Mower Type Pros & Cons?

[davidroberts30]

Do you think a conditioner does much?

YES!!
I got a front plain and rear mowco (long story)
Theres 2 days behind in the plain mower for drying and the grass is stuck to the floor

 

[James]

We cut river meadows and I worry that a large piece of wood going through the conditioner would mangle it, would a conditioner be shearbolt protected?

Nearly sure the new trailed Kuhn's have a shear bolt on the conditioner

 

[Wilkster]

Used to have a Vicon with a roller conditioner and IMO that did a better job than the Lely we’ve got now with the plastic tines

 

[multi power]

Used to have a Vicon with a roller conditioner and IMO that did a better job than the Lely we’ve got now with the plastic tines

Conditioner with plastic tines is a waste of time

 

[Jontym]

Used to have a Vicon with a roller conditioner and IMO that did a better job than the Lely we’ve got now with the plastic tines

Years ago we always used a New Holland crimper, my dad would cut the grass with a finger mower originally, and later four drum and then two drum 5’6” mower, I would follow round after he had got a few times round the field in the opposite direction on the “Massy” 65 with the trailed crimper.
It was basically two pto driven steel ribbed interlocking rollers about four feet wide that picked the mowen grass up and “crimped it every inch or so, it would knock at least two days off drying for hay, much more intense than modern finger conditioning.
But my god it was a total ball ache when it blocked, originally it had shear bolt protection but that soon gave way to “ark welder protection”.
Would I go back to it? Yes, but only to see my dad again.

 

[davieh3350]

Definitely better with a conditioner.
The extra fuel it uses is well worth it when you consider having to make another pass with a turner and the fuel and time you spend on that.

 

[Martin Holden]

Conditioner with plastic tines is a waste of time

Umm? Why??? FW did a proper trial some years back and the top 2 for increase in dry matter after 12 hours and mowing at 15k we’re both plastic tine models. They are normally fixed diameter and of. Y shape but as effective as steel Y tines whether rigid (rubber mounted) or free swinging.

 

[Martin Holden]

Years ago we always used a New Holland crimper, my dad would cut the grass with a finger mower originally, and later four drum and then two drum 5’6” mower, I would follow round after he had got a few times round the field in the opposite direction on the “Massy” 65 with the trailed crimper.
It was basically two pto driven steel ribbed interlocking rollers about four feet wide that picked the mowen grass up and “crimped it every inch or so, it would knock at least two days off drying for hay, much more intense than modern finger conditioning.
But my god it was a total ball ache when it blocked, originally it had shear bolt protection but that soon gave way to “ark welder protection”.
Would I go back to it? Yes, but only to see my dad again.

I used an IH version once and on a cab less tractor the rollers would occasionally flick a bit of grass at you! Never got cut though more down to luck

 

[Martin Holden]

The professional horse hay growers that I’ve come across in the last 3 seasons all use moco’s so that must be for a reason! I’m taking hay grown as a cash crop to sell off farm to professional stables and the racing fraternity. Just an observation.

 

[multi power]

Umm? Why??? FW did a proper trial some years back and the top 2 for increase in dry matter after 12 hours and mowing at 15k we’re both plastic tine models. They are normally fixed diameter and of. Y shape but as effective as steel Y tines whether rigid (rubber mounted) or free swinging.

I had a Lely at one time it was a total waste of time

 

[Martin Holden]

I had a Lely at one time it was a total waste of time

I was diplomatic not to mention brands but the Lely wasn’t a Y tine, but a straight tine. Even with the spread across the rotor they were never that effective at actual conditioning. I say that having seen many working and looking at the swaths post mowing.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Err, it seems all the hay contractors around here use mower conditioners & we have a drier environment than most on here

 

[multi power]

I was diplomatic not to mention brands but the Lely wasn’t a Y tine, but a straight tine. Even with the spread across the rotor they were never that effective at actual conditioning. I say that having seen many working and looking at the swaths post mowing.

Fair point about the Y tine , I've never seen plastic Y tines
I despise conditions
Drum mower only

 

[Nithsdale]

It really depends on your set up.

We have a plain 9ft mower.

We would cut today, row up tomorrow, bale the day after - aslong as the weather allows... IMO in that situation, from experience (we used to have a moco), there's no advantage with a conditioner.




We have never had any issue with the grass too flat to the ground - except on the endriggs, where the tractor has been turning. But the rake still gathers it fine.

 

[JMTHORNLEY]

I use a trailer moco and have it screwed up to its rubbish. It had knocked at least a day and half of new seed crop, heavy 15 bales to the acre and made hayledge in 2 days. Amazing difference between the two I’d never go back

 

[Yale]

Our mower conditioner JD 328 mounted does not have spreader plates however I prefer to swath,let the ground between the rows dry and not drive on the grass.Then run the tedder through to spread as it doesn’t take that long.

Can’t get my head around spreading the grass and on the next run taking a 4.5 tonne tractor over it,squashing it into the soil if it is damp.

 

[neilo]

A mower conditioner is several £k more than a straight disc mower of the same size. Unless you are doing a lot of acres, it’s far cheaper to fly through with a Tedder an extra time, than it is to pay for the capital outlay for the conditioner, and the extra running cost.
When I was shopping for a mower recently, I didn’t even consider a mower conditioner. It would have to be a well worn s/h one to justify it on the acreage I cut, which brings plenty of it's Own problems.