Topper - buyers guide

Username John

Hello,

Finally giving in and accepting I need to buy a topper...

It'll be a second hand job - small one, as I only have a 135 (I assume a 135 would drive a 6ft topper?)

What do I need to check / watch for if I was to buy one?

They seem a simple enough machine, so my plan was just to see it working, and if it works, buy it... But maybe there something else I should be doing?

Thanks for any pointers...

Sam Kade

A disc mower would be better.

Username John

Sam Kade wrote: »

A disc mower would be better.

Oh, it would no doubt...

It would also be more expensive and not suitable for my ground I'd say...

My place is steep enough and a heavy weight hanging off the side of my little 135 wouldn't be a great idea I'd say... (It isn't even all fields I can travel with the tractor)

sonnybill

Username John wrote: »

Hello,

Finally giving in and accepting I need to buy a topper...

It'll be a second hand job - small one, as I only have a 135 (I assume a 135 would drive a 6ft topper?)

What do I need to check / watch for if I was to buy one?

They seem a simple enough machine, so my plan was just to see it working, and if it works, buy it... But maybe there something else I should be doing?

Thanks for any pointers...

Used to have a six foot on a 165 no problem , 35x wasn't fit for it though .. You could get a smaller 4 And 5 ft model, main thing to go on them is the gearbox if it not minded .. Half these things you know on the fella /place when you go and see it whether he the type of man that minds his stuff and will have a decent thing to sell or if he tortured it and never minded it

Username John

sonnybill wrote: »

Used to have a six foot on a 165 no problem , 35x wasn't fit for it though .. You could get a smaller 4 And 5 ft model, main thing to go on them is the gearbox if it not minded .. Half these things you know on the fella /place when you go and see it whether he the type of man that minds his stuff and will have a decent thing to sell or if he tortured it and never minded it

Feck, really? I thought the 135 would drive a 6ft all right... Was a bit worried about the weight of it, but assumed there wouldn't be a problem drivin it...

You wouldn't see too many 5ft models come up on done deal then...

Were you say the 35 wasn't fit for it - were you topping very heavy grass or rushes?

Don't really want to buy a new reactor for the sake of a bit of topping either like...

Hmmmm....

White Clover

Username John wrote: »

Feck, really? I thought the 135 would drive a 6ft all right... Was a bit worried about the weight of it, but assumed there wouldn't be a problem drivin it...

You wouldn't see too many 5ft models come up on done deal then...

Were you say the 35 wasn't fit for it - were you topping very heavy grass or rushes?

Don't really want to buy a new reactor for the sake of a bit of topping either like...

Hmmmm....

From what I gather from your posts john, you're on good ground, if a but high?
I'd be assuming no rushes and as you're sheep farming, the majority of the topping u would be doing would be tidying up hairy fields?
If this is the case, a 6ft would be no bother to the 135.

sonnybill

Username John wrote: »

Feck, really? I thought the 135 would drive a 6ft all right... Was a bit worried about the weight of it, but assumed there wouldn't be a problem drivin it...

You wouldn't see too many 5ft models come up on done deal then...

Were you say the 35 wasn't fit for it - were you topping very heavy grass or rushes?

Don't really want to buy a new reactor for the sake of a bit of topping either like...

Hmmmm....

Wasn't fit for topping up hill .. Only down hill !

Muckit

Sam Kade wrote: »

A disc mower would be better.

Only if a person couldn't be bothered to sharpen the topper blades and has land with no ditches or stones.

There's an argument that a mower cuts better, yet every lawnmower ive ever seen, works like a topper. There has to be some reason they are not designed like mini disc mowers.

Muckit

John

A 6' topper is basically a gearbox and a frame.

Most are comer gearboxes that don't give trouble. There would be a shearbolt on the pto that would break first. Also secondary protection in gearbox. A "key' attaches the drive gear to the shaft and this will shear if you hit something v solid. Shearbolts and keys are only roughly euro each. Shearbolt is a diy job. Keys will rarely go, but won't break the bank to get a lad fit new one and replace oil and seals.

Rotted grass and cow/sheep dung will rot frame and sheet metal if it hasn't been cleaned every year. Even so after 10 years of careful minding, the sheet metal will start to rot. But this too can be replaced.

Really its the frame you want to be inspecting for excessive rusting. Don't buy a yoke that has been painted up.

ganmo

Muckit wrote: »

Only if a person couldn't be bothered to sharpen the topper blades and has land with no ditches or stones.

There's an argument that a mower cuts better, yet every lawnmower ive ever seen, works like a topper. There has to be some reason they are not designed like mini disc mowers.

A disc mower travels under what it cuts
Where as a lawnmower either cuts and drops it or pushes it out into a bag.
So I can't see why they'd be designed the same

sea12

John I had a 6ft behind a 135 for years and there wasn't a bother on it. Think I even used the old Ferguson 20 at one stage and she was well able too.

I think muckit has covered off most of the points. Just check for rust on the sides where the sleighs are as rust can get between them and rot it.

You will pick up a good second hand one for 500-600 euro
Happy hunting

Muckit

ganmo wrote: »

A disc mower travels under what it cuts
Where as a lawnmower either cuts and drops it or pushes it out into a bag.
So I can't see why they'd be designed the same

But would a lawnmower not give a better cut if it was designed like a mini disc mower?

ganmo

Muckit wrote: »

But would a lawnmower not give a better cut if it was designed like a mini disc mower?

The best cut from a lawnmower are the ones like http://images.wisegeek.com/reel-lawn-rower-cylinder.jpg

Why did they move from that design? God knows

jack o shea

Anyone buy or price a 8 or 9 foot trailed topper in the last while? Abbey or major.

Reggie.

jack o shea wrote: »

Anyone buy or price a 8 or 9 foot trailed topper in the last while? Abbey or major.

New major 8ft is €4250 but seriously beefed up from the older models. Has a blow out valve aswell so if you hit something the ram will release back.

This is the new arm and swivel.

jack o shea

Thanks for that reggie,did you buy
That urself? Would a new one for 4200 be better value long term than a 2nd hand one 1500 to 2 k?

patsy_mccabe

Reggie,
What do you think of that chain Harrow on the right of the photo?
I have one like it .

Reggie.

jack o shea wrote: »

Thanks for that reggie,did you buy
That urself? Would a new one for 4200 be better value long term than a 2nd hand one 1500 to 2 k?

Was thinking of upgrading next year. Hard to tell on 2nd hand as the old majors are only half the machine. That arm is double the thickness of the old one plus old majors weren't undercoated. Noticed too that the new ones don't bounce around on the back of the tractor half as much as old ones. Not sure why. Maybe cos they are heavier possibly

Reggie.

jack o shea wrote: »

Anyone buy or price a 8 or 9 foot trailed topper in the last while? Abbey or major.

Sorry that 8ft was mounted. A trailed major 9ft is approx €5500

jack o shea

5500 holy fcuk.......

Reggie.

jack o shea wrote: »

5500 holy fcuk.......

Ah that's machinery for ya. Only go up in price. Why wouldn't ya go mounted?

jack o shea

Have only ever used a trailed one an abbey.are the mounted harder to use?would an abbey be the same price? 8 foot much cheaper than 9?

Reggie.

jack o shea wrote: »

Have only ever used a trailed one an abbey.are the mounted harder to use?would an abbey be the same price? 8 foot much cheaper than 9?

Most trailed ones start at 9ft as mounted are 7ft, 8ft and 9ft. The mounted just swings out to the side like a mower would. Just take it handy on hills and you should be grand

Green farmer

What ever topper you opt for John, I'd seriously consider putting a slip clutch pto shaft on it, if the ground is any bit rough. These cost very little extra then a ordinary pto.

red bull

Try to get a Fleming 600 Superfloat fully offset, ideal on hilly ground and for a 135

arctictree

If you used a disc mower for topping, would it not just leave swards of cut grass down the length of the field?