Drum mower setup

[GAM]

Hi, I have just grazed off a small field which I am intending to over-seed, yet there are rows of what looks like stubble, the guy from the seed company thinks that my drum mower wasn't setup right, when I cut my hay! what do you think?

 

[neilo]

Did you have any blades on it? We’re they blunt and/or travelling too fast? Was the crop standing or laid flat?

It looks untidy, but does it matter that much?

 

[7610 super q]

If the grass was thick, and laid, looks OK TBH.

 

[Beames]

I’ve Seen worse fields than that after being mowed.

 

[Boohoo]

I'd say you needed more revs and a higher forward speed. Drum mowers can block if you don't go fast enough

 

[essexpete]

I have had mowers both drum and disc do that. Have sometimes wondered if tipping too far forward could be partly responsible?

 

[Red Fred]

When I bought a box of new blades last week, the store man told me that Samasz had changed to longer blades as folks had grumbled about stripes left behind after the mower. I must say my aftermath on my old meadows looks neater, although some years I leave a right old pickle until it grows a bit

 

[Still Farming]

When I bought a box of new blades last week, the store man told me that Samasz had changed to longer blades as folks had grumbled about stripes left behind after the mower. I must say my aftermath on my old meadows looks neater, although some years I leave a right old pickle until it grows a bit

All depends on straight or cranked blades, belts and tightness ,forward speeds snd crop thickness ,if standing or flat ,and way cut most likely?

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

Blunt blades, old, tough, dry grass that's gone over a bit, too slow forward speed, pushing the grass over before it's cut tidy.

Brand new well set up mowers can still have it looking like this. If it's been turned 3 times and rowed up then the stubble has been whipped about a lot it wont look as clean finish.

 

[steveR]

Lots of variables could contribute to that in my experience.

Speed and blade quality are the prime areas to consider. I've finished a field before now and been surprised at the "stubble" left when I am sure I was hitting all the ticks boxes on setup. The crop can change as you go across a field as we all know, and again, can influence the finish.

Gotta agree, that I too have seen worse... including my own work!

 

[andybk]

Hi, I have just grazed off a small field which I am intending to over-seed, yet there are rows of what looks like stubble, the guy from the seed company thinks that my drum mower wasn't setup right, when I cut my hay! what do you think?

what mower is it ?, our PZ 165 did that in 540 , now cut in 1000 pto and keep speed down , eliminated the problem ,tried new blades and all sorts , thats said its not really that important to have a clean cut anyway

 

[essexpete]

My taarap disc mower makes a better job running at about 600rpm. (I use the 1000rpm setting).

 

[neilo]

My taarap disc mower makes a better job running at about 600rpm. (I use the 1000rpm setting).

I was advised the same by Malone.

 

[GAM]

what mower is it ?, our PZ 165 did that in 540 , now cut in 1000 pto and keep speed down , eliminated the problem ,tried new blades and all sorts , thats said its not really that important to have a clean cut anyway

The mower is a Kuhn 170, new blades, 540 pto on a MF135, so I haven't the luxury of a 1000 pro option!
I set the tractor and mower on level ground, and adjusted the top link so that the mower was level... I think I should have tilted the mower slightly forward to allow for any wear in the tractors linkages!, possibly the may have helped!

 

[andybk]

The mower is a Kuhn 170, new blades, 540 pto on a MF135, so I haven't the luxury of a 1000 pro option!
I set the tractor and mower on level ground, and adjusted the top link so that the mower was level... I think I should have tilted the mower slightly forward to allow for any wear in the tractors linkages!, possibly the may have helped!

i wouldnt worry about it then , as long as it gets crop off , make sure blades are sharp and set slightly forward , drum mowers will never cut as clean as a disc

 

[David.]

You say that, but I think sometimes disc mowers are worse, especially in laid crops.

 

[puppet]

Looks like one drum cutting over and the other under the way the grass was lying. Not much to do except cut one way which is a pain or lower the cut which risks baring some areas.
I have just made a mess of a field of flat, soft grass which should have been cut 3 weeks ago. Your field looks perfect in comparison.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Kuhn 170 is the old Vicon/PZ isn’t it? A drum mower should be set with drums level in the field. Use straight blades for normal cutting or cranked low cut blades for shaving the fields. Only a disc mower should be tilted forward. How fast was your mower turning as a 135 PTO is not the fastest, I would guess a 135 needs to be at nearly full throttle with a drum mower, was the mower sounding like it wanted to take off?

 

[GAM]

Thanks for all your replies, I will have to wait and until next season now to test the varying theories ...

Just thought I would let you all know, the stalks drove me mad, so I cut the whole field with the lawn mower!

Sad I know

 

[jpd]

set in the field not the yard
get off yer lardie rear end
and look at the stubble
then fine tune settings
which means turning the top linc
(it works does it?
judging by the dudes that borrowed my haybob
and returned it without tines
its not an outrageous question)
btw
in all but perfect conditions
a drum mower will leave a rib
and stop mithering the grass seed man
his job finished when you got the seed bags