Hay Cutting

[MudHog]

So as some may know, I use a 5ft bush hog for cutting hay. Well today I cut more of a field for baling Sunday and was able to GPS my speed. Low range 3rd at 2400 rpms and I'm moving 1.6 mph. Low range 4th at 2400 rpms and I'm moving 2.6 mph. I've been looking at sickle bar mowers, but wondering what would be a good speed comparison. Only reason I'm looking for a sickle mower is hopes to gain cutting speed. A Tomorrow I will check High range 1st and see what speed that is as I didn't think to check it today. Most of my cutting is in 3rd, but I shift to 4th as much as I can to squeeze that extra mph out.

I've even thought about if I don't get anymore speed, the sickle being 7ft cutting width would still be an upgrade as even though my cutter is 5ft, I only get roughly 4ft effective cutting.


What are yall thoughts?

 

[tom4018]

I went with a disc mower years ago. With it I normally mow at 4 or 5 MPH, ground is rough and can't go a lot faster. That is 4th or 5th gear in my tractor, thin hay sometimes I might hit 6th gear. For me I will never go back to a sickle mower, just don't perform well in my area.

 

[MudHog]

I'm limited to either a drum mower or a sickle mower as I have no rear remotes. I looked into cost of adding one or two a while back and the price was ungodly. That was 100% installed, but even the kit itself still isn't cheap. Ground smoothness isn't a problem for me, other than the occasional ant mound.

 

[tom4018]

I'm limited to either a drum mower or a sickle mower as I have no rear remotes. I looked into cost of adding one or two a while back and the price was ungodly. That was 100% installed, but even the kit itself still isn't cheap. Ground smoothness isn't a problem for me, other than the occasional ant mound.

What tractor do you have?

 

[MudHog]

2002 Kubota L4310 gearshift 2wd

 

[tom4018]

2002 Kubota L4310 gearshift 2wd

Probably at least a $1000 in parts to do it yourself, not sure but a guess.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I would buy a 8 or 9ft sickle. You will be able to go faster than the 2.6 but I can't tell you exactly.

 

[MudHog]

I would buy a 8 or 9ft sickle. You will be able to go faster than the 2.6 but I can't tell you exactly.

Even if speed is the same, I would still be cutting more grass than 4ft with the bush hog.

2002 Kubota L4310 gearshift 2wd

Probably at least a $1000 in parts to do it yourself, not sure but a guess.

That's a pretty close number. I've found some articles on using a non-Kubota spool valve and mounting it on top the right fender. Might not be a bad project, but I'm leary on cutting into the hydraulic system. I have no FEL now, so I would be doing everything from scratch.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Right, even at the same speed you will be cutting twice as much with a 8 or 9ft sickle, and you don't need hydraulics. With a 4310 you wouldn't be able to handle a disk cutter of much size anyway. Sickle is going to be the best way for you to go.

 

[MudHog]

How does a sickle handle ant mounds? I just lift up on my cutter as I can spot where they are. I assume I would just do the same with a sickle? There is the occaional one that goes unseen though.

Edit: fields are clean from small trees, so ant mounds are my only obstacle.

 

[Orerancher]

If Ya hit the mounds fast enough You will trip the 'break-away' on the mower.
For sure they will dull the sections pretty fast.

I mow hay with an old JD #5, Set up right, It does a good job in even nasty old rank Reed Canary grass. But it's not at all fast...

I'm lookin for a Drum mower...

 

[MudHog]

High range 1st is 3.6 mph, but I can't cut nothing but short grass at this. Grass so short that likely wouldn't be able to bale it.

 

[bigbull338]

you need to buy the smallest 5ft disc cutter for your tractor.you can run as fast as you can stay on the tractor.

 

[DAYMON]

Do u have a loader I used the curl on my loader to operate my 7 ft vicon disc mower mowed for two years behind an l2800 Kubota quite a load but it got the job done

 

[OklaBrangusBreeder]

(back when we were cutting hay with that size equipment)

We had a 7 ft sickle mower. Lot of maintenance. Didn't like the occasional gopher mound in the field. Clogged up.
We later bought a 5 ft drum mower. After using that once, we never hooked up the sickle mower again.

The drum mower would mow ANYTHING at whatever speed you could stay on the tractor. Even cutting 2 foot less per trip, we could get our hay cut faster with the drum mower over the sickle mower. For a 40HP type solution sickle vs drum, its a no brainer. Go with the drum mower.

Now, I agree with others speaking of the virtue of a disk mower. That is probably the best (and most expensive) solution, but with the size of your tractor I don't think there is any practical application for you there. From what you are describing your current set-up/limitations to be, my opinion is that you would see MUCH higher productivity with a drum mower over what you are using now or a sickle mower.

 

[MudHog]

A drum mower discharges in the center of the mower leaving a row of grass, will I then need a tedder to spread out the hay for drying? Being in South LA I think no, but I'm not 100%.

 

[Rafter S]

It will dry quicker if you go over it with a tedder, but it's definitely not necessary. Here in my part of the country most hay can be baled 48 hours after cutting without running over it with a tedder. Of course that's in the middle of the summer, in moderately thick grass. Allow more time for cooler weather and thicker grass.

 

[M.Magis]

I would do anything possible to prevent going back to a sickle bar mower. From what I recall, any time gained by increased speed will be lost be constantly having to back up to clear clogs, and drilling/pounding rivets.
I hated that thing. Personally, I'd look at drum mowers. From what I've seen, they're perfect for smaller tractors without the price of a disc mower.

 

[ERNIBIGB]

My Reese drum mower has the tedder attachment. It scatters it good enough that the big tedder is not used as much.