Front mower conditioner

[Andrew]

Not much. But makes sense with the overlapping on turns. Will a Valtra N134 handle a front and single rear mower? Or should I rather add a front hitch to my JD 6175M or 6195M?

I would have thought it would be fine, as Sid says you might be a bit slower forward speed but still quicker overall.

 

[v8willy]

What size JD is that and what size is the front poettinger? Also looking at a front mower and Poettinger only have a 3.45m unit available in South Africa. New ones only coming in Jan 2022. Just afraid the 3.45m is a bit big for a front mounted unit. Any advise would be great. Already have the side mounted poettinger for the rear.

It's a 6190 Deere & a 301 mower.
301 is big enough on the front swinging about for me, the 3.45 on the front you would loose half the extra width running it with a rear? due to the overlap, ( if you follow me ) unless you push the rear mower across on the linkage & I can't see that happening.

Wouldn’t these check chains be better on the lower linkage pins on the A frame rather than the mower putting them on the mower let’s you power the arms down out of the mower A frame

If the A frame is locked in it won't come out, forgot to put the valve in single acting couple of years ago & sheared the bolts on the chain hangers.

Had them on the A frame of the last mower & was a pain if you were just dropping the mower off for a bit had to take the A frame off as well or have the chains hanging, same if using the A frame for something else.

Last mower on the 6930 did the same thing & folded the chain hangers down like a banana.

 

[Dian Landman]

So all these tractors are priced quite close together for front hitch and pto to run a front mower.

JD 6125M front hitch and pto, 540 back and 480 front tyres, powrquad plus 40km/h

Valtra N134 front hitch and pto, 480 back and 380 front tyres, active model.

New Holland T6070 front hitch and pto, 16x16 gearbox, 520 rear and 420 front tyres.

Massey Ferguson 7615, front hitch and pto, cab suspension, dyna 6, 650 rear and 520 front.

What would be the best bet for 60% being on mowers and the rest other jobs like mulching, feed wagon and raking

 

[mf7480]

So all these tractors are priced quite close together for front hitch and pto to run a front mower.

JD 6125M front hitch and pto, 540 back and 480 front tyres, powrquad plus 40km/h

Valtra N134 front hitch and pto, 480 back and 380 front tyres, active model.

New Holland T6070 front hitch and pto, 16x16 gearbox, 520 rear and 420 front tyres.

Massey Ferguson 7615, front hitch and pto, cab suspension, dyna 6, 650 rear and 520 front.

What would be the best bet for 60% being on mowers and the rest other jobs like mulching, feed wagon and raking

The 7615 Massey seems to be the Best Buy but having had one I wouldn’t recommend. Very poor reliability and backup from MF.

 

[ColinV6]

Out of that lot I’d probably go for the Massey also.

 

[Mouser]

So all these tractors are priced quite close together for front hitch and pto to run a front mower.

JD 6125M front hitch and pto, 540 back and 480 front tyres, powrquad plus 40km/h

Valtra N134 front hitch and pto, 480 back and 380 front tyres, active model.

New Holland T6070 front hitch and pto, 16x16 gearbox, 520 rear and 420 front tyres.

Massey Ferguson 7615, front hitch and pto, cab suspension, dyna 6, 650 rear and 520 front.

What would be the best bet for 60% being on mowers and the rest other jobs like mulching, feed wagon and raking

New Holland best for power but gearbox crap so massey is best all round.

 

[Dian Landman]

Massey dealer also wants to quote on a 6715S. Should I consider it or rather not?

 

[dave6470]

Massey dealer also wants to quote on a 6715S. Should I consider it or rather not?

ive one and absolutely love it not had a problem other than one sensor on the AdBlue just had it on a dyno putting out 151hp at the shaft

 

[Dian Landman]

When will a self propelled mower start coming into play compared to a front mower with 1 rear mower? Struggling with the decision. Our mowing work is getting more and more. Mowing lucerne ahead of cows, mowing clean behind cows on irrigation where we have stinging nettle problems. Mechanical is the only answer that works on them. Then come spring we do around 5000 bales.

So replace a current tractor with one that has a front hitch and get a front poettinger mower. (our fields, roads etc not suited for butterfly system)

Our buy an extra self propelled unit that can focus on mowing.

 

[BDBed]

When will a self propelled mower start coming into play compared to a front mower with 1 rear mower? Struggling with the decision. Our mowing work is getting more and more. Mowing lucerne ahead of cows, mowing clean behind cows on irrigation where we have stinging nettle problems. Mechanical is the only answer that works on them. Then come spring we do around 5000 bales.

So replace a current tractor with one that has a front hitch and get a front poettinger mower. (our fields, roads etc not suited for butterfly system)

Our buy an extra self propelled unit that can focus on mowing.

Will you use the tractor for anything else?

 

[Andrew]

When will a self propelled mower start coming into play compared to a front mower with 1 rear mower? Struggling with the decision. Our mowing work is getting more and more. Mowing lucerne ahead of cows, mowing clean behind cows on irrigation where we have stinging nettle problems. Mechanical is the only answer that works on them. Then come spring we do around 5000 bales.

So replace a current tractor with one that has a front hitch and get a front poettinger mower. (our fields, roads etc not suited for butterfly system)

Our buy an extra self propelled unit that can focus on mowing.

I'm interested to know why you think a butterfly system won't suit? Butterflies are no bigger on the road than a front and rear, and I can't see why they'd make a difference in the field either.

My triples cut everything from a 0.5acre pony paddock, to a 10acre field with 15 trees in it, to 66acre of ridge and furrow to 120acre of grass ley. I would't go back to a single even for the smallest fields.

 

[Dian Landman]

I'm interested to know why you think a butterfly system won't suit? Butterflies are no bigger on the road than a front and rear, and I can't see why they'd make a difference in the field either.

My triples cut everything from a 0.5acre pony paddock, to a 10acre field with 15 trees in it, to 66acre of ridge and furrow to 120acre of grass ley. I would't go back to a single even for the smallest fields.

Unfortunately in South Africa we do struggle to get good staff. A butterfly system will make my drivers head spin and Im not willing to take that chance. Repair cost on mowers can get quite expensive. Our labour struggle to cope with the width of implements. Out of my 14 machines I have 4 drivers that will be able to handle the job but unfortunately because they are my best they tend to do all the other important jobs aswell. That is why I was leaning towards a front mower woth single rear mower because its easier to handle. OR then a self propelled that the driver only has to focus right infront of himself. Sorry difficult to explain if you havent experienced it first hand [emoji28]

 

[Dian Landman]

Will you use the tractor for anything else?

If time allows it yes definitely. I will be trading a current tractor for one with a front hitch so will need to do its current job plus the mowing.

 

[davidroberts30]

consider a reverse drive and triples rear mounted?

 

[Andrew]

Unfortunately in South Africa we do struggle to get good staff. A butterfly system will make my drivers head spin and Im not willing to take that chance. Repair cost on mowers can get quite expensive. Our labour struggle to cope with the width of implements. Out of my 14 machines I have 4 drivers that will be able to handle the job but unfortunately because they are my best they tend to do all the other important jobs aswell. That is why I was leaning towards a front mower woth single rear mower because its easier to handle. OR then a self propelled that the driver only has to focus right infront of himself. Sorry difficult to explain if you havent experienced it first hand [emoji28]

Ah understood. When you said self propelled I was thinking something like the Krone bigM which isn’t much different to a butterfly setup, I think you’re thinking of something more like what we would call a swather? I would think a front and rear would run rings round them in this country due to time taken putting the front on and off for road transport?

 

[dairydurham]

Currently using a kv 4332 so a long drawbar. Think even getting up our own lane would be difficult with a front mower too. If I do get a front I'm going to have to get a mounted rear.

A 4332 does fold up alot better though than a JD 1365 ,even though it cuts 6inches more,1365 total ballache in tight village with parked cars

 

[Dian Landman]

Ah understood. When you said self propelled I was thinking something like the Krone bigM which isn’t much different to a butterfly setup, I think you’re thinking of something more like what we would call a swather? I would think a front and rear would run rings round them in this country due to time taken putting the front on and off for road transport?

Ahh yes sorry. Was referring to a swather. John Deere, New Holland or Macdon. Seems like they get quoted with a 13ft table which is just under 4m width. Shouldn't be a problem leaving that on the front. I thought they would be a bit bigger. JD totally overpriced and Macdon not too far behind. New Holland seems to be more inline. Think in the end it will come down to the front and rear mower combo. Question then still remains on which unit since all need to be ordered

 

[Dian Landman]

So all these tractors are priced quite close together for front hitch and pto to run a front mower.

JD 6125M front hitch and pto, 540 back and 480 front tyres, powrquad plus 40km/h

Valtra N134 front hitch and pto, 480 back and 380 front tyres, active model.

New Holland T6070 front hitch and pto, 16x16 gearbox, 520 rear and 420 front tyres.

Massey Ferguson 7615, front hitch and pto, cab suspension, dyna 6, 650 rear and 520 front.

What would be the best bet for 60% being on mowers and the rest other jobs like mulching, feed wagon and raking

Anyone that can advise if a JD 6125M will smoke the pipe with a poettinger 301 front and 351 rear mower with no conditioners. Valtra, massey and NH can only supply tractor in December and John Deere can Sept when I need it

 

[davidroberts30]

Anyone that can advise if a JD 6125M will smoke the pipe with a poettinger 301 front and 351 rear mower with no conditioners. Valtra, massey and NH can only supply tractor in December and John Deere can Sept when I need it

She be fine

 

[Finn farmer]

When will a self propelled mower start coming into play compared to a front mower with 1 rear mower? Struggling with the decision. Our mowing work is getting more and more. Mowing lucerne ahead of cows, mowing clean behind cows on irrigation where we have stinging nettle problems. Mechanical is the only answer that works on them. Then come spring we do around 5000 bales.

So replace a current tractor with one that has a front hitch and get a front poettinger mower. (our fields, roads etc not suited for butterfly system)

Our buy an extra self propelled unit that can focus on mowing.

I'm just throwing in an option for self propelled mower: Valtra with twin trac and a 7,3m wide "reverse drive" mower. Superior on turns, it all opens in front of your eyes, so no turning head to check on rears etc.

Iirc Pöttinger and maybe Kuhn make their own versions.