Disc mower for rushes

kfk · 11-06-2013 05:41PM #1

Hi,
I am going to buy either a disc mower or a drum mower in the next few days. It will be used mainly for topping but I will be cutting about 15 acres per year for hay (optimistic) or silage. I was quoted €4,300 for a fransgard 7 foot disc mower. Would a disc mower be capable of cutting heavy rushes? Which are more reliable, disc or drum? Thanks

hoseman · 11-06-2013 06:40PM

How many acres in total will you be cutting?Is it 15 acres in total? I would go with a drum mower,I think it can take more abuse then the disc and less complicated set up.I use a drum mower for cutting meadows and topping .Is it worth spending that money to cut that acreage,what about second hand.

kfk · 11-06-2013 06:54PM

The 15 acres is not including topping which would probably add over 100 acres. I had a drum mower but it is showing its age now, bearings gone, rust etc. I am going to look at a malone and a fort disc mower tomorrow. Which would be best out of malone, fort and fransgard? Do the blades on disc mowers need changing regularly? I was happy with the drum mower but have heard that disc mowers are better overall? Is that a fair statement? Thanks

Dampintheattic · 11-06-2013 07:13PM

kfk wrote: »

The 15 acres is not including topping which would probably add over 100 acres. I had a drum mower but it is showing its age now, bearings gone, rust etc. I am going to look at a malone and a fort disc mower tomorrow. Which would be best out of malone, fort and fransgard? Do the blades on disc mowers need changing regularly? I was happy with the drum mower but have heard that disc mowers are better overall? Is that a fair statement? Thanks

I read a few different discussions on BFF, about the pros and cons of using a disc mower for topping.
Seems to me, lots of fellas were not in favour, as they figured that disc mowers run quite hot, if not submerged in a decent density of crop, which they reckoned helped keep the mower cool!

Maybe that's bull, but thought I'd throw it in there for you to think about, as you are doing more topping than cutting.

Then again, there is a few zealots on here who will be along presently to tell you stop topping. Cut and bale more grass. Keep the tatty mower for doing your 15 acres of cutting. Keep the €4k in your pocket. Make more profit.
Now rain or no rain, I have to ring my contractor, to come and cut two acres of strong grass, for baling! -;)

kfk · 11-06-2013 10:00PM

The bottom saucer on my drum mower snapped off and the other saucer is not in good shape either. Im not really inclined to spend too much to have it fixed. I cant make my mind up between drum and disc. The more I read, the more indecisive I am becoming. Got a quote for a Mesco drum mower, €2,400. That is almost 2k cheaper than the Fransgard disc mower. Confused!

Manoffeeling · 11-06-2013 10:18PM

Is a drum mower suitable for topping?

kfk · 11-06-2013 10:34PM

Manoffeeling wrote: »

Is a drum mower suitable for topping?

I used it for topping but I had to tilt it back a bit on the saucers so it wouldnt cut very low which I imagine didnt do the bearings any favours!

arctictree · 11-06-2013 10:40PM

Does a mower not leave long swards of cut grass?

Dampintheattic · 11-06-2013 10:42PM

kfk wrote: »

I used it for topping but I had to tilt it back a bit on the saucers so it wouldnt cut very low which I imagine didnt do the bearings any favours!

I thought if you tilted a drum mower, in any direction, either backwards or forwards, you lower the depth of the cut. By tilting back, the flails should come in contact again with standing crop!

In my mind, level mower is highest depth of cut.
Tilt forward if you want to lower the depth.
Tilting backwards, causes two cutting actions!

TUBBY · 11-06-2013 10:58PM

kfk wrote: »

The bottom saucer on my drum mower snapped off and the other saucer is not in good shape either. Im not really inclined to spend too much to have it fixed. I cant make my mind up between drum and disc. The more I read, the more indecisive I am becoming. Got a quote for a Mesco drum mower, €2,400. That is almost 2k cheaper than the Fransgard disc mower. Confused!

Steer well clear of mesco kfk, there is a reason they cheaper. Piles of dirt imo. Couple were bought beside me here.looks the part but...The two lads would be good mechanically that bought them. both are stopping gaps now.

kfk · 12-06-2013 09:11AM

arctictree wrote: »

Does a mower not leave long swards of cut grass?

Not really. The grass being mowed would be short enough so what swards of grass it would leave would be light.

kfk · 12-06-2013 09:20AM

Dampintheattic wrote: »

I thought if you tilted a drum mower, in any direction, either backwards or forwards, you lower the depth of the cut. By tilting back, the flails should come in contact again with standing crop!

In my mind, level mower is highest depth of cut.
Tilt forward if you want to lower the depth.
Tilting backwards, causes two cutting actions!

Im guessing that because the grass is short and it tops with blades at the front of the saucer first, then grass is flattened under the saucer, the back of the saucer doesnt have much of a chance to cut any more, especially travelling at decent pace iykwim. I found that level cuts very even, tilted forward will cut very short and uneven whereas tilted backwards will cut higher and tear the grass a bit more.

kfk · 12-06-2013 09:26AM

TUBBY wrote: »

Steer well clear of mesco kfk, there is a reason they cheaper. Piles of dirt imo. Couple were bought beside me here.looks the part but...The two lads would be good mechanically that bought them. both are stopping gaps now.

Thanks. I see a lot of makes now that I have never heard of before. Looked at a BMC fertilizer spreader recently. 8 bag was costing €1600 and 12 bag €1880. Need a fert spreader as cavallo one I have broke. Anyone heard of these. Both had hydraulic cut off.

case956tom · 12-06-2013 12:06PM

a neighbour of mine has a 5'6" vicon disc mower uses it for topping mowing, cuts rushes no probs he often cut fence posts by mistake has it over 30 years only needed a bearing last year

reilig · 12-06-2013 12:08PM

case956tom wrote: »

a neighbour of mine has a 5'6" vicon disc mower uses it for topping mowing, cuts rushes no probs he often cut fence posts by mistake has it over 30 years only needed a bearing last year

+1

Modern drum mowers have an average life of approximately 5000 acres.
Disc Mowers have an average life of over 50,000 acres.
Buy a good make - even if it has to be second hand.

kfk · 12-06-2013 02:45PM

reilig wrote: »

+1

Modern drum mowers have an average life of approximately 5000 acres.
Disc Mowers have an average life of over 50,000 acres.
Buy a good make - even if it has to be second hand.

Looked at a 7ft Malone today, new was €5300. Looked like a well built strong mower. Also saw a 8ft Lely Splendimo, 2 years old for €5000. Fella selling the lely said the bed was far better than what the malone had to offer. Is that right? I dont usually take the salesman at his word!

Dampintheattic · 12-06-2013 03:00PM

kfk wrote: »

Looked at a 7ft Malone today, new was €5300. Looked like a well built strong mower. Also saw a 8ft Lely Splendimo, 2 years old for €5000. Fella selling the lely said the bed was far better than what the malone had to offer. Is that right? I dont usually take the salesman at his word!

If reilig's life expectance of 50,000 acres for a disc mower is correct, you will get a meagre 435 years service out of one, based on your usage:eek:
Will you keep it for the full 435 years, or will you trade in again around the 250 year mark:cool:

case956tom · 12-06-2013 05:44PM

kfk wrote: »

Looked at a 7ft Malone today, new was €5300. Looked like a well built strong mower. Also saw a 8ft Lely Splendimo, 2 years old for €5000. Fella selling the lely said the bed was far better than what the malone had to offer. Is that right? I dont usually take the salesman at his word!

lely bed is shaft driven theres less gears than other disc mowers lely would be easier to drive too, have a 7ft lely splendimo myself good mower,malone price isn't too bad I priced a 7ft Kuhn in 07 was costing€5000 price was to rise shortly after to €5300, my lely was €4500 I don't whats in the Kuhn to make it dearer,the Malone has a comer bed, looks to be a well built mower

kfk · 12-06-2013 07:09PM

case956tom wrote: »

lely bed is shaft driven theres less gears than other disc mowers lely would be easier to drive too, have a 7ft lely splendimo myself good mower,malone price isn't too bad I priced a 7ft Kuhn in 07 was costing€5000 price was to rise shortly after to €5300, my lely was €4500 I don't whats in the Kuhn to make it dearer,the Malone has a comer bed, looks to be a well built mower

Prices I have so far are

Fransgard 7ft new €4300

Malone 7ft new €5300

Major 7ft new €5000

Galfre 7ft new €4750

Lely Splendimo 8ft 2yo €5000

Out of that lot, all disc mowers, which would be the best buy? Do any of those have any big flaws? The second hand Lely looks to be in very good condition. Could probably bring those prices down a bit except for the Fransgard. Will have a look at Kuhn before I purchase anything.

audam · 12-06-2013 09:08PM

The lely cutter bar would not be as strong as the comer. If i were you i would try to stick to deere, kuhn, pottinger, krone etc.

Damo810 · 12-06-2013 10:01PM

If it's just getting used mainly as a topper, why not just buy a topper? A get a contractor to cut the meadow? Be half the price, give you a better cut and is twice as strong.

It'll be a long time cutting meadow to make 5K pay off.

case956tom · 12-06-2013 10:39PM

it would be between the lely and the Malone,the Malone looks well built its new compared to the lely and only a bit dearer,blades will be easier to change on the lely if it has the clip,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8RUoZ2ZtRY.any of the Kuhn mounted mowers I used when you have to raise the bed you had to fold the front of the cover back as the cover used to hit the back wheels of the tractor,when the bed was up you had to get out of the tractor to secure the latch for the bed maybe that has been changed now,the lely latch just clicks in place when you lift the bed.

Farmer · 12-06-2013 11:38PM

I think I'm with Damo on the topper, unless you have heavy rushes In this case, as others have pointed out, the disk isn't ideal either.

I use a secondhand disk mower for meadow but generally wouldn't consider running it through some of the rougher pastures - poached fields, stones that mysteriously land up to 15 foot away from the ditch (I think the cattle carry them out at night), clumps of rushes, blackthorns etc. And that's a €1500 machine, not the new €4k+ one.

A topper shreds stuff up much better which then rots into the ground faster (usual precautions apply for ragwort)

However, if the 100 acres are clean, then the disk may be an option.

kfk · 13-06-2013 07:24PM

Saw a Vicon 7ft today for €6000. Had 3 blades per disc. Also looked at a Claas 8ft for €8000, a Kverneland 7ft for €5500 and a Kuhn €????. Came across another Lely Splendimo 8ft for €4500. Im fed up looking at them now. Think I have narrowed it down to the 2yo lely I saw today and the new Malone. I have read good and bad about the Lely and also the Malone. I purchased a Vicon wagtail spreader also today €2900. They look to be very strong. It was a good bit more expensive than most of the other spreaders I saw but it is one of the most used implements I have so think it is worth it. The next milk cheque better be a good one or I'm skipping the country!

kfk · 13-06-2013 07:30PM

Farmer wrote: »

I think I'm with Damo on the topper, unless you have heavy rushes In this case, as others have pointed out, the disk isn't ideal either.

I use a secondhand disk mower for meadow but generally wouldn't consider running it through some of the rougher pastures - poached fields, stones that mysteriously land up to 15 foot away from the ditch (I think the cattle carry them out at night), clumps of rushes, blackthorns etc. And that's a €1500 machine, not the new €4k+ one.

A topper shreds stuff up much better which then rots into the ground faster (usual precautions apply for ragwort)

However, if the 100 acres are clean, then the disk may be an option.

I have a few poached fields which Im in the process of reseeding. Other than that, most of the land is clean enough. I had a topper before but when the belt broke, I used the drum mower for topping and thought the results were better than using the topper. Might be my imagination but I thought the topper would tear the grass even when the blades were sharpened?

RaggyDays · 13-06-2013 08:21PM

The new Lely mower has a modular bed which makes them very easy to repair unlike the rest which if you damage the bed then its as good as game over for the mower (well cost wise anyway)

As for cutting rushes, an 8ft mower is going to be unsuitable as more than likely if theres rushes then the ground is soft and uneven.
Ive seen plenty good disc mowers 5'6 or 6'6 for around the 2k mark on donedeal which are ideal for rushes

audam · 13-06-2013 08:58PM

If you see a vicon mower turn around and run away very fast.

jomoloney · 13-06-2013 11:12PM

audam wrote: »

If you see a vicon mower turn around and run away very fast.

I wouldn't , not after the service ours has given, if I was buying in the morning I'd consider one again ,

Dunedin · 19-06-2013 06:22PM

Damo810 wrote: »

If it's just getting used mainly as a topper, why not just buy a topper? A get a contractor to cut the meadow? Be half the price, give you a better cut and is twice as strong.

It'll be a long time cutting meadow to make 5K pay off.

a disk mower cuts the grass cleaner as it has a higher speed than a topper which is operating on a larger blade.

The topper (with the larger blade) will cause a little more damage to the root of the grass thus leaving a slower re-growth from the topper than with a disk mower.

Muckit · 19-06-2013 07:05PM

Dunedin wrote: »

The topper (with the larger blade) will cause a little more damage to the root of the grass thus leaving a slower re-growth from the topper than with a disk mower.

Ahhhhh..... go look how a cow eats grass and get back to me. I must post some photos and tell me that a topper does a crap job of ....erm.... topping

Dunedin · 19-06-2013 07:33PM

Muckit wrote: »

Ahhhhh..... go look how a cow eats grass and get back to me. I must post some photos and tell me that a topper does a crap job of ....erm.... topping

it's very hard, almost impossible to train a cow to graze the way you want.

:D

not saying that a Topper does a bad job but just that the disk mower is not as hard on the grass therefore a quicker re-growth.

Disc mower for rushes

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