The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[Drstrangeglove]

The 2815 (with the additional wing) is no finish mower, but I haven't noticed a lot of really uneven distribution of grass. Mine is set up with blade ring steel guards underneath and protective chains all around. Which should even add to disruption of airflow. Any chance you might be allowing PTO speed to get too low to spread the cuttings? Hard not to back off the throttle when in a ditch though...

I run hard against the engine RPM to PTO recommended 540 speed. I don't use "Econo" PTO at all frankly.

If I remember correctly two of my gearboxes turn in one direction and the third gearbox in the opposite direction. Have no idea if that could affect your situation though...

You have a unit that a dealer may not sell that many of, so they may not be of great help. I've just gone straight to the mothership in Selma and talked to their engineers before. Seemed knowledgeable and were reasonably helpful.

Your machine should be a strong unit - I have been satisfied with my older 2615 as well as my 2815. We don't baby equipment - we use it.

Good Luck

I have the rings and chains. The blades do opposite directions. I run it in 540e at about 560 rpm most of the time. It gets run hard and will chew anything or spit it out. As I remow the clumps it just moves it behind the main blade. It looks like a windrow ready to be bailed. The dealer sold maybe one, so he is no help. I have been meaning to call Selma ( was there today) about making it a 2815. I bet that will cost as much as a new one.

Had a friend go by the factory in Selma for a part for a very old bush hog that there were no parts for. He made the part and wouldn't take any money.

 

[Hay Dude]

My clippings from my CX-15 are evenly spread. Have stump jumper pans and deck rings.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Mine could be “We mow steep, but our prices aren’t”

I like that!
But I'm sure you are like the guy in our town, where it's more about his good reputation and good equipment then it is about price.

You might be too modest to say that, so I said it for you.

 

[Dryland Farmer]

Question HD: Why are bale that I am positive were baled dry now testing wet when they have been sitting out all summer?

 

[Hay Dude]

Question HD: Why are bale that I am positive were baled dry now testing wet when they have been sitting out all summer?

Are they stored inside or outside?
How lomg ago were they baled?

 

[Hay Dude]

So we finished 2nd cutting and are now trying to catch up on some contract mowing projects.

Backing down between an old fence line and the abandoned, raised RR berm on the right.

Here we are mowing some very soft ground near a stream. You can see one of my guys weed wacking fence in the background. I cut in reverse on soft ground so I can observe if my CX-15 tires start to track mud, it’s time to pull forward.

Finished. Well this part, anyway.

Looking nice from the road.

Weed wacked all this fence along road myself. You can see my Ram off in the distance.

Bowhunting anyone? Man the back of my truck’s a mess.

 

[Dryland Farmer]

Are they stored inside or outside?
How lomg ago were they baled?

They are stored outside and have been baled for 4 months. They are actually not mine bales they are a friends.

 

[Hay Dude]

They are stored outside and have been baled for 4 months. They are actually not mine bales they are a friends.

That could be your answer if enough rain has entered the bales.
If rain has not entered the bales it could be something as simple as the moisture tester having an issue, or not testing in the exact same spots.

What I usually see is an increase in moisture readings for the first weeks while the bales sweat/heat, then decreasing bale temps.

Ask your friend to take readings of bale temps. If they are hot (like over 100+) then they must have been baled more damp/green than originally thought. Did your friend do a “twist test” on the hay right before he baled it?

 

[LouNY]

They are stored outside and have been baled for 4 months. They are actually not mine bales they are a friends.

I see your tag is dryland farmer, depending upon the ground conditions it is quite possible for bales to wick moisture up from the ground. Are they small squares, big squares, rounds and how are they stacked.

 

[Dryland Farmer]

I see your tag is dryland farmer, depending upon the ground conditions it is quite possible for bales to wick moisture up from the ground. Are they small squares, big squares, rounds and how are they stacked.

Round bales stacked in rows of two that are right against each other. Not the way I would stack bales but he has a self-loading wagon that stacks them that way.

 

[Hay Dude]

That could be the problem. They should be separated through the sweat period, then stacked end on end, vertically inside, preferably on a raised floor, dry asphalt or even pallets

 

[Dryland Farmer]

That could be the problem. They should be separated through the sweat period, then stacked end on end, vertically inside, preferably on a raised floor, dry asphalt or even pallets

That's how I stack bales. I just put them on a side hill so the water just runs of.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here’s some more of our more humble, “less glamorous” forms of being a custom mowing contractor.

Miles of fence line and pond’s edge weed wacking. It feels like it’ll never end.

In a good way, it keeps you in shape, and keeps the “guns toned” and the belly flat.
I just give the universal greeting sign to people who say “Americans don’t want to work hard anymore”. It’s BS.

Hard work is a blessing, just too many people out there too ignorant to believe it what a blessing it is.

Taking a break to grab a picture. You can see the Stihl weed wacker against the fence and the Ram & Challenger in the background.

Here’s the fence along the old railroad berm on the right. It’s really getting covered up with woods and trees now. Been out of service since the 70’s because of the downturn of PA industry.

Here’s another view of the berm after I weed wacked this stretch of fence.

Another view of the RR berm. I’m making progress. 82 degrees feels really hot in late October.

Bahhhh, I don’t need any help from you guys! lol

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m getting a lot of use of the Stihl blue tooth helmet. Nice to wear while weed wacking.

 

[mrmikey]

Wish I were closer. I'm a bit wierd I guess LOL, I like weed wacking, I'd do that just for the fact of doing it.

 

[Hay Dude]

Wish I were closer. I'm a bit wierd I guess LOL, I like weed wacking, I'd do that just for the fact of doing it.

Hah! I wish some of the people 1/2 my age that worked for me had that attitude.

 

[Runner]

Hah! I wish some of the people 1/2 my age that worked for me had that attitude.

Worked for a mowing company in high school that did commercial properties and loved it too. Miles and miles of weed eating and trimming with walk-behind machines. Very fond memories of the work and comaraderie with the crew. Got to drive a JD 430 with the big deck and powerflow bagger on the three point which was pretty high-tech in 1977.

I'm strange that way too, love hard work. Also worked as a mason tender for a couple of years and enjoyed that too. Worked with some real characters (including my Dad) like old-school bricklayers from England, etc..

 

[Hay Dude]

Today's struggle

 

[mrmikey]

Today's struggle

That doesn't look like fun in the least, scary actually. Mow safe HD.

 

[ning]

I see you found a nice mid-mow sharpening stone