Sickle mower advice/opinions

I'm looking for a sickle mower. I love the snap coupler implements. Sometimes I'll swap stuff around just because it's fun. Whereas the 3pt on the Ford... I'd rather throw the whole tractor away and buy a new one with implement attached.

I know the no 7 is snap coupler, I have my eye on an 80r.

My question is, how well do they stack up in utilitarian use vs a 3pt? Is the 80r worse or better than a 3pt to get hooked up? I want a shorter mounted unit I can use for something resembling finish mowing on my large backyard, but that will also be able to do my 8ac of hay. I will likely be hooking it on and off once, maybe twice, a month, so anything better than a Dearborn will probably be fine. Is it worth holding out hope for something truly snap coupler, for collection and utilitarian use? Or are they too rare and ineffective?

My apologies. D15 Series I. It isn't quite as compact as the Ford, but I'm hoping power steering and being a better tractor will make up for it.

Find a 82S complete mower for a D series. It’s not snap coupler because it mounts on the frame rails of the tractor between the front and rear tires. You don’t have to turn your head to the rear of the tractor to see what your mowing. They are in my opinion the best mower AC offered. I have never used a snap coupler rear mount but we had a 82R that my brother still uses. Just throwing this out there as the side mount is easy to install and remove also.

Lars(wi) wrote: In your particular geographical area, are there any ‘trailer style’ sickle mowers than come up for auction? May be a few pennies more to purchase, but depending on your tractor fleet could be more handy for you?

I'm not sure it'll be nimble enough to mow the backyard. A riding mower would really be best. But if I can do double duty I might as well.

AC720Man wrote: Find a 82S complete mower for a D series. It’s not snap coupler because it mounts on the frame rails of the tractor between the front and rear tires. You don’t have to turn your head to the rear of the tractor to see what your mowing. They are in my opinion the best mower AC offered. I have never used a snap coupler rear mount but we had a 82R that my brother still uses. Just throwing this out there as the side mount is easy to install and remove also.

I have the trip bucket loader attached, I assume they can't both be hooked up at the same time?

PaulB wrote: I can just imagine everything that you'll hit with the loader while looking back at a rear mounted sickle mower while trying to mow a yard, unless it's really just a small field.

It is essentially a small field with a fire pit in the middle.

Everything I did with the Ford was probably.... 1, maybe .75 ac. With the front yard too it's probably 1.5.

I can't really justify more than one piece of equipment. The Dearborn on the Ford did the job. But I dislike it immensely and it finally gave up the ghost. I'd like a similar, more robust, setup on the Allis. Especially since the Ford never would have been able to cut my 10ac of hay anyway.

This is an Allis forum and I own three 80 series twin drive mowers and they work great. But my go to is an IH balanced head mower. They have been built since 1958(currently by Rowse) Very simple drive and parts are readily available. 

I'd love a small B with a belly mower. But alas, I have to make due with what I can get.


There's someone selling a JD 350 mounted sickle mower near me for $400. Needs a new knife bar. Any opinions on that?

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