7 ft haybine up to?

Rod

The mounted disc mowers are fine to a point. We had two PZ Falzet 230 Disc mower conditioners and destroyed both in about 5 years each. It was a poor mower in my opinion. Too many shafts and obscure moving parts.
We went to a NH 465 after that which is a repainted Kuhn GMD77HD. That's been a very good mower and taken a lot of abuse from rock. There has not been one bearing changed in that bar, and the bar hasn't been opened yet, BUT it does now have a leak on the outer end from wearing thin.
IF you do go looking at them check to see that the bearings are tight (disc's don't wobble), look at the underside of the bar for wear, particularly on the outer end. Check the lift pivot for slop since that could be in need of new bushings. I'd also open the gear box plugs and check the oil if that's possible and have a look for crap. I always changed the oil annualy in that mower and never had any trouble with the gear train. Replaced shafts, jackshaft bearings and belts along with a lot of blades and skid shoes though. The older mounted Deere mowers were also Kuhn mowers although a more basic spec I believe.
I'd not be keen on anything but a Kuhn bar, but that's just my personal preference. You can do OK used, but check them carefully.... and if at all possible, buy the scrap one and rebuild it. I bought a 'good' discbine 2 years ago and wish I hadn't. Next one WILL be scrap. I'll go through it and then I'll know what I have.

Rod

Gerald J.

70hp will pull a 9ft discbine fine too, although it will use more fuel since it's maxed out. a 7ft discbine would be slick and you still cut faster than with a sickle machine, so you gain on time.

i think 20 acres isn't much though. 7ft is quite adequate. I think the old minnesota mower on the f12 was only a 5 footer and grand dad only had 160 acres then, some was in corn, some grains and some homestead. now 250 acres of hay with 9 ft is slow to me.

karl f