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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures

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PMG in MD

04-19-2006 14:14:18




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I've read a lot of posts with differing views on using sickle bar mowers. Some love them others hate them. I only have about 15 acres of orchardgrass and mixed grasses that I want to cut for hay and also to occasionally clip fields. I now use a bush hog with my MF 135 Diesel (38 pto hp), which doesn't have remote hydraulics. I'm going to a tractor parts auction this weekend and want to know if I should consider a used sickle bar mower, such as a NH 451. Are they really such a pain in the a** to use and maintain as some people post in these forums?? I'm not rich and can't afford the fancy new stuff (i.e., drum mower) and I understand the mo/co requires remote hydraulics. I'd like some real-world advice for a small time weekend barn rat. Thanks in advance.

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Stephen in SOKY

04-19-2006 18:13:30




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-19-2006 14:14:18  
NH 451's are, in my humble opinion, great for those of us not cutting huge quantities of hay. Angle down to clean cut hay, angle up some for cipping pasture. There was even a wheel assembly available for end of cutter bar that elevates outer end to match your tractor setting allowing you to clip pasture up to 6" high. Very low maintenance if you avoid rocks. We kept 2 cutting every dry hour 5 or 6 days a week in summer for many many years. If maintained, VERY little problem. Avoid 9' bar, too much stress at machine caused lots of breaks after a time.

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PMG in MD

04-20-2006 05:20:20




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to Stephen in SOKY, 04-19-2006 18:13:30  
thanks for the advice. Can I assume that a 3-pt sickle, like a NH 451, would work OK for a MF 135 without remotes?



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Stephen in SOKY

04-20-2006 16:20:23




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-20-2006 05:20:20  
No remotes needed. Once set to your tractor, they're a breeze to use. One little hint; a toplink deicated to this machine to avoid length changes between use makes hookup to mowing much faster. TSC and others still carry both entire blades and just sections. The gearbox at blade (Series of greasable bearings) is where to look before you buy. Some slop is okay, lots means trouble. Don't know that I ever recall replacing one of those belts, sure I did, but not often. Personally I'd avoid any mower with a pitman arm, just me, belt drives are now cheap enough that I think you'd spend more on pitmans than the diference. 451's have nice breakaway feature, just don't over grease! Sorry for long post, I just really like my old 451! Hope this helps.

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Stephen in SOKY

04-20-2006 16:17:48




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-20-2006 05:20:20  
No remotes needed. Once set to your tractor, they're a breeze to use. One little hint; a toplink deicated to this machine to avoid length changes between use makes hookup to mowing much faster. TSC and others still carry both entire blades and just sections. The gearbox at blade (Series of greasable bearings) is where to look before you buy. Some slop is okay, lots means trouble. Don't know that I ever recall replacing one of those belts, sure I did, but not often. Personally I'd avoid any mower with a pitman arm, just me, belt drives are now cheap enough that I think you'd spend more on pitmans than the diference. 451's have nice breakaway feature, just don't over grease! Sorry for long post, I just really like my old 451!

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tom at paris springs

04-19-2006 16:51:39




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-19-2006 14:14:18  
I have used a NH 451 mower for years on 1500 to 2000 bales a year with little work on it.



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Jim.UT

04-19-2006 15:32:49




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-19-2006 14:14:18  
I use a John Deere #9 three point sickle mower, but I'm like you in that I don't have a ton of money to throw at new stuff. Plus I only mess around with about 10 acres total. Because of the small amount of ground I need to cover, I can go an entire season without any kind of breakdown if I'm careful. I've done this as a hobby for about five or six years so now I'm pretty confident that I know which parts I need to keep handy (knife sections, rivets, and pitman sticks).

I don't know anything about the NH 451. Some sickle mowers use a drive belt instead of a pitman stick so that eliminates that headache. Plus with a pitman-less design you can cut at different angles. With a pitman design you have to cut level with the ground.

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old

04-19-2006 14:44:54




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to PMG in MD, 04-19-2006 14:14:18  
Well unless you get a 3 point sickle mower you still will not be able to use it. But that said, if well maintanded a sickle mower works well. Right now I even have one to many and am thinking about sell one of them, but it has to have remotes



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Randy as in Randy-IA

04-19-2006 17:31:49




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to old, 04-19-2006 14:44:54  
Hi Old ! I'd like to modify your statement a little if I may . You don't actually NEED hydraulics , at least with some brands of ( trailer type ) sickles . My Oliver 415 is one . I mowed with it the first cutting last year without a remote . I used a come along and got off the tractor every time I had to lift it :) . That was a LOT of work for a very small amount of acres . I don't recommend it HA-HA . Needless to say I got a remote cylinder for the next cutting . But without hydraulics he should stick to a 3-point ...Randy

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JMS/MN

04-19-2006 17:40:16




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 04-19-2006 17:31:49  
In the 50s New Idea made a trailing mower that had a mechanical lift- pulled a rope to operate it- raised the bar. Lift power came from the pto drive. Also had swing-away feature when hitting an obstruction.



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Jimmy King

04-20-2006 02:28:02




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to JMS/MN, 04-19-2006 17:40:16  
We had a New Holland with a rope lift.



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Randy as in Randy-IA

04-19-2006 19:06:50




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to JMS/MN, 04-19-2006 17:40:16  
Yeah , the Oliver was capable of that also . Mine doesn't have the parts for the rope lift but they are shown in the owners manual . It has the breakaway too . And when it does breakaway it doesn't break the pitman stick . I can mow at about 6 mph with it in grass after about 3 weeks of pounding on the guards getting them lined up perfectly and a new knife bar with old worn out ledger plates . I've been wanting a belt drive to cut the ditches but they bring to much around here . Take care ...Randy

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IBorange in TX

04-20-2006 15:24:47




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 Re: Sickle Bar Mowing Hay and Pastures in reply to Randy as in Randy-IA, 04-19-2006 19:06:50  
Everyone has their own likes. I was raised on using a sickle and still use one for hay. One of the better mowers is the IH 1300 style. They were made/sold by other dealers. I use a 9ft sickle behind a MF 35. It is of the 3pt hitch and works great. Learning to use a sickle might be tricky for someone who has never ran one. The sickle cuts the stalks and lays them down, the bushhog type mower cuts/really conditions the grass before it lays it down. Hog cut hay is extremely difficult to bale in a round baler. email me if you need more instructions.

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