HP requirements

If you buy the ford, it"s the same thing as a New Idea 290 mow/ditioner. They were made by NI and sold as Ford. I think IH may have one made by NI also, but I"m not sure.

As long as you"re not in really heavy alfalfa, you should be fine. I ran it once with our 165 Massey (about 35 HP) in alfalfa and wouldn"t want to do it again. We normally run 80 HP on it w/ our 285, and we can go in 1st high (4th gear) with the MP up.

There are 2 different size sprockets that drive the reel off the end of the crimper roller. The smaller one is slower, the larger one is faster. The extra is supposed to be bolted next to the gear box on the PTO side. For reference, I think they are 15 and 21 teeth.

The main difference in the 2 is ground speed, which translates into how many horses you got up front and if the hay is down or not. The 21 tooth is 1 gear faster for us.
Donovan from Wisconsin

The part-timers, sundowners or hobby farmers all are looking for equipment that works, is affordable and fits their size operation demands. You might want to look at the CCM drum mowers. Less than $3,000. They have the capacity of up to 6 acres an hour and will mow any crop in any condition. You ask why should I care if the mower will mow in the rain. Here is the reason why. If you are using a sicklebar or haybine when the dew is on the grass you are out of business. You can tale a drum mower and mow in the mornings before work or in the evenings after work where you could not do this with a single action sicklebar mower or haybine.

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