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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Sickle-bar mower lesson needed.

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tonybackache

01-08-2005 07:59:14




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My father is going to turn tractor over on him cutting off ditch & levee banks with current MF 1100 (no roll-over bar) & 6' bush-hog.
I would like to purchase a sickle-bar mower & put it on his FORD 3600 Diesel. Wouldn't it handle 9'? I found a NH 450 7' for $350.00 Price about right? Friend has a JD 9'(belt driven,unsure of model#) for $200.00 Can the existing sickle sections be converted to bolt-on sections? I will have to do everything from purchase to getting it operational on tractor. He doesn't like change. But does like a better idea after someone else puts out the effort. He has about 2 miles of ditch/levee banks to cut no brush. The NH mower had a attachment that looked as if it hooked under belly of tractor? Down the road and I got energetic could a remote cylinder be attached to the sickle-bar for better height control?

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RickL

01-10-2005 06:25:15




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
That ford tractor is not upset proof. Ditches and dropoffs seem to always win not matter what tractor you have. Is this area worth his life!!!. I have not aeen any weed yet that are worth someones death. Will agree not pretty to look at but in some cases death is not option as far as I am concerned. We lost 6 fellows last year,had to mow that ditch!!!!



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mdk

01-09-2005 16:36:00




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
We were trying to do the same thing on our pond dam.From the top surface of the dam to the waters edge was about 7-8 ft. but very steep(1 to 1 slope i would guess)We wound up buying a 7 ft. # 120 IH balance head mower.The cutter bar on this mower will operate in almost any position and works good at this steep downhill angle.Works good for us and beats the heck out of a weedeater.



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Hay Dr

01-09-2005 13:16:33




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
That is a good buy on a JD #9 but I am not sure that JD #9 will fit on a 3600 Ford. You might want to look for a Ford 501 or a Ford 515 sickle bar mower. A good 501 Ford sicklebar mower usually cost $200-500.



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Leroy

01-17-2005 14:40:08




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to Hay Dr, 01-09-2005 13:16:33  
He didn't say that it was a J D # 9 mower, a 9' JD mower unknowen model



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tonybackache

01-10-2005 18:08:21




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to Hay Dr, 01-09-2005 13:16:33  
Hay Dr- What is the reason do you think the FORD 3600 won't hook to the JD Sickle Mower? Hitch pins #2 Category? Are the FORD 501 & 515 belt driven sickle bars?



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Sid

01-08-2005 21:27:40




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
I agree that would be better. I would prefer the shorter bar for ditches and banks, maybe even consider shorten it to six feet. I would also prefer the mower mounted under the tractor. I think the price is close to right I wouldn"t want to go higher. Yes you can use the section bolts. It would be possible to add the remote cylinder. I would also recommend a wheel to hold the outer end of cutter bar up rather than the outer shoe.

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leland

01-08-2005 19:57:45




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
Can't you just find a ROPS for massey. Might be cheaper.



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RickB

01-09-2005 08:36:12




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to leland, 01-08-2005 19:57:45  
Guess you haven't bought a ROPS in the last 20 years or so.



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leland

01-09-2005 12:21:57




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to RickB, 01-09-2005 08:36:12  
What's a life worth to you, I will never operate a tractor again with out one .those close calls wake you up. The price of a ROPS should not matter if life's worth more to you.



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leland

01-08-2005 19:56:38




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
Can't you just find a ROPS for massey. Might be cheaper.



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chief 83

01-08-2005 17:37:45




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
I guess my opinion of sickle mowers is a bit different then the others that have posted. I think properly adjusted they work just fine. Yes you can replace riveted sections with bolt-on although I stil use the rivets most of the time. I do use the bolt-on if I have to make a repair in the field. If you have been mowing with a brush hog on the back of your tractor I think you would be much better off with a sickle mower doing ditches. It would seem much safer to me. It probably won't do as good of a job if the grass is only 3 or 4" tall. At around a foot they should mow fine. Just my opinon. I've been cutting 25 to 50 acres of hay with one for 35 years or so. Man, I'm old!

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txblu

01-08-2005 17:26:19




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
I tried sickles twice and got rid of them both times. Maybe for mowing ditches (with no obstructions) where you aren't particularly interested in a hassle free nice even cut.

Sickles just have too many inherent problems in their design to suit me. Always something changing to cause you to stop and clean things up.

Might want to consult a local who uses one. Watch the process and ask questions.

Mark

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FH

01-08-2005 16:26:27




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
Tony, How about putting that 6' Bush Pig on the Ford? As I remember, and it's getting harder to do, the 1100 is a 'platform' tractor with a fairly high center of gravity, especially when compared to the FORD. May want to spread the wheels on the Ford, too, if able. A sickle blade will work as long you have mostly grass. Like Paul said, it also adds some weight to the rear end though not nearly as bad as a disc mower. Older sickle mowers can be finicky when well worn. I've run both on steep ground, prefer the Pig.

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paul

01-08-2005 11:51:07




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to tonybackache, 01-08-2005 07:59:14  
The problem I see is that a long bar mower puts more waight to the down-hill side, making a tractor even more tippy. I'm not familiar with MF, is your hope that the Ford is a lower more stable tractor & will overcome the added side weighting on a sickle mower?????

Otherwise all the issues you raise can be dealt with.

--->Paul



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Harold Hubbard

01-09-2005 05:37:03




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to paul, 01-08-2005 11:51:07  
A couple of extra wheel weights on the opposite side will take care of the unbalance. Without them you will have traction problems with that side long before there is any danger of tipping over.



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paul

01-09-2005 10:42:48




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to Harold Hubbard, 01-09-2005 05:37:03  
Actually, with a 9' bar, the concern is as much of pulling the front of the tractor down into the ditch. I know, the bar is supposed to have a break-away.....

I've cut both road ditches & county ditches for long enough with my 6' sickle. Tipping & pulling the tractor to the side on such angles is a real concern. been there. Well, actually dad was there.....

--->Paul



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tonybackache

01-08-2005 17:28:43




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 Re: Sickle-bar mower lesson needed. in reply to paul, 01-08-2005 11:51:07  
Yes,Paul the FORD 3600 is considerably closer to the ground than the MF 1100.



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