or edges and spin around to cut the forage. Overall, I think fewer moving parts than a disc mower. I've got a Zetor model, 2 drum, that works great. Only cuts about 6' wide, though, so a little slow, but it'll knock down 6' tall weeds like nothin'.

Check out this pic of a 2 drum unit.
http://www.masterfarm.co.uk/drummowers/mowers.htm

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Mike (WA)

07-21-2004 08:28:24

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

We have a lot of rank, down and tangled grass in Western Washington (usually rains most of June, so knocks down the still-growing grass, and it's a mess to cut). Disc will go right through it, but it tends to wind around the drums on a drum mower.

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James in NC

07-21-2004 05:59:10

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

The drum would be a step up from a sickle and if you don't have a lot to cut it will probably serve you well, but the disc mower is newer technology and will perform better.

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Roy in UK

07-20-2004 23:40:23

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Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to chief 83, 07-20-2004 20:55:07

All I can say is here in England disc mowers are far more popular. I can speak from experience but in all fairness the drum mower I used was one of the earlier ones, a Fahr KM4. 4 drums 5'6" cut. (about 1968 I think)It was very good in its day, and it made ye olde sickle mower look stupid as it would cut through any thick and tangled crop in any direction and wa-hey! no more sickle sections to sharpen/rivet/replace etc. 10 mins. and you could replace/turn over all 8 blades. We changed to a disc mower, a Vicon 8' and it seemed far better. It absorbed no more power ( less in fact) even though it was 3' wider. Also (remember I told you the drum mower was an early model) The disc mower was stronger built. You pays yer money and yer takes yer choice but on the whole I would prefer the disc.

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Ken Macfarlane

07-21-2004 06:40:45

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Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Roy in UK, 07-20-2004 23:40:23

I'm in the same boat looking to get something that is faster, less maintenance and less problems.

The simplicity of the drum type appeals to me but are extremely rare in Canada. Discs are all over the place here but a lot of the used ones are busted. You can cut much faster and obviously when you hit something really solid more things break.

There is one up the road with the entire frame twisted due to hitting something.

I'm venting a bit as the conditioning rubber is coming off the haybine I'm using and I have to cut hay out of it every 15 minutes. I wish I could just take the darn rollers right out for the moment!

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Roy in UK

07-21-2004 14:14:55

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Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Ken Macfarlane, 07-21-2004 06:40:45

All the disc ( and for that matter drum ) mowers I have seen are fitted with a "break back" device, should you be unfortunate to wallop something like a big rock/ tree stump etc or if you get a little bit close to the fence/hedgerow on your "backswath" run. Mowers with twisted frames are usually the result of this safety feature been over tightened or rusted up.

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Ken

07-22-2004 10:04:10

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Re: Re: Re: Re: disc vs drum mower in reply to Roy in UK, 07-21-2004 14:14:55

I guess I should be more specific, disc mower conditioners are all over here. Tehy have no breakaway as they ride on a wheeled chassis.

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