kentuckyguy said:
Here's a pic of what the hay looks like cut with a CCM drum mower.
I've been using a drum since I downsized and retired in 2005. Last year I tore up a bearing due to my being in a hurry and not paying attention....I installed a hyd. cylinder on the outer arm so that I could lift it vertically and accidentally dropped it down on the edge of the stump jumper and damaged the bearing. Since I work alone it was more than I could do alone and given the age of the machine, I sold it for $850 with the replacement parts and bought a new Tar River 185 for $3500. Pretty cheap cutting if you ask me and it was hassle free!!!! On going to the Tar River brand, I like the protection it offers over the other popular brands with the pipe deflectors. Reduces the possibility of flying debris hitting my cab and breaking glass or now, hitting me on my open station Ford...but I put some clear Acrylic deflectors on it to protect me just in case.
On the WW, my mowing equipment is setup for 6' and with the ww, my tractor tires don't stomp on the freshly cut hay on the next round. I like that and with my irregular fields that leave clumps at the U turns, the tedder is necessary regardless of what's doing the cutting.
Beautiful hay patch KY guy! You running a Branson there? I have the 6530C and a 2400...nice machines....plus 3 Fords for older equipment. Use all 5 when doing a hay patch....alone....don't have to swap implements in the middle of the job.