Cutting hay with a cycle mower?

Tractorcedric · Jul 26, 2010

I fixed up an old Oliver 356 hay mower and would like to cut a crop of alfalfa hay with it. How long would you say to leave it before I rake it? This is in Northern Utah so the air is dry. How did they use to do it before the swather? Thanks

Bob · Jul 26, 2010

Hay cut with a sickle mower would dry faster that hay cut with a swather and put in a windrow. (IF that's what you REALLY mean, rather than a "crimper").

paul · Jul 27, 2010

The issue is trhe leaves will dry before the stems do.

Then you rake, and end up baling stems, with all the leaves on the ground as dust.

So, you have to rake with the dew.'Here' in humid MN you rake at 10:00am or so. Cut, rake it 2 days later with a bit of dew on it - maybe get it 3/4 raked. Leave the last flip for the next morning, just tuch the windrows to shape them up, and bale that afternoon.

As always with hay, can be way different depending on the weather. But, that's the idea.

--->Paul

State of Jefferson · Jul 27, 2010

Even in dry country like that, it depends alot on the hay. Heavy, thick stemed hay will take longer to dry than light, fine stemed alfalfa.

Do you irrigate? You'll want to have the water of for at least 4 days before you cut so the plants can start to dry, and the ground can dry out.

GENERALLY, I'd say you'll want to let it lay for 3 days, Rake it fairly early morning when there is still some dew on it to keep the leaves on, and then bale it a day or two later, once again, in the morning with some dew on it.

Ben

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2010

The way the old-timers did it was to grab a handful of hay with both hands and turn the hands like cranking a bicycle turned upside down. If the hay bends it's too wet. If the stems break it's ready to bale. That's the best I can do describing it.

I could probably do it by smell, too, but I am not there. I'd pay good money to mow, rake, and bale hay again but not for very long. That's hard work.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 27, 2010

I used to cut lespideza with a side mounted # 80 AC mower, with a stub drive shaft bolted to the pulley over the hitch, to pull a grimm hay tedder. Could cut and ted at the same time. Cut/ted, and wait till the end leaves would start to fall off, then rake and bale. If the leaves look like they are falling off, stop baling, and start up again next morning, while there's dew on it. I imagine alfalfa would be pretty similar. Can't say the same for Montana weather, versus what we have here in Maryland.

Cutting hay with a cycle mower?

Tractorcedric

Member

Bob

Well-known Member

paul

Well-known Member

State of Jefferson

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Similar threads