Mowing tractor advice
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=192429
Printed Date: 25 Sep 2024 at 11:22am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mowing tractor advice
Posted By: eodcoduto
Subject: Mowing tractor advice
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 12:54pm
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I'm looking for a sounding board here on a tractor to clip 25 acres of pastures. We run a small regenerative agriculture farm and one pillar of our farm is management intensive grazing of cattle and sheep. Yes 25 acres doesn't sound like a lot but we make good money per acre. Clipping the pastures behind the flerd (cattle and sheep herd/flock) is a requirement to keep the grass at the boot stage, 8-12" high, mixed grass with 20% legumes, and my 6' bush hog with the Kubota L3240, 32 hp, just takes too long. Our small place is split by a creek that is is a royal pain for work flow, and I need something that will pull a 10-12' mower, ether rotary or flail so that I'm not spending all my free time clipping. I grew up in Western Nebraska on an Allis only farm, 190xt, D19, 7030, 7040, 7080, and a 7580 so I'd like to stick with an Allis. The physical size of the Kubota is close to a shortened 185 and that size works great for us. That longwinded but I want all the details out there. I'm thinking a 6080 with FWA would be perfect but they are hard to find and I don't want a cab. A 185 is probably the best middle of the road solution but I'm open to ideas, there is an Agco dealer about 45 minutes away, a JD 5 min, and a Kubota, and Case IH 40 min away. I also don't cut hay and do not plan to ever start. |
Replies:
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 2:31pm
| If you don't really NEED a tractor with an FWA, don't buy one. They all (all brands) will one day require repairs to that axle whether you use it or not. |
Posted By: eodcoduto
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 2:48pm
| After having the front wheel assist on the loader it would be hard for me to go back to not having one. This is all a long term fix so I’m in no rush, but if I did go to 6080 route I would want to put a loader on it and then I can get rid of the Kubota. If I stick with a non-loader tractor I’m fine without the front wheel assist. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 3:00pm
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Here is a Link that might help you decide. You get a 'modern' orange tractor, and FWA if you like. G https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T77175unCkc" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T77175unCkc |
Posted By: eodcoduto
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 4:19pm
| I'm cheap, and spending 30K+ on a new tractor isn't an option, but I do enjoy having at least one orange tractor around. An Agco Allis, White, or other is on my mind too. |
Posted By: DON G
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 6:45pm
| There is a very nice 6080 at sale in Milford, Illinois next week. No cab. |
Posted By: Travis2766
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2022 at 10:35pm
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I would try buying a good 7’ sickle mower, the extra foot of cut and the fact you can cut at a higher speed than a brush hog may surprise you, (and it’s a lot cheaper than a big mower) just my thoughts. If you’re set on a bigger mower, you can’t go wrong with a 180,185 or a 190 to run it. ------------- 190XT Series III, D17 Series IV, D15 Series II, All Crop 66 and a whole mess of equipment. |
Posted By: jvin248
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2022 at 10:46am
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. Glad to hear of another Regenerative Agriculture convert :) One of my jobs back on the farm was sharpening sickle mower blades. It seemed like sickle mowers were slower but did give better hay quality (keeping more leaves on the stems) for baling. If you are 'clipping' high enough it's possible you could get ground speed up a lot over a brush hog. You'd be able to run one with your current tractor. Probably find one cheap to experiment with. A used modern disc mower will be more cash and some say you'll need a bigger tractor. Again, a lot of the cutting speed will be based off how high you are cutting (how much the cows and sheep are trampling below the cut line). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNnKaqhPzcI" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNnKaqhPzcI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3nwq4Avsw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3nwq4Avsw Now, just for some idea brainstorming with a bit of fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA88-o4Iatk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-DP_VeNAR4 Expand on that concept but using one of this brand or Swisher or another, then install larger diameter wheels to get the cut height you need if they cannot go that high stock. Two of these "60+ inch" models gets into your 10-12 ft and use any tow vehicle you want. Quad runner or Electric golf cart? The second link is a self-built design using a rear differential and ground speed (weight on tires) to propel the blades without a separate engine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2RbaCdlbE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tM1lRvGZow . |
Posted By: eodcoduto
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2022 at 1:46pm
| I have been on the hunt for a 7-9" sickle mower, the hp required works for my tractor with an issue being most sickle bar mounts are too wide for the compact tractors. I have seen guys make adapters and I guess that's why I have a welder and a mill. I getting a bigger mower and putting an engine on it is an idea that I hadn't thought about, they did that with square balers a lot and it worked great for small tractors. This is one reason I love this forum! |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2022 at 3:55pm
I kind of like the 185 option and keep the Kabota.. Cant hurt to have two tractors , a backup... just in case !  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Red Bank
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2022 at 9:04pm
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steve(ill) wrote:Posted By: KJCHRIS
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2022 at 12:18am
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I'd suggest an AC180 or 185 and a 15' batwing mower. You're cutting the tops of grass & weeds in an already grazed area. The 70 hp will run the mower fine. Until everyone had to have cabs w/AC, a similar sized tractor was used to pull that sized / type mower by alot of State & County road departments. ------------- AC 200, CAH, AC185D bareback, AC 180D bareback, D17 III, WF. D17 Blackbar grill, NF. D15 SFW. Case 1175 CAH, Bobcat 543B, |
Posted By: Tom59
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2022 at 7:51am
| I knew a man years ago used an AC 175 tractor to pull a 15 foot Servis batwing rotary cutter. I think before that tractor which he brought second hand he used a AC D-19 tractor. His farm was about 400 acres. |
Posted By: Dakota Dave
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2022 at 7:53am
| Ive run a 10' woods with a WD45 for cutting back pasture. enough power easyly manuverable and Cheep. I'd keep the FWA kubhota since its working for you I realy wouldnt even consider 40 year old FWA as a only tractor. Weve been down for extended periods getting parts for a CASE IH magnum front end parts and they are still in business. |
Posted By: 1953ACWD
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2023 at 9:18pm
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I'm mowing 120 acres once a year with an Allis-Chalmers 175 and 7' Enorossi sickle bar mower on a regenerative cattle farm. Takes a little while, but I don't do it all at one time. It's a fairly inexpensive set up and gets job done. Wet and steeply sloping areas I mow with my 4-wheeler and a Kunz 57" rough cut mower. ------------- 1953 WD - Grandpop bought new, sold to neighbor in 1965, I bought back in 2001, restored 2021; 1974 175 Gas; 1980 5050 Diesel, w/400 Loader |
Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 6:22am
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For only 25 acres I'd just buy a CA or WD and a pull type cutter. |
Posted By: Yooper Smoker
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 8:53am
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Id stick with a sickle bar its easier on the cover crop kinda like a barber cutting hair, if its sharp it cuts and don't pull if you are using a multiple mix on the field some of the plants will get yanked out by the brush hog the C that I just acquired came with an under belly sickle bar so that will save me time switching attachments during Hay season Mike
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Posted By: victoryallis
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 1:48pm
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Lot of folks stuck in the 60’s here. Go with one of those 3pt disc mowers. 3-4 years ago went from sickle haybine to a discbine. With a discbine you can pretty much cut as fast as you stand driving can’t say that about a sickle. We have 4 6080’s, the latest came off the truck and into to the shop knew she was a fixer upper so can’t comment on that one. Of the other 3 have 2 2wd’s and a mfwd. Really don’t care for the mfwd matter of fact wish I never bought it and instead pulled the trigger on a 4609 MF. Love the 2 remaining 2wd’s we got 12? tractors farm 1300 acres and them 2 always rack up the most hours a year. ------------- 8030 and 8050MFWD, 7580, 3 6080's, 160, 7060, 175, heirloom D17, Deere 8760 |
Posted By: bigal121892
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2023 at 1:55pm
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These work really well: https://agriculture.newholland.com/nar/en-us/equipment/products/haytools-spreaders/duradisc-heavy-duty-disc-mowers" rel="nofollow - https://agriculture.newholland.com/nar/en-us/equipment/products/haytools-spreaders/duradisc-heavy-duty-disc-mowers
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