New Idea Cut/Ditioner

[Safarmwv]

I am looking to get a new hay mower on some what of a limited budget. I have come across a New Idea Cutditioner, I can't remember the model for sure, but I think its a 272, at least I know its 7'. I was wondering if anybody has had any luck with them- pros or cons. Also what kind of power they seem to use. The ones I have seen are pretty cheap. Also considering a haybine (I know where there is a nice john deere 1219 for $2500 with new bar and tires). And also considering a smaller disc mower. I am running about 43 hp at the pto. Any other ideas are welcome! Thanks!

 

[BeechNutFarm]

There are lots of opinions pro & con regarding cutditioners on many different websites. We've used both 7' and 9' cutditioners behind both a Farmall M and an Allis 170 gas. The 170 easily powers either one, and the M handled the 7' in 4th gear in average hay and 2nd or 3rd in heavy hay. Some advantages are they cut down any kind of hay: wet, tangled, heavy or light. I've cut hay when dew was spraying like a mist out of the mower. The hay dries faster so the next day we baled it. On drier days we could mow in the morning and bale that afternoon. Parts are simpler, just a few bearings and the knives on the cutter drum. We'd sharpen ours with a grinder at least once a year, usually between first & second cuttings, and there are a lot of knives to sharpen. The 9' drive shaft, which attaches to the long pto shaft broke where it comes out of the gearbox. That was not a cheap repair, but the only major one in over ten years of use. And once, when our rake broke down, we closed the back flaps up to shift the hay to one side and vacuum-turned the hay to finish drying. Worked fine. I wouldn't trade mine in for a haybine. Seen them plugged too often on wind-blown hay. Good luck.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I don't know if your still looking at the Cut/Ditioner but I will share my experience. When I first started haying I had borrowed a NH 489 haybine. Well I didn't like using someone elses so I started looking for my own cutter. A friend of mine (He is a modern day Mr. Haney from Green Acres) had 2 cut/ditioners that would be perfect for me. He even uses them himself. So I agree to try one out and bring it to my place and start going over the machine to make sure everything is ok. Well, it needed a belt so I had to go buy a belt for it (not a simple little belt either). Then I greased it all up as it looked like it hadn't been used in years. Hooked it up to my TN65 and tried it out. It pulled hard and I did not like how it cut or handled. The cut most likely was dull knives but I was unimpressed with this machine and decided to return it before wasting any more of my time. So I ended up buying a Gehl 9' discbine. It cost me a lot more money but I will be honest with you, it was money well spent. I enjoy cutting hay with the discbine. My TN is a little under powered for it but it does handle it and on flat ground I can move along pretty fast. It cuts wet or dry hay without any issues. And if I need to ted the hay I use a 4 basket tedder that lifts and spreads the hay out the entire width of cut where as the cut/ditioner only fluffs up the windrow. Doesn't spread it out any so if your trying to dry it down faster you will still want an actual tedder.

If you did end up buying one I would appreciate hearing your opinion of it.

 

[Safarmwv]

I appreciate the reply! I actually did some more research and talked to some other people and heard they were horsepower hogs and even kind of violent. I bought a vicon disc mower a couple of weeks ago off of a neighbor who was selling everything they had. Already having a tedder I figured this was just as well, plus I like the maneuverability of a disc mower! Thanks alot for the info!