Gaspardo Sickle Bar Mower

[snohobigdad]

Hi guys.
I am looking at buying a 7' Gaspardo Sickle Bar mower to perform fence line and ditch maintenance. I will be using it on my JD 2720. Does anyone have experience with this sickle bar? Maybe even attached to a CUT? The price seems attractive. It is 7 years old and looks to be in good condition and like it has been rarely used.


Thanks so much for any and all input

Jim

 

[beenthere]

Hope it works out for you. Jiggle bars have their place.
There are plenty of wear parts to consider, as well as hitting things and needing new parts. It's the "old age" technology, but serve a good purpose.

Weight off to the side of a lightweight tractor (2000 #) would be of concern, but counter weight can be added to the left side.

Good part availability would be my main concern, if I were you.

 

[snohobigdad]

Thanks Beenthere

 

[flusher]

Get the operator, parts and maintenance manuals so you'll know how to service the mower and adjust it when it starts to cut funny (they all do eventually). Also find a local source for parts. Tractor Supply has a limited selection of generic sicklebar parts (blade sections, rock guards, bolts, rivets, etc).

Good luck.

 

[snohobigdad]

Thanks Flusher. While this appears to be a good buy, it doesn't completely eliminate the use of a weed whacker to keep the fence line or the ditch clear. Always open to ideas as it takes about a week just to do the 1/2 mile long ditch. The fence line is another story. Some areas have lots of blackberry vines.

 

[beenthere]

Some areas have lots of blackberry vines.

You will really like it for the blackberry's... beats getting up close and personal.

And that 1/2 mile run will be worth having it, even if it means some hand weed whacking. IMO
But you will do it so quick that it then will seem like a chore just to hook up the jiggle bar for such a short time.. happens with each new toy. (grin)

 

[snohobigdad]

This the model I am looking at: http://forddistributing.com/media/c...33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/b/fbr_test_011.jpg It does have the hydraulics with, and it looks like the current owner never used them.

It has an integrated stand so hopefully hookup and detach won't be horrendous. I know one thing for sure, it is heavy.

 

[Fluid]

This the model I am looking at: http://forddistributing.com/media/c...33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/b/fbr_test_011.jpg It does have the hydraulics with, and it looks like the current owner never used them.

It has an integrated stand so hopefully hookup and detach won't be horrendous. I know one thing for sure, it is heavy.

Looks like a nice unit, I have an old JD model 39 I think. I would like the hydro lift for sure.

 

[snohobigdad]

Fluid I have an old JD model 5. I never used it as it was used by my wife's late husband. I have two broken casting on it now, so not going to invest any more money into it. Yard art!

In order to take advantage of this unit's hydraulics, I need to add another service connection. All kinds of learning opportunities.

 

[beenthere]

snoho
Can you get the 3rd SCV kit for your 2720?

Pic shows it on a 4x00 tractor which is about a third more weight. Can you purchase the mower with proof your tractor will handle it?

Having a bit more tractor and an iMatch for quick attach will make switching it on and off much easier... just thinking.

 

[Fluid]

Fluid I have an old JD model 5. I never used it as it was used by my wife's late husband. I have two broken casting on it now, so not going to invest any more money into it. Yard art!

In order to take advantage of this unit's hydraulics, I need to add another service connection. All kinds of learning opportunities.

Do you have a FEL? If you have a FEL that should help some with the weight balance. Does your unit have enough hydro output or do you have to all another pump. When you say "add another service connection" you are talking about a rear remote hook up, yes?

 

[snohobigdad]

FEL yes. Another connection in the back. Was thinking use the curl function connection to handle the raise of the bar.

 

[beenthere]

Should work.
I'd use just the "curl up" function to avoid the regenerative circuit in the curl down side. It is a one way ram so you get by using just a single line.

 

[flusher]

Thanks Flusher. While this appears to be a good buy, it doesn't completely eliminate the use of a weed whacker to keep the fence line or the ditch clear. Always open to ideas as it takes about a week just to do the 1/2 mile long ditch. The fence line is another story. Some areas have lots of blackberry vines.

I have three sicklebar mowers--a 3-pt hitch unit (Massey Ferguson 31, 7-ft bar), a mid-mount 6-footer for my Farmall Super A and a towed sicklebar (Allis Chalmers, 7-ft bar). I still have to use my weed whacker on 1/4 mile of ditch and 1/4 mile of fence. I have a professional grade Red Max string mower ($400 or so). It has the head that uses pre-cut 16" lengths of 0.155" plastic string--not a bump feed.

 

[snohobigdad]

Flusher, I have a Stihl with a blade that works pretty well. Do you like that Red Max? I has a little bit smaller model that had the bump head. Worked great until my renter put straight gas in it.

 

[flusher]

Flusher, I have a Stihl with a blade that works pretty well. Do you like that Red Max? I has a little bit smaller model that had the bump head. Worked great until my renter put straight gas in it.

No problems with that Red Max trimmer--3rd season now. Seven squirts from the primer, 2-3 tugs on the rope and it's running.

Previously I had a nice Tanaka pro model that worked fine for about 8 seasons until the rings gave up in the engine. I work my trimmers pretty hard so I expect to be replacing them regularly.

 

[sunnyside360]

This the model I am looking at: http://forddistributing.com/media/c...33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/f/b/fbr_test_011.jpg It does have the hydraulics with, and it looks like the current owner never used them.

It has an integrated stand so hopefully hookup and detach won't be horrendous. I know one thing for sure, it is heavy.

I have the same sickle bar mower bought new about 8 years ago. These are made in Italy and marketed under different names. Mine is a Tonutti which is available locally. Saw a green one at the John Deere show (believe it was Frontier) and it looked identical except for color.
Mine looks identical to yours color and all. Some of the parts on mine like the replaceable cutters are stamped with Gasparado name.
The manual is over in the barn and it is currently raining here or I'd go and look at the weight but I don't think it is all that heavy -- wouldn't be surprised if it is under 500 lbs. I doubt if your tractor would have any trouble handling the mower especially if you have wheel weights and/or liquid filled rear tires but not sure if that would even be necessary.

 

[snohobigdad]

Sunnyside360,
What is your experience with the unit? Do you have and use the hydraulic capability? I understand that it will swing up 60 degrees and down 30. I am going to be doing a ditch plus fence line work. Would love to hear how you use it, and any tricks you have learned.

Thanks Jim.

Glad the Phillies are done beating up the Mariners.

 

[sunnyside360]

Sunnyside360,
What is your experience with the unit? Do you have and use the hydraulic capability? I understand that it will swing up 60 degrees and down 30. I am going to be doing a ditch plus fence line work. Would love to hear how you use it, and any tricks you have learned.

Thanks Jim.

Glad the Phillies are done beating up the Mariners.

I use the sickle bar mower mainly to mow along stream banks, ditches, roads and around the outside edges of the fields here on this old retired 300 acre dairy and crop farm. It has worked great for that. Prior to buying it new, I looked everywhere for a good used sickle mower but could not find any. I did get the hydraulic bar control and glad I did. I've had zero trouble with the mower. The owners manual does specify hitting the grease points every couple hours of use which is easy to do. I may let it go a little longer than 2 hrs since I don't ever run the machine at rated 540 RPM. Below is a link to the Gaspardo Sickle Bar Owners Manual which may answer some more of your questions. The unit weighs 470 lbs. Good luck.

http://www.jswoodhouse.com/brochures/Gaspardo FBR manual.pdf

 

[snohobigdad]

Thanks Sunnyside360! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond so thoroughly.