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3 pt sickle bar mower use

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pmg

03-15-2006 11:05:20

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Does anyone have experience using a 3 pt sickle bar mower? I have about 12 acres of mixed grass pasture that I've been mowing with a 5-ft bush-hog, and would like to know if a 7-ft 3 point sickle bar mower would be better and faster. What makes/models are best and what should I look for OR avoid in a decent used one? I ride a 38 pto hp Massey in the rolling hills of Maryland. Thanks in advance.

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msb

03-16-2006 17:26:34

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

About any sickle bar will do a good job if the thing isn't rusty so grass hangs up on the rust,the sickle is sharp with underserrated sections(smooth if the hay is gummy) and the ledger plates are not worn out and the hold down clips are adjusted so the knife is held close to the ledger plates on the guards.A sickle bar is not a tool that you want to store in the "big shed".Try to find a pitmanless mower like a MF Dynabalance,a CaseIH 1300 or a Deere 350. I have a CaseIH 1300 and it is a good mower.Owned a Deere 9W before that and it was a good mower,but a pain to put on the tractor.

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RayP(MI)

03-15-2006 18:09:47

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

Have a Deere 350 - OK on some fields, faster than a rotary, but then it"s wider. Have lots of trouble from plugging in thick grass, however, and have to resort to a rotary. Wanting to pick up a flail type chopper, open up the back and throw the cuttings back on the ground to cure. Think it would work far better than rotary. rotarys tend not to cut close, and leave a lot of uncut hay on the ground.

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RayP(MI)

03-15-2006 18:08:42

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

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Dave H (MI)

03-15-2006 19:08:27

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to RayP(MI), 03-15-2006 18:08:42

C'mon Ray! An ole farmer like you ought to know how to run a sickle! You either got an adjustment issue or are runnin it too fast too early in the day!

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Stephen in SOKY

03-15-2006 16:44:45

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

New Holland model 451. They're great! No telling how many acres of hay I've cut and pastures I've clipped. Even had a wheel I could mount (Factory made) that would allow cutting at various heights up to about 6" when clipping pastures. Avoid any mower with a pitman arm (Wood). Belt driven mowers are now cheap enough to never have to fool with pitman arms again! Just my thoughts!

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Daniel Patterson

03-15-2006 15:41:57

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

I know that I sure can fly with my IH sickle bar mower. I run at about 2000 rpm with a Ford 3000 gas and it 7th or 8th out of 10 speeds. This can sometimes get too bouncy for the fields. So long as the PTO can spins fast enough you can mow pretty fast.

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Jim.UT

03-15-2006 15:29:59

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

I use a JD #9 sickle mower on a Ford 850 (40 hp +-). I don't have any experience with a bushhog mower so I can't compare, but I generally mow in 3rd gear. I'd have to look at my tractor proofmeter to tell you what mph that translates to.

I don't mow as much ground as you do. I probably do 8-10 acres total (4 very small patches between 1 and 5 acres each). I then follow up with a Ferguson DE-O-25 three point rake and then a Ford 542 baler (a couple of days later).

I usually cut when the grass is up to my knees. Sometimes the weather prevents me from getting to it until it's halfway to my waist. The mower does a nice job.

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Dave H (MI)

03-15-2006 13:08:52

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

I use SB mowers a lot. Have at least three working ones around here. Speed is probably comparable. Rotary mower makes a mess, leaves a lot of irregular stubble....yes I have one of those too. Sickle will drive next to what you are cutting and will leave a neat looking result.
Lays cut material over flat. Probably should remove the swath board if you are not going to pick it up. Try not to let it get too tall and thick if you are not going to pick it up. I have great luck with these and like them a lot. Model for your tractor I cannot answer.

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Tom 671

03-15-2006 11:30:53

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

I prefer a sickle bar over a rotary mower, due to the fact that I am not driving in the weeds all the time and it keeps my radiator cleaner which keeps the tractor running cooler. Just my personnal preferance.

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FergieFlyer

03-15-2006 11:28:58

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Re: 3 pt sickle bar mower use in reply to pmg, 03-15-2006 11:05:20

pmg- I have a Ferguson F-EO-20 Dynabalance 7" sickle bar mower. I don"t use it too much now, so I can"t tell you about the "faster and better" part, however I do know that it is one of the smoothest mowers made...no vibration. I takes some time and and a thorough reading of the instructions to mount. I think MF made a Dynabalance (#31...??, easier to attach..?) after the merger. My grandfather used it to mow a pasture and other hay ground and it worked great. I"ll try and post a picture. Mike

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