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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

upgrading from sickle bar

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newbie haymaker

01-23-2008 16:30:59




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I am planning on upgrading from my sickle bar this year. I cut about 100 acres with a 62 hp 4wd. I would love a drum or disk mower, but dont think i can justify the cost, is a haybine, mower conditioner an upgrade or lateral move? Any input is appreciated.


Thanks


Newbie




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newbie haymaker

01-25-2008 16:23:17




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
Thanks for all the input on this subject, Kind of like a color war? I have thre different fields that equal 100+/-. I did it last year with a sickle mower, 7 foot. I have really steep hills, ( the kind where your coffe cup would slide off the dash). Iam still not decided what i will do. Disc mower fast cutting: Haybine mow condition and swath(rake?) or upgrade old worn out sickle bar.

I will keep you posted on what i will do.


Thanks


Newbie

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Balatonm

01-25-2008 07:02:41




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
Id go with the haybine, my grandpa had a New Holland for years, Yused it for mainly grass but worked great in alfalfa. Cut,condition,and windrow all in one pass, it spent 95% of the time out side, greased it every spring and replaced a blade or two onc and awile and not a problum.



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ArleninOr

01-24-2008 11:31:46




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
I'm like Mark Also live in western Oregon. Bought my first disc mower in about 1978 and have never looked back. We cut about 400 acres and a loy of it is custom work [nothing in the field] they will cut any thing in the way.Have had to rebuild a couple over the years but if you do them yourself they are not that bad to do. Most of the bearings are available at bearing houses,seals and gaskets at dealers. Wouldn't trade mine for anything unless it is a new one. Course would not sell my used ones to anyone either because when I'm done with them, they are done.Have about 10 years use on my newest one,my oldest about 21 years.

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mark (OR)

01-24-2008 09:41:54




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to 7812, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
I was in the same position a year ago. I have a 7' JD 350 sickle mower and when conditions are right, it will really cut the grass. However, I live in western Oregon and we usually can't cut until mid to late June and on many years a early june rain storm will flatten the grass. The knocked down grass holds moisture underneath and is nearly impossible to cut with a sickle bar. I spent about $1500 on a 3 year old drum mower and will never go back. The drum mower cuts great no matter what the conditions are and even thought the cut width is 18" less, I get feilds mowed quicker since I don't have to get off the tractor all the time to unplug the mower. I already have a tedder and just run the tedder over it 12 - 24 hours after mowing and don't have a problem drying down the grass. Since the drum mower dosen't condition, the rest of the haying process is the same as your sickle mower. I do smaller feilds and could not justify a huge investement. My decision came down to paying $1500 for a simple and reliable drum mower or $1500 for a 20 year old mower conitioner that has 10 times the moving parts and might be someone elses problem.

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Texasmark

01-24-2008 07:01:43




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
My mower of choice for tall vegetation (like for haying) is the swather, combination sickle bar mower and roller crimper, like a JD 1209. Solves all the problem of the sickle (for me) except one..... pond edge trimming and I can't do that either because the trees that sprout and grow at the waters edge make the sickle mower useless..... weedeater works for that, or better yet, cows.

For anything that you can grind up, the rotary mower (bush/brush hog type thing). Just can't beat them in my book.

I have looked at the new disc cutters several times but they have a lot of moving parts and if you buy a used one you can be in for some real repair expenses if it has problems.

Then it still doesn't solve the other problems you (I) have with the regular sickle. To get hay conditioning (crimpinig) you have to go to something like the JD MoCo and you are really out some bucks now.

My 2c

Mark

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R. John Johnson

01-24-2008 06:46:18




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
Depends on what you are cutting. If it is alfalfa then go with something that conditions the crop to speed dry down. If its grass hay then stick with at sickle bar mower. A good sickle bar mower can cut a LOT of hay in a day. If you need to upgrade sickle bar mowers look for an IH 1100, or its clone the New Idea 521. Both have the belt driven balanced head. Excellent mowers!

John



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Leroy

01-24-2008 06:28:49




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
Have never used a disc or drum mower, lot of acres with sickle bar and then haybine. I could travel as fast as I would want to on the ground with either, would not want to try to run at the speeds they say the disc-drum mowers should work at. Neighbor has one, not sure if disc or drum but after field is cut it looks like the ragged cut my rotary mower made before I got rid of it. I would stick to a haybine, I don't like the look of the work of the others.

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TGIN

01-24-2008 02:03:07




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
I bought a new NH disk mower when they showed up in our area . At the time I was running the back roads to get from field to field , some through small gates and down narrow lanes and it was very good at transporting . I saw no other atvantage other than that . I traded back to a haybine and could run just as fast with it I could easyly run faster than I do just aint into the wild ride . I like conditioning the hay to . The disk mower was a real pain to hookup too . I was not impressed with the disk mower .

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Lee in Iowa

01-23-2008 19:58:34




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
I still use a sickle mower cut 35 acres 3 times a year have cut as much as 100 acres 3x a year. If you set up a sickle mower right and maintain it you can cut as fast a disc mower, I've run in the same field with one. If you let your alfalfa get too tall and it goes down a disc mower would be nice, but I've never had much trouble with the sickle when I get it cut on time. From what I've heard if you buy a disc mower it should be new or near new and I never figured i could justify one for my acres. Especially when you can buy a working sickle mower 9' cut for $100 or less. Lee

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LAA

01-23-2008 18:38:39




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
Do you cut 25 acres 4 times or 100 acres 3 or 4 times? If it is multiple cuttings of 100 acres with a sickle bar your time savings alone will pay for the disc mower in a season or two. especially if your in a humid area where rain damage is likely. I own a drum mower which cuts as good as any other mower I've tried but it is only 5.5 feet, I also own a 9 foot disc mower and use it on any fields over 15 acres, I swap up for fuel savings by using a smaller tractor for the drum mower. Check out the prices on both types of mowers at CCM equipment out of Johnson City Tennessee on the internet.

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phillip d

01-23-2008 17:47:52




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
If it is a heavy crop,62 hp will likely work pretty darn hard,before you buy a disk mower,try it out for yourself.If you have enough power to run it,you will instantly be sold!



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pair-a-dice farm

01-23-2008 17:20:26




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  
I guess it depends on your pocket book. I've also used all but the drum mower. I have a Fort 6 disc mower now and it is ok. I'd rather have one that is shaft drive. I also have a NH 7' mower conditioner. I can cut twice as fast with the disc mower and it does a better job.



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KEH

01-23-2008 16:50:12




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 Re: upgrading from sickle bar in reply to newbie haymaker, 01-23-2008 16:30:59  

My opinion, and I've used all the ones you mentioned except the drum mower, is that you are cutting enough acreage to justify a disc or drum mower. The haybine is great if you need to condition hay, but if you have been getting along with a sickle mower you must not need to condition the knid of hay you are cutting. The sickle bar or haybine required constant replacement of knoves and guards. The disc mower rarely needs knives replaced, just sharpened, thus saving a lot of time. As far as I know, the drum mower is the same. My experience in buying used disc mowers has not been too good, and as a general rule, I would never pay more than half new price for a disc mower. While it is true that repairs for disc mowers can be high, so can repairs to haybines if you get into replacing rollers and bearings.
As for drum mowers, my only objection is that they don't have a very wide cut. They, like disc mowers, will cut about as fast as you can sit on the tractor.

Disc mowers do require more horsepower, but the tractor you describe will pull a 9 foot 3ph disc mower with no problem.

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