Sickle Bar This sickle bar mower worth anything?

lynxpilot · Oct 16, 2004

I'll try to attach photos. Previous owner of my property left a lot of junk. I'm desperate for some haying equipment and it costs a lot more than I expected. One thing he left was a sickle bar mower. I'm trying to figure out who makes it and if I'd likely be able to buy parts. It's missing the cutter attachment (which was in the junk pile down in the pasture rotting away and rusted with holes. Appears to be unuseable).

Anybody recognize it? Manufacturer? Parts available?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

lynxpilot · Oct 16, 2004

HERE is a link to where I put it on my home page. Still uploading other photos.

CM-240, whoever makes that. It's missing the whole blade assembly from the flange out. The guard is on the ground next to the piece I've shown. Hydraulic hose needs replacement, which is no big deal, but the entire blade assembly is what concerns me.

Can anybody identify it and point me toward a vendor who might be able to supply replacement parts?

Thanks

Harv · Oct 16, 2004

Dave -

Not sure what happened there, but if you had trouble attaching the photo, you might want to review this section of the FAQ page. First time's always the hardest. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Oops! Looks like we were posting at the same time. Your picture looks good. Now if you can just find a way to downsize it to maybe 640 x 480 you'll be all set. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

HayDR · Oct 17, 2004

lynxpilot,
This looks like a Kverneland product. Kverneland owns the Greenland Group, Vicon is one of these MFG's. A CM240 is almost a 8' mower. We can not see from you link if it is a single action or double action mower but we can see the sickle cutterbar in the leaves on the far right of the picture. I'd guess single action. Given the number of these units sold and the parts availability I would value this mower for $500 or less. You likely would be better served with a used domestic MFG sickle bar mower. If you want double action mower there are plenty of used ones available because they are trading for the newer technology drum and disc mowers.

sweettractors · Oct 17, 2004

From the picture, This actually looks like a Disc Mower to me. Do you have pictures of the cutterbar?--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Over 30 Used Sickle Bar Mowers in Stock Priced from $395 to $1095*

thcri · Oct 18, 2004

What does it say on the name tag??

lynxpilot · Oct 18, 2004

Tag was pretty worn except for 'made in Netherlands' or something like that. I couldn't find the manufacturer on it anywhere. I'll try again on the picture upload.

lynxpilot · Oct 18, 2004

Last photo was the flange where the cutter (missing) hooks up and that's the part that will make or break whether it's worth keeping or not. I'll need to replace the cutter. Everything else turns and appears to be at least minimally functional. I'll try another photo.

lynxpilot · Oct 18, 2004

Last one. Apologize for the camoflage. It's what I assume is a guard for the cutter.

In summary, my question of 'worth' is: is it worth buying a replacement cutter? I knew you would have to buy replacement blades, but the whole shebang is another story. I just don't want to pump in more money than a used one is worth.

Again, thanks.

Dave

pekabu · Oct 19, 2004

Not that I am all that knowledgable about these things, but with the updated pictures I have to agree with Sweet that this looks more like a discmower. Check out CCM's post for a picture of one. I wonder why it's all apart? I would guess something broke and either they never got to fixing it, or the cost was prohibitive.

rambler · Oct 21, 2004

( Tag was pretty worn except for 'made in Netherlands' or something like that. I couldn't find the manufacturer on it anywhere. I'll try again on the picture upload. )

If you are serious about identifying it, 'something like that' really isn't good enough. Or we could say it looks something like a hay mower & leave it at that. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Just having some fun.

Most implements have a small metal tag on them with a model & serial plate. These plates are on the frame, which you have. Look close, in protected areas.... The CM 240 & the place of manufature is a good clue. Any other words, partial words, you can get off that sticker will help. The frame to cover over the blades makes me think it is a disc mower. Vicon makes disc mowers, so that's a good direction to investigate....

Around 'here' you can get a good sickle mower for $300. A good disc mower goes for $3000.

Unfortunately, you have the frame, and are missing the spendy working parts. I'd think you might as well consider it worthless scrap iron..... Now, if you happen to buy a working 240 Vicon, you'll have a few spare parts....

--->Paul

lynxpilot · Oct 22, 2004

Found the blade attachment in the junk pile. It's a disc mower. Did some googling and found CM240 to be disc mower made by Vicon, which as I understand is out of business. The disc bar was pretty rusted out, and although I consider myself sort of handy in fixing things, I reckon this one is pretty much scrap. Since steel is at such a premium now, I guess it'll be off to the scrap yard for a few bucks. I've decided I'll only be haying about 8 or 9 acres, the rest will be in managed grazing, so I'll probly just have my cousin hay for me and patiently wait for those killer deals at a farm auction or whatever and start accumulating the equipment over the next couple years. Thanks for the responses!

Dave

ZJ_HR · Oct 23, 2004

Vicon is now part of Kverneland group.
Your mower can be older sister of todays CM series.
Their products are extremelly expensive, but worth a money.

Hope this helps

lynxpilot · Oct 23, 2004

Outstanding! Thanks. I emailed the rep in MO here to see if parts might be available. Man, that would be a bonus.

Dave

ZJ_HR · Oct 24, 2004

I'm big fan of Vicon implements. I own their fertilizer spreader, and it is now in rebuild phase.

lynxpilot · Nov 2, 2004

Contacted Vicon and got a lukewarm response referring me to 'ACI Distributors' (I think was the name). I looked them up and emailed them. Got a friendly response to let me know that almost all of the cutter bar parts are available as replacement from the factory. I also found an aftermarket parts supplier through and old tractor BBS in case the factory wants too much money. I guess these things had problems with welds near the root of the cutter bar and also had a tendency to lose the oil in the bar as well. I've got it ripped apart. Previous owner had replaced all the gears and gave up, thus saving me a huge rebuild expense. Pretty much all I need are a few bushings, gasket, and gear seals. Might also order a couple sets of blades. Last question if anybody is still out there. It has a guard but no curtain. I've heard these things throw rocks like a madman. My only haying field is a little 8 or so acre plot that the previous owner had in pristine condition (good grass, no rocks, no bumps, no errors, blah blah). If I cut without the shroud, am I being an idiot??

Thanks in advance.

Dave

rambler · Nov 2, 2004

( If I cut without the shroud, am I being an idiot??

Thanks in advance.

Dave )

I don't mean to be blunt, but:

Yes.

Keep us informed, I've enjoyed this thread. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul