Disc Mower Questions & Caddy

[ddivinia]

I am starting my quest for a disc mower. I here there are different drive types, but I have not been able ti find info on the different types. I have been looking at the John Deere 275. Who makes this mower for John Deere? Does JD make it themselves?

My JD dealer is recommending the Krone AM283S. He says it is a better cutter. Comments?

How about Kuhn mower?

I have a John Deere 5525 cab tractor (75 PTO HP).

I am also looking at the KMC mower caddy:

http://www.kelleymfg.com/Cotton_Hay/Hay/disc_mower_caddy.htm

What should I know about these mowers before I buy?

Point me in the proper direction.

Thanks,
D.

 

[JESSE1]

I have a Kuhn GMD700HD mower. It's the second Kuhn I've had, first one lasted 15 years. They are a very well-made mower. Expensive. Cuts good, easy to hook up when you get everything adjusted. I've seen the mower caddys. It would be a good thing to use on a lighter high horsepower tractor. I don't need one because my 6400 handles the Kuhn like it's not even there.

Kuhn did make the John Deere mowers. Not sure now but two years ago when I bought my new one the Deeres were the same mower as the Kuhn, only priced higher.

 

[ddivinia]

OK- cool deal.

My 5525 is 75 PTO HP - should be fine power wise. I am looking at the caddy for easy hookup and storage.

I have been watching this Kuhn mower on ebay:

Hay Cutter - (eBay item 120177629088 end time Nov-08-07 17:05:06 PST)

The owner will never respond to questions.

Thanks,
D.

 

[JESSE1]

That's the 8 rotor version of my mower. If it's mounted on the tractor and loaded on a trailer the height becomes an issue. If you never leave your property then it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[ddivinia]

Ok - when it is in transport mode - it will hit bridges eh?

I am planning on only doing my place.

D.

 

[JESSE1]

I think the bigger worry is power lines or tree limbs. My mower is a 7 rotor and I have to be careful where I drive with it. When you raise them vertical and then load them on a trailer they're a good ways off the ground.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Both Kuhn and Krone have a great reputation as this is their main area of expertise. You will not go wrong with either company.

Are you using this for haying? If so is there any reason you are leaning towards a disc mower instead of a disc mower/conditioner?

 

[ddivinia]

I will be doing haying. Coastal Bermuda only

Everybody around here is saying a disc mower will work fine.

Should I consider a MoCo?

Comments?

D.

 

[JESSE1]

I don't think anyone around here uses a mo-co for coastal. If anything, buy a tedder to fluff the hay if it's extra thick or if it's been rained on. Under normal conditions, I can cut one day, tedder that evening and then be able to bale on the second or third day. This year I usually baled on the next day.

 

[ddivinia]

I don't think anyone around here uses a mo-co for coastal. If anything, buy a tedder to fluff the hay if it's extra thick or if it's been rained on. Under normal conditions, I can cut one day, tedder that evening and then be able to bale on the second or third day. This year I usually baled on the next day.

My guys usually cut one day. Let it set 2 days then rake it and bale.

What kind of rake are you using?

What kind of hay are you baling?

D.

 

[JESSE1]

I bale coastal bermuda, sometimes mixed with bahia. I bought a Kuhn SR110 speedrake when I bought the mower. Does an excellent job, and very fast.

 

[HayDR]

I am starting my quest for a disc mower. I here there are different drive types, but I have not been able ti find info on the different types. I have been looking at the John Deere 275. Who makes this mower for John Deere? Does JD make it themselves?

My JD dealer is recommending the Krone AM283S. He says it is a better cutter. Comments?

I have a John Deere 5525 cab tractor (75 PTO HP).

I am also looking at the KMC mower caddy:

D.

If you are going to use the current Kuhn/JD or Krone 3 point disc mower on the KMC disc mower caddy you really need the optional hydraulic lift. You can make these mowers work without this option but you have to be careful because the inside skid shoe will dig into the ground. If you are using a 8 or 9 disc mower (10' and above), you likely should also add some leftside weight for stability. We have sold the disc mower caddy for 5 years now and it's drop a drawbar pin in and go is the #1 feature why customers purchase them.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Should I consider a MoCo?

Comments?

D.

That all depends on your useage. If you plan on doing alfalfa or any heavy stem grass hays then the conditioner will come in handy. I am not familiar with the type of grass you will be growing but the other guys who are say you don't need the conditioner so I would trust them.

One advantage of the MoCo is you don't have the height issue

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Jesse, very nice setup. When you say you can hook up your cutter easy once its setup, How easy do you mean? Do you have a particular way of parking it on a stand or something? Reason I ask is, my buddy doesn't hardly bother cussing and fighting his in position unless his FORKLIFT is broke. Yes, he uses a Clark forklift to help position it so he can hook up the 3 pt. He would like to have a caddy but keeps needing other stuff more.

Robert, the coastal Bermuda we have dries quick. Some folks cut 1 morning, if its hot enough they'll rake and bale next evening.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hi Kyle, it would be kind of fun to try and grow Costal Bermuda up here along Lake Erie but I don't think it would like our winters very much. And we don't get the hot dry weather to help dry things down quick. We have a lot of humidity usually and cooler weather so most of our grass hays take 3-4 days from cut to bale.

 

[JESSE1]

I built a stand out of treated lumber so the mower stays off the ground. As long as it stays level I don't have any trouble hooking it up.

 

[ddivinia]

If you are going to use the current Kuhn/JD or Krone 3 point disc mower on the KMC disc mower caddy you really need the optional hydraulic lift. You can make these mowers work without this option but you have to be careful because the inside skid shoe will dig into the ground. If you are using a 8 or 9 disc mower (10' and above), you likely should also add some leftside weight for stability. We have sold the disc mower caddy for 5 years now and it's drop a drawbar pin in and go is the #1 feature why customers purchase them.

Thanks for the info. I am looking at them for the convience factor. I have heard they can be a real pain to hitch up.

I am looking a 9'2" mower. I was debating the extra weight, I guess I don't need it.

It sounds like the lift cylinder is a must.

Do you guys sell the KMC? Are all mower caddys created equal?

D.

 

[HayDR]

Thanks for the info. I am looking at them for the convience factor. I have heard they can be a real pain to hitch up.

I am looking a 9'2" mower. I was debating the extra weight, I guess I don't need it.

It sounds like the lift cylinder is a must.

Do you guys sell the KMC? Are all mower caddys created equal?

D.

We sell THe Bulldog made here in TN but they are basically the same caddy.

 

[ddivinia]

How much are they?

D.

 

[Hay Pirate]

I use the Mo-Co -- if you actually read the manual, you can really dial it in and bale the next day with a raking in the late morning. Adjust it for the right crop too. I normally make the hedgerows really wide and low with it. I run a 5520, no problem for it, except for real steep inclines: the engine chugs down until at the top of the hill and resumes, remarkably still cuts fine..
But I don't think you have many steep hills anyway.
Replacing the knives are easy if you have a nice pulse wrench a good inverter or a long steel pipe. I've heard of people grinding down worn knives too.

I've never seen a krone or a kuhn mower around me (Hudson Valley, NY) only NH and JD and around here the MoCo's work the best.