NI 5212 disc bine.......opinions?

Just looking for tips on what to look for when checking out the cutterbar and gearbox on one of these, or any other discbine for that matter. I kind of had my heart set on a center pivot 10-12' machine, but the side-pull 5212's seem to be a lot more prevalent around here. I've heard a lot of good things about the New Ideas from a durability standpoint, and from being relatively simple to work on if something does go wrong with the modular cutterbar and shaft drive gearbox.

There's a Gehl 2412 on the same auction. I've run a few of these before and liked them, but have heard the cutterbar's are a bit more difficult to repair if problems occur.

I know buying a used discbine is playing with fire, but I really can't afford to drop the money required even for a new 9' disc mower.

I run over 30 acres of my own hay annually, and have somewhere in the area of 40 acres of custom work, which might increase, so I think a bigger discbine is justified.

Any thoughts you guys have are appreciated.

The only downside I've heard about the cutterbars is that the hexshaft that runs accross and drives the cutter sections will twist after awhile and it makes it real hard to pull the sections apart.

Hope you make out good at the auction.

Josh in WNY

If you get it, I'd open the cutter bar and check the grease level in each unit.

I'd love to know how it checks out and what it brings. Been wanting to upgrade a little bit with a longer bar (never had but an 8 footer, but I am running two of them). This year they've got to cut a little over 300 acres with half of that two cuttings and half alfafla at 4-5, plus whatever custom work comes along. But, I priced a new 12 foot Deere (with the way our ground lays a 12 foot bar is about all you want to keep from scalping spots) at a shade over 18,000. Thats too much for me.