What size disc mower?

[ddivinia]

checked today, it is the Krone AM-283S 9'2" $7400 new, assembled, and picked up at the dealership. Even offered me a slight discount today if I would get 2.

Hum, I better get my guys to check their numbers. $1K here and there adds up.

Thanks,
D.

 

[jwcinpk]

Have you considered Fort First Choice mowers?
I've run a 9ft Fort for 5 years and no problems other than a drive shaft yoke because I hit the support wire on a telephone pole and couldn't stop in time. Only paid about $3700 for mine.

 

[chh]

They are $5795 plus freight now. I think I would rather have a local dealer.

 

[HayDR]

Have you considered Fort First Choice mowers?
I've run a 9ft Fort for 5 years and no problems other than a drive shaft yoke because I hit the support wire on a telephone pole and couldn't stop in time. Only paid about $3700 for mine.

First Choice has quit selling Fort. Buy Smart mowers are now made by Galfre'. There were once 5 Fort distributors and now there is only one left.
The main reason for the increase is the devaluation of the US$ to the Euro from 1.08 in 2003 to 1.48 now. This means it takes $1.48 = 1 Euro.

 

[mark.r]

Mine is the Kuhn GMD700, 7 disc. I think it cuts a 9' swath. My dealer didn't recommend the 8 disc because it's almost too tall to transport when hooked to the tractor and loaded on a trailer. The weight of the mower is not an issue with the 6400 JD I have.

This is also a concern of mine. I have looked at the Kuhn's as well although smaller than the GMD700 due to running smaller tractor. I believe I looked at the 5 disc unit. I don't think it should be a problem when loaded on the trailer though.

 

[ddivinia]

First Choice has quit selling Fort. Buy Smart mowers are now made by Galfre'. There were once 5 Fort distributors and now there is only one left.
The main reason for the increase is the devaluation of the US$ to the Euro from 1.08 in 2003 to 1.48 now. This means it takes $1.48 = 1 Euro.

Yeah - I am debating a Krone on that perspective exactly. What about parts, etc. There are a lot of Krones out there and they are not a fly by night company. Parts might get totally crazy prices. I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

 

[jwcinpk]

They are $5795 plus freight now. I think I would rather have a local dealer.

Wow what a jump in price. Almost 50% in just a few years. I was thinking of trading and getting a new one, but I geuss after seeing that price I'll just keep what I got and put a curtain and blades on it.

The dealers here in KY are still selling them.

 

[chh]

Yeah - I am debating a Krone on that perspective exactly. What about parts, etc. There are a lot of Krones out there and they are not a fly by night company. Parts might get totally crazy prices. I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

Not sure I have ever heard which are and which aren't. There are so many around that are "rebadged" I can't keep them all straight.

CCI?? Do you know offhand on this one?

 

[ddivinia]

I think we will be able to tell by price. Of course big companies can play games with the pricing depending on they pay. US dollar, local currency, etc. Foreign goods are going to keep going up, no doubt.

D.

 

[HayDR]

I would much rather buy an American made cutter.

Which ones are made here?

D.

There is not one cutter made 100% in the USA. The disc mower technology did not start here and many of the patents expired in the 1990's
Here is a list of the manufacturers that more than 50% of the unit is made in the USA. Most PTO's, blades and mounting hardware are imported and most of the castings are imported.

1. New Holland- 600 series- over 50% made in the USA
2. HayMAXX- over 50% made in the USA

• Vermeer- frame and cover made in the USA, transmission is made in Holland
• New Idea-frame and cover made in the USA, transmission is made in Italy.
• John Deere- mower made in France, cover made in the USA.
• Vicon- Holland
• Krone- Germany
• Fella- Germany and Italy
• Claas- Germany
• Kuhn- France & Czech Republic
• New Holland- (Econo) Italy
• Tonutti- Italy
• Sitrex- Italy
• MARANGON- Italy & Germany
• Fort/Morra- Italy

 

[ddivinia]

Well, atleast the whole list is not made in China...

D.

 

[chh]

Thanks CCI. They are more US parts than I actually thought.

 

[Renze]

What size mowers do you have?
Do you use a caddy on any of them?

I use a Krone AM 212 (without conditioner) which i bought 2 years ago for 600 Euro. it folds hydraulically and the 5245 doesnt even notice its there.
Now when i hook it to the 2011 to put it in the back of the low barn (1400 kg, 25 hp) you sure notice its there... But 25 hp would come a bit short to drive a 2.10 meter mower anyways.
I'll try the 3011 this spring, it has abit more weight but more important, more power. 39 hp should be able to work with it at reasonable speeds.

Mower caddies are unknown in Europe. some manufacturers sell pull type mowers but a caddy to pull a 3pt hitch mower would make most Europeans laugh...
The trend is towards 3 meter front, 3 meter rear 3pt hitch mowers, or 3 meter front, 2x 3 meter batwings rear.
Most popular farm mower is a 2.80 to 3.20 meter disk mower with V-tine conditioner. Anything strong enough to drive it, has enough weight to carry it.
Just some smaller 70 hp tractors can break the shaft that connects both lift arms in the top of the lift cover, because of the eccentric weight placement.

pull type mowers are available but arent sold much, mostly because of their 40% higher price.

 

[ddivinia]

I use a Krone AM 212 (without conditioner) which i bought 2 years ago for 600 Euro. it folds hydraulically and the 5245 doesnt even notice its there.

----

What is a 5245?


---
Now when i hook it to the 2011 to put it in the back of the low barn (1400 kg, 25 hp) you sure notice its there... But 25 hp would come a bit short to drive a 2.10 meter mower anyways.
I'll try the 3011 this spring, it has abit more weight but more important, more power. 39 hp should be able to work with it at reasonable speeds.
---

What is a 2011 or a 3011?



Mower caddies are unknown in Europe. some manufacturers sell pull type mowers but a caddy to pull a 3pt hitch mower would make most Europeans laugh...
The trend is towards 3 meter front, 3 meter rear 3pt hitch mowers, or 3 meter front, 2x 3 meter batwings rear.
Most popular farm mower is a 2.80 to 3.20 meter disk mower with V-tine conditioner. Anything strong enough to drive it, has enough weight to carry it.
-----

Interesting - i don't know anybody aorund here that uses front mowers or the batwing rear.

Also - you are not quite right on the enough power vs. weight.

I have a John Deere 4720 that will power my HX-15 batwing, but I am pretty sure the batwing would be doing the driving except on very level ground.

In regards to the 2.8 meter mower - not sure my 4720 would like that thing attached to the rear. I am pretty sure 58hp will drive it. With a mower caddy my 4720 should handle it OK and it makes hook up and storage much easier.

http://www.kelleymfg.com/Brochure/pdf/disc mower caddy new.pdf

I will give a report on it when I have it up and running. I will try it on my 4720 also.

D.


D.

 

[Renze]

What is a 5245?
---
What is a 2011 or a 3011?

These are Zetors: the 5245 is a 50 hp 3 cylinder MFWD tractor built between 1984 and 1992. With front loader it weighs over 3500 kg.
The 2011 and 3011 are built by Zetor in the 1960's : check this page at Zetorworld: please enter via www.zetorworld.com

you are not quite right on the enough power vs. weight.

I have a John Deere 4720 that will power my HX-15 batwing, but I am pretty sure the batwing would be doing the driving except on very level ground.

What exactly is a 4720 ?? the JD website says its hydro drive, are you sure its a tractor ?

 

[ddivinia]

These are Zetors: the 5245 is a 50 hp 3 cylinder MFWD tractor built between 1984 and 1992. With front loader it weighs over 3500 kg.
The 2011 and 3011 are built by Zetor in the 1960's : check this page at Zetorworld: please enter via www.zetorworld.com



What exactly is a 4720 ?? the JD website says its hydro drive, are you sure its a tractor ?

4720 = 58hp tractor.

Yeah, it is a tractor - used it for 4 hours this weekeng clearing brush.

Some people use Zetors around here. It can be very hard to get parts.

D.

 

[Renze]

Some people use Zetors around here. It can be very hard to get parts.

You can get just about any part for very reasonable prices, even for my 3011 which is over 40 years old... You just need to know where to buy..

All i need is a pair of mudguards, which is one of the few parts that arent available anymore...

 

[ddivinia]

You can get just about any part for very reasonable prices, even for my 3011 which is over 40 years old... You just need to know where to buy..

All i need is a pair of mudguards, which is one of the few parts that arent available anymore...

Maybe there, but here in Texas - it can be impossible to get parts. Having something break is bad enough, not able to get parts during the season totally sucks.

D.

 

[mark.r]

In reference to the Kuhn disk mowers, what is the difference between the GMD55 and the GMD500? The GMD500 is obviously listed as being the heavy duty unit but they have it listed as a "vertical fold disk mower". Is there any other "real" difference other than the HD feature?