2 Drum Mower Conditioner

[Selectamatic]

Who has one? Had one? Used one?

I'm thinking of buying one, basically a 2 drum mower with a conditioner unit bolted on the back.

Some of the fields I cut, and the tractors I cut with, are not really suitable for 8ft + Mo/co's.

I like my old drum mowers, but a conditioner would be brilliant, saving precious time in the whole job.

Who has had one, and were they any good? Would anyone have one for sale...?

 

[bobk]

Seen a few , but I'd say quite rare .

 

[Tonym]

Used to have a Niemeyer twin drum mower conditioner years ago. It was only 5'6" cut but if you put the conditioner in full it would drag a 100 hp tractor to its knees. It was also very heavy so needed a fair tractor to handle it on any sort of slope.
That said it was reliable and had a screw to alter the height of cut avoiding having to mess with spacers to do the job.

 

[glasshouse]

i have a ten foot twin drum grasshopper with conditioner
and several k2 8 footers too

 

[glasshouse]

Used to have a Niemeyer twin drum mower conditioner years ago. It was only 5'6" cut but if you put the conditioner in full it would drag a 100 hp tractor to its knees. It was also very heavy so needed a fair tractor to handle it on any sort of slope.
That said it was reliable and had a screw to alter the height of cut avoiding having to mess with spacers to do the job.

how could you work that without driving on the row?

 

[Boohoo]

One like this?
https://www.donedeal.co.uk/mowers-for-sale/deutz-fahr-km24-mower-conditioner/18985648
Was on the look out for one 20 years ago when we were mowing everything with a km22 but could never find one. I think the 996 would need something bigger to make it work.

 

[Selectamatic]

One like this?
https://www.donedeal.co.uk/mowers-for-sale/deutz-fahr-km24-mower-conditioner/18985648
Was on the look out for one 20 years ago when we were mowing everything with a km22 but could never find one. I think the 996 would need something bigger to make it work.

Probably, but the link will not open. Is it one that is still on sale?

 

[Boohoo]

Probably, but the link will not open. Is it one that is still on sale?

Link opens for me, just the first picture is missing. They want £1300 for it so it'll still be for sale!
Pictures from the advert

 

[Selectamatic]

That's the one!

Are they any good though...? If they are, one of them would suit me fine!

 

[Jontym]

We had a Fahr two drum with a roller conditioner about thirty five years ago, terrible thing constantly blocked up absolutely useless, built for very light European crops. Ended up cutting the conditioner off it.
Next came a PZ cm185 fitted with a TK185 metal flail conditioner, much better machine until the clutch burnt out on the back of the mower that drove the conditioner!
Think the main problem with these machines was the amount of crop we have over here, trying to push the heavy crop from between two drums through a relatively small conditioner was asking to much.

 

[jf850]

A long dead neighbour bought a sh Jf CM? 1900 25 years ago , to mow for an old Class harvester.
It could put a 7610 on its knees , with the conditioner fitted. A 165 happily drove it with the conditioner dropped off , but then the grass wasn't presented as nicely to the pick up.
I wouldn't bother with less than an 8 ft moco.

 

[joe soapy]

think out of the box, some mowers had a throuh drive shaft.... could be used to drive a wuffler that might suit your situation

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Sorry to hijack just seen @Tony had a niemeyer. I've a niemeyer mower in the shed it was retired because someone stole the PTO shaft off it years ago. Do they run a slip clutch or over run clutch? Tia

 

[Tonym]

Mine had an overrun clutch for definatel but may also have had a slip clutch as well. Been a long time.

 

[essexpete]

We had a PZ 165 with a separate conditioner that operated on the previous row (the one the tractor was straddling. It was driven by a pto stub on the mower and was lifted with a frame and chains. It did a reasonable job on light thin crap but was hopeless on proper first cut. Would block continually and eventually shag out the belts

 

[Maico490]

We had a PZ 165 with a separate conditioner that operated on the previous row (the one the tractor was straddling. It was driven by a pto stub on the mower and was lifted with a frame and chains. It did a reasonable job on light thin crap but was hopeless on proper first cut. Would block continually and eventually shag out the belts

Exactly the same here. I ended up in low 2nd with a Ford 4610 a time or two in heavy first cut but very rare to drop below high 2nd (6th) without the conditioner. I got quite quick with the spool valve to take the tension off the belts otherwise the momentum of the mower would wreck the belts even after you had knocked the PTO out.

 

[essexpete]

Love that photo! Send it to HSE.

 

[Selectamatic]

What a place to sit!!!

 

[Tonym]

Safest place for her to sit looks like the top of the mower. At least she would only fall off and not get her hair conditioned in the process.

 

[Martin Holden]

Don't want to be negative, but I'd steer well clear especially if you are cutting heavy old leys or permanent pasture. The crop flow from a 2 drum mower feeds all grass to the centre of a conditioner and there is never enough room!