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Which direction cutting hay with a sickle bar

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Ray in Pa.

06-06-2003 20:53:52




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I was curious about which direction everyone goes when cutting their hay with a sickle bar mower when the fields are unusally wet. I would either loose hay by going clockwise and running over it and flattening it down too much causing too much to be skipped and not cut on the next pass, or I loose hay by going counter clockwise and running over the previous cut pass of hay of which flattens it too much, thus making it harder to rake from being packed to the ground. I thought maybe someone might have some advice on what I seem to be over looking when cutting hay with a sickle bar mower.

Thanks Ray in Pa.

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JD70Jim

06-08-2003 09:41:16




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
What you do is, you cut the OUTSIDE pass counter clockwise, then you reverse direction and do the rest of the field in a CLOCKWISE direction. This will have you driving over the cut hay.

If you use a tractor with a properly set, wfe and properly set rear wheel spacing, you will drive on the space left between swaths.

Rake the hay in the same direction it was cut.

The owners manual contains this information (at least the old ones I have for the JD #5 and JD #8W mowers do)!

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FRANK

06-07-2003 20:07:24




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MOW HAY.YOU SHOULD'NT BE ON THE TRACTOR IN THE FRIST PLACE YOU DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE MOWER AND TO SET IT FOR THE HAY THAT YOU ARE TO CUT.YOU BEST GET SOME BOOKS ON YOUR MOWER AND TRACTOR AND DO
SOME READING. ALSO TO BE SAFE IN DOING IT. PEOPLE THAT DO NOT KNOW THE FARM EQUIPMENT GET HURT OR KILLED.



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Hugh MacKay

06-08-2003 07:24:34




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 Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sick in reply to FRANK, 06-07-2003 20:07:24  
Frank: I kind of have to agree with Ben, This is just the greatest place to come and ask questions. I think you really missed the point of what Ray was asking. Safety you know is not an item exclusive to farm equipment. I have over the past 3 months been involved in numerous discussions with Ray and can tell you that after a career of 1000 acre dairy and cash crop farm, I have no concerns about his concept of safety when discussing farm equipment with him.

I think Ray was just wanting a systematic travel plan of mowing the actual field. A question that many of us old farmers find a bit trivial. However, my guess is Ray will find all kinds of novel ways to mow hay once he has raked and baled some hay. I supose he could take the baler and rake, travel the field and figure this all out ahead of time, might make the mowing a bit tedious though. I think it is rather exciting to see these guys wanting to do this, and wanting to do it right. You really didn't tell him a whole lot.

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Ben

06-07-2003 21:33:11




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 Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sick in reply to FRANK, 06-07-2003 20:07:24  
I thought this was a place where people could ask questions about things they didn't know the answer ,I guess I was wrong ,anyway , if you can't type without using all caps , maybe you shouldn't be on a computer !



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Charlie

06-07-2003 10:34:32




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
If your field is that wet you probably shouldn't cut it anyway as it will never be dry enough to bale and not mold.



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Phil Munson

06-07-2003 09:51:22




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
Good one! It is a joke isn't it? Actually I don't get it, but I did not want to admit it.



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sammy the RED

06-07-2003 16:14:17




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 Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sick in reply to Phil Munson, 06-07-2003 09:51:22  
LOL



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larry

06-07-2003 06:25:38




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
I start the backswath counterclock wise to get a full swath then clockwise the rest, i had a kid working for me when i asked if he knew how to cut hay he said sure i went out to check and he was cutting all the hay counterclockwise in other words driving on the standing hay that was a big mess but he did say later it was easier to cut by driving on the cut hay we all have to learn but one thing for sure it was the field farthest from the road and all the neighbors knew

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howster mighty fine

06-07-2003 04:32:50




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
start clockwise and keep going. I leave the backswath, (along the fence) to cut counterclockwise when i am done, this way it gives the grass time to straighten up and also if there is obstuctions i won't knock a sickle out of my mower the first thing. I rake the same way. you can't help running over the mowed hay. If the field is so wet that it causes a problem maybe you can wait till it dries out. A wide front tractor would run over less hay.

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Vern

06-06-2003 22:14:10




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 Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sickle b in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-06-2003 20:53:52  
Make your first cut counter clock wise with the bar next to the fence. the second cut (and all others) are done clockwise.



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Ray in Pa.

06-07-2003 22:57:16




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 Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay with a sick in reply to Vern, 06-06-2003 22:14:10  
I see Frank failed the Question. Thanks to everyone else who took the time to explained how they cut their hay. To be fair though, I guess I should of precisely mentioned that I'm actually trying to cut rye (before it goes to seed and weeds start to grow in it) so as to bale clean straw. The problem here in Western PA. is that we have been about 10 to 15 degrees below normal average temperature since March and in this area it rains pretty heavy about every 2 to 3 days since April. To make a long story short, I was just kind of curious as to whether other farmers cut their hay from the middle out, or cut from the outside in, and why they think their way might be a better way no matter how its done.

Thanks, Ray in Pa.

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Tim(nj)

06-08-2003 17:19:16




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 Re: Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay with a in reply to Ray in Pa., 06-07-2003 22:57:16  
Now that you mention it, I do recall someone from out in West Texas telling me they cut pivot-irrigated alfalfa from the center out. I know someone who has a center-hitch discbine, and he mows around the outside six times, then goes back and forth. He can, however, cut on either side of the tractor (or straight behind it, even) by using the hydraulics to pivot the hitch.



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Ray in Pa.

06-10-2003 21:03:42




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Which direction cutting hay wit in reply to Tim(nj), 06-08-2003 17:19:16  
Thanks to everyone for the great information. I always keep an open mind to learning better ways of doing things. I have been using sickle bar mowers for cutting along alot of fence lines and lanes for about 20 years, but just started cutting small acreage fields for baling two years ago of which is a new experience. I figure it's always good to ask questions when in doubt.

Thanks, Ray in PA.

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