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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

mowers

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holcombwa

07-29-2005 06:52:18

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Well, the sickle bars just didn't get the job done this year. Was wondering if there is another hay mower that would handle extremely heavy hay and still run off one of my antique tractors? (Case VAO, Fergy TEA20, FarmallA) Have a sickle for all three, but ended our mowing with the troybilt 30" walk behind (until it shook itself apart... hey, it beat trying a sythe). Anything out there (make and model if possible)that might work with one of these tractors?

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Hay Dr

07-31-2005 09:45:49

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CCM Drum Mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

Your Fergy TEA20 has 24 PTO HP. CCM has a drum mower that needs only 20 HP. It cut 53" and it will mow ant hay crop in any condition. $2,200 NEW.

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Leroy

07-31-2005 08:35:07

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

Something was not correct with your settup or your mower would have breased right throu the hay with no problems, if all was set mechanical correct and in proper condition then were you trying to mow with rain or dew on as you cannot do that as it will cause the plugging

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Roy in UK

07-31-2005 11:14:52

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Re: mowers in reply to Leroy, 07-31-2005 08:35:07

Leroy,
A disc or drum mower will cut grass with dew on it, or even if its chucking it down with rain without plugging. (been there done that)
Regards,
Roy

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tude

07-30-2005 12:21:07

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

Star makes small drum mowers for tractors from 15-30 HP with three point hitch. The link has description of their characteristics and the American importer. They are pretty expensive.

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Roy in UK

07-31-2005 07:01:58

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Re: mowers in reply to tude, 07-30-2005 12:21:07

I notice the Star single drum mower suitable for 15-30 hp tractors only cuts a metre (39 inches) wide. Still I suppose 3 feet and mowing is better than 5 feet and stopped.

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holcombwa

07-31-2005 08:33:25

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Re: mowers in reply to Roy in UK, 07-31-2005 07:01:58

Amen to that!!
Stan

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Bret4207

07-30-2005 04:41:30

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

Wet, soft grass is hard to cut with a sickle bar. I always had a hard time with 2nd cut hay, especially where the vetch got heavy. It would plug and drag all the time. If you want a mower condition try a 7 ft New Holland. It will be all your machines can handle, but I know a VAC will do it. You'll have to plumb a single remote for what ever tractor you use if you don't have one already. If you have to stop in a row, back up a couple feet first before starting to cut again. If you stick with the sickle get the operators manual and really follow the instructions close. I had to align every guard on my sickle bars and really work with the wear guards and hold downs. One guard having a dull ledger plate or a worn hold down will screw the whole works up. Usually the heavier the hay, the easier it is to cut. I never had any luck with either of 2 IH 27V's I have, but my JD #8 was a dream. Until I hit a ledge just right and broke the main castings anyway. I now have a NH 472 haybine and JD #9 sickle and a Ford 501 sickle. They'll all do the job but the haybine is just better for hay. I save the sickles for ditchs, rough pasture and fence rows.

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holcombwa

07-31-2005 06:42:06

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Re: mowers in reply to Bret4207, 07-30-2005 04:41:30

Soft damp mowing spells every field this year. It isn't the heavy upright grass that's a problem. It is the undergrowth and verticle lotus that just stops the sickles in their tracks literally. The mowers include a JD#9 (sweet cutting machine in most conditions), Case #10 for the VOA's eagle claw setup, and I think it is a #122 IH but really don't use the Farmall for mowing at all anymore. It tows our MF#12 baler now. Oh! and the David Bradley horse drawn sickle is oiled up and ready in the shed too for that matter.
Maybe will visit some of the guys around and see if they have a haybine I could pick up or at least what they think about them on the grasses here. Will definitely see if STAR has a site as it sounds like just what I need. Though it kinda goes against form to buy anything from this century.
Finally, someone suggested getting it custom cut. That is certainly an option (we only do 5-600 bales a year) or for that matter we could easily buy all the hay we need. BUT, I enjoy doing hay and have done it here all my life (what else would I have to moan about otherwise). Really though, mainly have never liked the thought of imposing on neighbors during hay season for our little bit. (we charmed the tourists and amused the locals for years cutting with the David Bradley and putting it in loose. And the gentle ribbing locally was ok because, by golly, we were able to do our hay by ourselves.) Have gradualy picked up an old, but most years effective, set of hay equipment. This just isn't a "most" year.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Stan

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Roy in UK

07-30-2005 02:01:46

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

There is nothing worse than mucking about with a sickle mower and getting nothing done, but I think you will need 35-40hp or so for a even a 5 foot disc mower in those conditions. Have you got anyone near you who would cut if for you with a disc or drum mower? As your nephew says, one of those would just sail through it.

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KEH

07-29-2005 13:11:12

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

You didn't say what kind of mower you have, but here are a couple of thoughts. I once had the problem of cutting thick hay with a 7 ft IH mower on a JD A. I took the cutter bar off a horse drawn IH no. 9 and swapped it with the 7 ft bar. The shorter bar(4 1/2 ft as I recall) went through the thick hay with no problem. Later I got an Independent PTO tractor and that made a world of difference.

In setting up your mowers, the old manuals said that the tip of the cutter bar had to have a certain amount of "lead" or be set some distance ahead of the mower. This is so that under pressure the cutter bar will be cutting at right angles to the direction of travel. Sickle bar mowers lose a lot of cutting if the cutterbar is running at an angle behind the tractor.

If you want to continue using the TO 20, suggest you look for a MF 41 dyna balance mower with a 6 foot blade.(I think I have the model number right) It will cut much better than a pitman driven mower.

KEH

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holcombwa

07-29-2005 19:41:48

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Re: mowers in reply to KEH, 07-29-2005 13:11:12

Appreciate all the responses. Think the sickle being used currently is set correctly with lead, indexing, etc. Tuned and sharpened again before trying the last time. Biggest problem is the hayfields should have been mowed mid-june or earlier and it didn't stop raining until 2nd week of July. Everything beaten down by elk, deer, and rainfall. Nephew got a disk mower and said it went right through similar stuff on his place. Of course his tractor has about twice horses of anything I have. Was hopeful there might be something similar only for the lighter horsepowered tractors. I will experiment on the last field before letting the cows have it. Maybe something I'm doing wrong, but think it's just the grass. Mower cuts the heck out of tussock grass and other tough species in the pastures.... so don't know. Appreciate the help. Stan

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Phil Tibbetts

07-29-2005 17:49:19

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Re: mowers in reply to KEH, 07-29-2005 13:11:12

Right on with the MF-41 mower. I bought 3 of these in different states of disrepair and made 1 good mower. It is a mean grass cutting machine. I think the biggest problem with them is people don't keep the grease gun handy. I grease the crankshaft bearings and knife toggle bearing every hour when mowing. Another problem is knife speed. most don't run them at the proper rate. I ran mine up and used a tachometer (RPM) gage to set the speed at 1000 rpm. It really smooths out at that speed. It can be run at up to approx. 1100 RPM but not necessary.

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old

07-29-2005 08:23:47

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

If every thing is timed right and the guards set right etc a sickle mower should cut just about any thing as far as hay goes. With the tractors you have I don't think you could pull a MOCO. The case might but I'm not sure of the HP of the case. I pull an old NH 460 9 foot cut MOCO with an oliver 77 and it does good with that set up but the oliver has live pto and is around 38HP

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Dave H (MI)

07-29-2005 12:15:23

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Re: mowers in reply to old, 07-29-2005 08:23:47

Old is correct. The sickle mower should do the job. You might want to look at adjustments and condition of blades. Take a little time it is worth it. Most any haybine you might be able to afford would be a sickle also.....just fancier and with more things to break. I think you are jumping to conclusions. You can also look at condition of the hay. Best results in the afternoon in this area after the dew is gone from down near the base. Ground speed might need to be reduced. Change the pitch on your cutter bar and try a new row. Should be a handle that does this. Just some thoughts. Sickles can be difficult at times but once she is set right she should cut all day with only some lubrication. Let me know how things work out.

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old

07-29-2005 08:23:23

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Re: mowers in reply to holcombwa, 07-29-2005 06:52:18

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