Are Fransgard mowers any good?

[MrValmet505]

Hello! Thanks for letting me be a part of this community!

I am able to buy a Fransgard mower from a neigbour that just quit. This is a Fransgard K-240 mower that has only been used for a season. He says he will sell it to me for half the price of a new one (new one in Norway is £7300 and he’s gonna sell it to me for £2900 because he bought it on sale right before the price skyrocketed) . Is this a smart thing to do? Are these reliable?

I cut about 65 acres twice a year as silage for sheep. I am planning on driving it on my 1987 Valmet 505 GL (68 hp). This is my first time looking at a mower. I have recently bought an Orkel GP1202 baler, a Kverneland UN 7335 wrapper and is just about to buy a Kuhn GA 280 G rake. I don’t know if those have a good reputation either. I have also thought about making the mower collect the swath enough to not use a rake, but i don’t think the mower can get it narrow enough, as it doesn’t have a crimper.
What are your experiences about these Fransgard mowers, what have you heard about them? Anything you have heard is of interest to me.

 

[Dave W]

Not sure you’ll gather much info on here. I don’t think fransgard are available in uk.
The deal looks good on paper.
Never seen a fransgard mower. I wonder who makes what on it

 

[MrValmet505]

Not sure you’ll gather much info on here. I don’t think fransgard are available in uk.
The deal looks good on paper.
Never seen a fransgard mower. I wonder who makes what on it

Thank you very much for the reply! I didn’t know they aren’t really available in the UK. There aren’t much info to gather from them here in Norway either, people usually buy the big brands. The mower is made in Denmark. I think the mower has a Comer cutting bar, which i have heard other brands also use (i don’t know which brands though).

 

[Beet King]

I had a Fransgard RV390 "Haybob" and it was a well built thing that lasted us many years until we outgrew it for a twin rotor rake. I did meet Mr Fransgard at the Grassland event some years back and he was a very decent chap.

 

[Welderloon]

Buy it, try/use it for a season, you can always trade it against a new one if it is not what you desire, equipment is expensive in Norway & that seems like a decent deal.
Ask yourself where else can you get a similar style mower for that price?
Your 68hp Valmet should crank it no problem though may have struggled if the mower did have a crimper fitted.
Be careful on any steep headlands when turning.

 

[MrValmet505]

I had a Fransgard RV390 "Haybob" and it was a well built thing that lasted us many years until we outgrew it for a twin rotor rake. I did meet Mr Fransgard at the Grassland event some years back and he was a very decent chap.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! I have not met many people that have had any experience with Fransgard whatsoever. I quickly start to compare Fransgard with JF in my mind, and i have heard lots of good things about JF. Now new JF machines don’t exist anymore and are out of my price range anyways. Fransgard seems to hit all my requirements. The factor that has been limiting me the most, is the fact that i haven’t heard anything reliability-wise. Your experience helps me with knowing what i am getting. Seeing as i can get a machine this new for this price makes me very tempted to attempt this. The fact that you even met Mr. Fransgard himself tells me that this is a dedicated and down-to-earth company. Thank you for sharing your experience! Have you heard about others having experience with Fransgard too?

 

[MrValmet505]

Buy it, try/use it for a season, you can always trade it against a new one if it is not what you desire, equipment is expensive in Norway & that seems like a decent deal.
Ask yourself where else can you get a similar style mower for that price?
Your 68hp Valmet should crank it no problem though may have struggled if the mower did have a crimper fitted.
Be careful on any steep headlands when turning.

These are some really great points. Thank you very much for the great advice, i think this sounds like the best way to go. The other mowers i can get for this price are like 20 year old giant JF mowers that have lived a life to put it that way… These are also starting to get worse accessability to spare parts now after JF collapsed twice. This being such a new mower makes me believe there is more life left in this one. I was considering getting an ancient mower with a crimper, but thank you for telling me that it might be too much for the Valmet. Also, thank you for the advice on how to drive it. I have never driven a mower before, as we have always had contractors do it before. After they have stopped with the services, we have to try ourselves. This mower might be a good way to start doing it ourselves, then we can get more known equipment in the future if things go well. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It’s very useful to me!

 

[MrValmet505]

So many interesting replies! I have never used this forum before. What a great group with great people! I really appreciate it and any other thoughts or experiences are greatly appreciated!

 

[SalesAgent]

Not sure you’ll gather much info on here. I don’t think fransgard are available in uk.
The deal looks good on paper.
Never seen a fransgard mower. I wonder who makes what on it

Fransgard available in the UK. Some dealers keep stock and the full range is available.

 

[SalesAgent]

Not sure you’ll gather much info on here. I don’t think fransgard are available in uk.
The deal looks good on paper.
Never seen a fransgard mower. I wonder who makes what on it

Fransgard available in the UK. Some dealers keep stock and the full range is available.

Meant to add, all parts available through www.fransgardparts.co.uk

 

[MrValmet505]

Fransgard available in the UK. Some dealers keep stock and the full range is available.

Hi! Thanks for the reply! From what i’ve gathered it seems like you are associated with Fransgård. Do you know if it is possible to get something for a K-240 mower that can make the swath be under 1,40 meters? Is it be possible to implement something like that myself if you don’t have it, or do you reckon it won’t work? I’m considering a K-240 and a Orkel GP1202 baler. This baler does not like too much grass at once as it doesn’t have a pickup but instead has a forage harvester that cuts and blasts the grass into the chamber. This could help me know if i should get the Fransgård mower or not. I have tried calling Fransgård but my number can’t call abroad because of my phone operator. I also tried calling my importer, but they didn’t have too much advice on the matter. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[blackieman83]

Mate bought one last year, seems a good wee mower, he promptly ripped the inner top hat section to pieces on a stone, dealer has so far been unable to acquire a new top hat but gave him an ordinary disc to keep him going which it done admirably well, cut around 50 acres so far, very quiet when running.

 

[SalesAgent]

Is he based in the UK? I can get all parts for
Fransgard machines

 

[SalesAgent]

Mate bought one last year, seems a good wee mower, he promptly ripped the inner top hat section to pieces on a stone, dealer has so far been unable to acquire a new top hat but gave him an ordinary disc to keep him going which it done admirably well, cut around 50 acres so far, very quiet when running.

Is he based in the UK? I can get all parts for
Fransgard machines

 

[SalesAgent]

Hi! Thanks for the reply! From what i’ve gathered it seems like you are associated with Fransgård. Do you know if it is possible to get something for a K-240 mower that can make the swath be under 1,40 meters? Is it be possible to implement something like that myself if you don’t have it, or do you reckon it won’t work? I’m considering a K-240 and a Orkel GP1202 baler. This baler does not like too much grass at once as it doesn’t have a pickup but instead has a forage harvester that cuts and blasts the grass into the chamber. This could help me know if i should get the Fransgård mower or not. I have tried calling Fransgård but my number can’t call abroad because of my phone operator. I also tried calling my importer, but they didn’t have too much advice on the matter. Do you have any suggestions?

Are you based in the UK? I am the UK Sales Manager for Fransgard.
I have asked Fransgard in Denmark for an answer on your question.
The mowers make a good job, possibly have to change the blades to suit your crop / conditions depending on what it comes with. (Usually shipped with a universal u type blade)

They are designed and built in Denmark. A strong frame build around a Comer cutting deck.
I will come back to you with an answer regarding the narrower swath.

 

[MrValmet505]

Mate bought one last year, seems a good wee mower, he promptly ripped the inner top hat section to pieces on a stone, dealer has so far been unable to acquire a new top hat but gave him an ordinary disc to keep him going which it done admirably well, cut around 50 acres so far, very quiet when running.

That sounds very interesting! That doesn’t sound too bad. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Really appreciated!

 

[MrValmet505]

Are you based in the UK? I am the UK Sales Manager for Fransgard.
I have asked Fransgard in Denmark for an answer on your question.
The mowers make a good job, possibly have to change the blades to suit your crop / conditions depending on what it comes with. (Usually shipped with a universal u type blade)

They are designed and built in Denmark. A strong frame build around a Comer cutting deck.
I will come back to you with an answer regarding the narrower swath.

Sadly i am not based in the UK. I am based in Norway. I have tried a few times, but i struggle to get through to Fransgård themselves. It seems like my number can’t call abroad because of my operator, and the mail i sent refered me to the norwegian importer. I tried calling the norwegian importer of Fransgård, but they didn’t think they could assist with my questions. They just told me that they didn’t know and to try something and see if it works.

I would love to know what Fransgård themselves actually think would be possible. I would really really appreciate if you could assist me with this, it would be very kind of you to do so. This would mean the world to me and my father, as it would make us not need a rake, which would remove a field operation.

Thank you very much for giving me this information about the mower. Your descriptions strengthen my faith in getting the machine. There is very little to find about these machines online, which have made me unsure if these are good machines. Thank you for being able to supply information to me, to remove this doubt. Sometimes i feel like the reputation says that Fransgård-equipment is more for the hobby-farmer than people that live off of farming. This has made me a bitt afraid earlier in this consideration of a mower. But knowing that they are danish makes me feel like these machines might just be under-estimated and are worth a shot.

I see you write that they are using a Comer cutting deck. Do you know which other famous mowers do this? Just to know what compare the Fransgård to.

You spending some of your time to do this investigation really means a lot. It tells me that the UK’s Fransgård service team is impeccably great at doing their job.

I’m looking forward to hear from you with great excitement! Thank you very much for doing this!!!

 

[MrValmet505]

I’m still baffled by the amount of how many great people filled with lots of good knowledge that are around on this forum. I’m amazed by it. Lots of people ready to assist me, great stuff.

 

[SalesAgent]

Sadly i am not based in the UK. I am based in Norway. I have tried a few times, but i struggle to get through to Fransgård themselves. It seems like my number can’t call abroad because of my operator, and the mail i sent refered me to the norwegian importer. I tried calling the norwegian importer of Fransgård, but they didn’t think they could assist with my questions. They just told me that they didn’t know and to try something and see if it works.

I would love to know what Fransgård themselves actually think would be possible. I would really really appreciate if you could assist me with this, it would be very kind of you to do so. This would mean the world to me and my father, as it would make us not need a rake, which would remove a field operation.

Thank you very much for giving me this information about the mower. Your descriptions strengthen my faith in getting the machine. There is very little to find about these machines online, which have made me unsure if these are good machines. Thank you for being able to supply information to me, to remove this doubt. Sometimes i feel like the reputation says that Fransgård-equipment is more for the hobby-farmer than people that live off of farming. This has made me a bitt afraid earlier in this consideration of a mower. But knowing that they are danish makes me feel like these machines might just be under-estimated and are worth a shot.

I see you write that they are using a Comer cutting deck. Do you know which other famous mowers do this? Just to know what compare the Fransgård to.

You spending some of your time to do this investigation really means a lot. It tells me that the UK’s Fransgård service team is impeccably great at doing their job.

I’m looking forward to hear from you with great excitement! Thank you very much for doing this!!!

Mr Jorgen Fransgard (CEO) has asked for your email address. He will make contact with you next week.

 

[box]

Mr Jorgen Fransgard (CEO) has asked for your email address. He will make contact with you next week.

Now that's what I call customer service