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Discussion Forum

Sickle or Rotary?

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Doug

06-17-2003 05:34:54




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I need to cut 20 acres of weeds. Goldenrod, thistle, etc. It was farmed last year, but is grown up this year. I will probably have most of it farmed next year, but will need to cut about 5 acres of smaller areas after that as it gradually goes back into grass. Which will be a better choice to buy, rotary or sickle cutter? Thanks for your advice.




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Roy in UK

06-19-2003 03:26:09




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
I grant you that a sickle mower does leave a tidier finish, but as for having the job of sharpening and /or changing individual knife sections, fiddling about with worn ledger plates,(changing blades on a rotary is much simpler) and the fact that rotary mowers sail through thick tangled crops that no sickle would touch....
I think the last time I ever used a "Sickle mower" was in the same year that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon!

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Wow!

06-18-2003 12:57:30




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
Thanks for all of your advice. I think I will opt for a new bush hog style rotary as a necessity. Sounds like it will be more of an all around tool. But I will also look for a decent used sickle mower. I will hope to pick one up sometime in the next couple of years, and use it as an enjoyable mower. I've always enjoyed watching a sickle mower work.



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Otis

06-18-2003 15:38:50




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 Re: Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Wow!, 06-18-2003 12:57:30  
Here is a link to pictures of my tractor with the sickle mower in use. It is a lot of fun to mow with it. The thing works great. It came original with the tractor in 1939.

Otis



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Kelly C

06-18-2003 22:08:15




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 Re: Re: Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Otis, 06-18-2003 15:38:50  
Otis.
Great photos of that farmall cutting grass.
If you are willing I would like to post one to my web site. I have a section for Farmalls in action.
I liked photo fasm10. But you could send me any you like instead.
Just email me if you would like one on my site.
Kelly



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Otis

06-18-2003 10:32:06




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
I cut about 4-5 acres of old hayfield about 3 times a year with a 6 foot sickle bar. It is hard to manuveur in tight areas. Also, the fine, lawn-type grass is tough to cut with a sickle. My unit works great otherwise.

Personally, I think a rotary mower is more versitle. A belly mount for my tractor would work great in the tighter areas. It also helps mulch up the debris.

Each type has there pros and cons, and depends on your cutting needs. If it is open field and you are just trying to control the growth, a sickle is the way to go. Also much faster. If you're looking more for a good looking finish, opt for the rotary, but plan to mow more often too.

Just my point of view. Hope this helps.

Otis

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BushogPapa

06-18-2003 08:18:02




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
If you are cutting full grown grass and weeds, and have enough horse power, I would look at a Flail mower..it grinds it all up, and won't kill out the grass underneath... One pass and it is all done..with a Bush Hog, you have to over-lap to get the grass the wheel has tramped down... The result is a 6' Bush Hog only cuts less than 5'....If you want to do a Good job...



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knuckleskinner

06-18-2003 08:14:12




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
I am looking for the same answer, just getting started. I understand that sicklebar is needed if you want to cut hay, since it leaves the grass less chopped up. From the responses you got, I think I will go with sickle for the lower cost, less fuel, fewer moving parts, the versatility for hay, and the "pleasant swishing sound". Just my 2 cents.



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john

06-17-2003 21:37:04




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
my suggestion would be to use a sickle mower also as they hold up very well, i have used one for a number of years with no problems



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Gary in TX

06-17-2003 19:57:15




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
Are you meaning disc mower or bush hog style on your meaning of rotary?????



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FRANK

06-17-2003 19:38:10




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
WHAT DO YOU WANT SICKLE BAR MOWER WILL NOT CUT TO GOOD IN GROUND THAT WAS NOT LEVELED FOR HAY OR GRASS THE ROTARY WILL CUT IT DOWN FOR YOU SO YOU CAN PLOW IT AND SEED IT TO HAY OR GRASS AND THE ROTARY WILL KEEP IT BETTER IT'S LIKE YOUR LAWN MOWER. A REEL TYPE OR A ROTARY SO IT'S UP TO YOU WHAT YOU WANT AND THEIR IS PRICE ONE AND WHAT TYPE TRACTOR THAT YOU HAVE



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Tbone

06-17-2003 19:04:29




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
Rotary mowers have to many moving parts. Sickle bars are slower but will last forever without very much expense.



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Ed Hotaling

06-17-2003 18:41:16




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
I use a sickle bar for everything mainly because it's what I have. As Tom A said, it takes a little practice using one, but the weeds do seem to die off over a couple of years worth of mowing. The big advantage of the sickle bar is that it uses less horsepower (FUEL) than a rotary, but viney weeds can clog it up. The offset mounting also helps when trimming under trees but can be a liability in tight places. I average about an acre an hour with a 6 foot bar including trimming.

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TomH

06-17-2003 16:01:47




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
I'd use the sickle. Seven or nine foot swath in fourth gear. Set it to cut as low as it'll go but wait for a dry day. I've had no trouble cutting trees up to about an inch in diameter with a sickle, but you might want to slow down a little. Rotary is better if whatever you are mowing is already down (spoiled windrows of hay, harvested corn stalks, etc).

If you want grass, consider not mowing at all; spray with roundup and rent or borrow a no till grass seeder.

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Tom A

06-17-2003 06:04:59




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 Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Doug, 06-17-2003 05:34:54  
Just my opinion: There's pros and cons for each, so I use both depending on time of year and what mood I'm in.

I find my rotary is faster and easier, but is also lots noisier, dustier, and doesn't cut quite as close so weeds don't die off.

Sicklebar is slightly slower and takes a "knack" to use, but once learned is much more pleasant (relaxing swishing noise) and cuts consistently closer so my perennial weeds have just about disappeared after a year or two.

Tom

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Ridr

06-17-2003 07:20:06




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 Re: Re: Sickle or Rotary? in reply to Tom A, 06-17-2003 06:04:59  
rotary , they will mow day in and day out and whatever you run over , just my 2 cents



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