Problems with the Kuhn FC250G mower/conditioner?

[AKfish]

Looking at a Kuhn mower-conditioner to buy. It's a FC250G model - 8'2" cut with the finger conditioners.

It's got the "Gyro" 2-pt mount, too.

What typical problems do these mowers have that should be looked at before agreeing on a price?

Appreciate feedback/opinions.

AKfish

 

[5030]

Don't have a Kuhn mower but I do have a Gyro Rake and it's turn key.

Other than lack of dealer network (here), It's my experience that Kuhn is very reliable. My closest dealer is 175 miles away.

 

[AKfish]

Don't have a Kuhn mower but I do have a Gyro Rake and it's turn key.

Other than lack of dealer network (here), It's my experience that Kuhn is very reliable. My closest dealer is 175 miles away.

Kuhn dealer is about the same distance from my place, too! If it's a reliable mower - shouldn't have to make that drive too often!

AKfish

 

[Dill]

They are good machines. Make sure the cutter bar is tight and check the oil for peices of metal. That bar costs at least 4k to replace. I have a FC250 drawbar and my father has a FC243. They are popular machines around here. Plus Kuhn made the cutter bars for Deere discbines and some other makes as well.
I prefer the drawbar hitch because I can tow the machine behind my pickup.

 

[AKfish]

They are good machines. Make sure the cutter bar is tight and check the oil for peices of metal. That bar costs at least 4k to replace. I have a FC250 drawbar and my father has a FC243. They are popular machines around here. Plus Kuhn made the cutter bars for Deere discbines and some other makes as well.
I prefer the drawbar hitch because I can tow the machine behind my pickup.

I'm guessing when you say "tight", you mean there's no slop in the cutter turtles. When you turn them by hand, they all move in unison - no single turtle will move any distance before engaging all the other disc's.

Correct?

I did check all the discs and moved them back and forth. Maybe has a 1/4" movement before all the gears mesh and they all move together. No clicking or other unusual noises, either.

No leaks from the cutter bar or the gear boxes, either. U-joints look good, no excessive play. Cover ok - little faded - but not all cracked or cut. Paint is sun bleached, too - but not peeling or flaking off. Frame and tow bar straight, no breaks, welds or repair spots.

He's asking $7k. Looked on the Internet and the price seems very reasonable. Think I'm gonna jump on it - don't guess I'm even gonna haggle on his asking price, either.

AKfish

 

[bill in ny]

make sure you have enough pto hp to run it. you should with your m series tractor. i have a kuhn rake and tedder, and they are built very well. alot of kuhn discbines around here also. see if he will mow some grass with it for you to see it in action. the discbine i have is really easy to maintain, and i'm sure that one is too.

 

[Dill]

I think 7 is a bit high. I know that you have a limited used equipment up there. But I wouldn't go over 5. I paid 3 for mine with a brand new cutter bar, I just had to reassemble the whole thing.

 

[AKfish]

I think 7 is a bit high. I know that you have a limited used equipment up there. But I wouldn't go over 5. I paid 3 for mine with a brand new cutter bar, I just had to reassemble the whole thing.

Dang! It's amazing what competition and more options can get you!

Very limited equipment available up here... and it's a fair bit of time and money to "drive on down the hill" for something else!

I'm pretty confident that I can get $3,500 for my DMG400; so, that eases things a bit. Likely have $300-400 in new spare parts for the 400, too. Low time belts on the machine right now and a set of new belts still in the box. Enough cutter blades and bolts, etc. to easily last 10 years for the next owner.

Literature says 55hp @ pto for the FC250G and my 5075M is rated for 60hp; so, I should be OK there on straight Timothy hay.

Went over to look at it last night. We hooked it up and ran it over some hay ground that has grown back to about 6". It mowed and hummed along like a big 'ol sewing machine! It'll darn near cut on a 90 degree at the end of the field, too! Not used to that..

AKfish

 

[Dill]

I've run the FC250 on my MF 271, and a Deere 5410 and 2440, which are all in 65hp range. It'll make it grunt at start up but they'll cruise right through just about anything. A neighbor runs one on a 2240 deere which does the job but doesn't like too. I went from a GMD 400 disc to the FC250 I'm saving quite a bit of drying time with the conditioners.

 

[AKfish]

I've run the FC250 on my MF 271, and a Deere 5410 and 2440, which are all in 65hp range. It'll make it grunt at start up but they'll cruise right through just about anything. A neighbor runs one on a 2240 deere which does the job but doesn't like too. I went from a GMD 400 disc to the FC250 I'm saving quite a bit of drying time with the conditioners.

I'm really hoping that the conditioner will add a margin of time to the very short "weather windows" that we have up here.

This past hay season I had nearly half of my hay down and it was MAYBE 5-6 hours away from being dry enough to bale!! I was really tempted to just start baling... but it was right around 16% - too wet...

'Course the next day was showers and that set me back 2 full days and the additional tedding doesn't help with leaf loss...

We'll see how the conditioner works out this next summer!! :thumbsup:

AKfish