disc mower caddy

[foxhoun]

This message is a reply to an archived post by Tx Jim on May 06, 2011 at 05:41:33.
The original subject was "Re: disc mower ????".

Jim,

I have been able to rely on you for advise several times so here I am again.I have a NH 617 disc mower that I want to attach to a caddy.I have looked at the KMC and the Frontier.I have some concern about sliding the rear wheel on these 2 whenever you turn the machine.Seems to me some type of a dolly wheel would be ideal here.
Give me your opinion of the caddys and which one you would suggest.

Thanks

Foxhoun

 

[Tx Jim]

You're correct the rear (LH) tire slides on the turns but not enough ground contact to leave a mark on the crop being cut. I've seen the tires last several yrs and carry a cutter over several 1000's of acres. There's also a caddy built named Hartville Machine Co that both wheels are in a straight line across from each other. I've owned a KMC and they are very sturdy built. I now own one called a Cutter Caddy that I bought with a used Vermeer 7030. I have not see a Frontier and have no idea who builds it for JD. If you get a caddy I'll bet you'll wonder why it took so long for you to have one. Way easier to hook up to tractor than a straight 3pt cutter.

 

[Ken Sweet]

We have sold close to 1000 disc mowers since they were invented and every one that I have seen that has been run on a caddy for a long period of time shows premature breakdown on disc mower parts at the end of the cutterbar, ie, end shoes, end bonnet rotors and end tarp supports. If a caddy is weighted with lead shot in the left part of the tubular frame or a bracket to hold suitcase weights is mounted on the left frame, most of this excessive wear is eliminated. Ken Sweet

 

[foxhoun]

Thank you for this info.It has helped me make a decision on which one to purchase

 

[Tx Jim]

foxhoun
My caddy isn't weighted with extra weights similar to what Ken referred to and I've cut 1000's of acres with no such failures. One ill affect on a 3pt type disc mower being tractor or caddy mounted is to have the remote on tractor flow turned up to high allowing the small lift cylinder to raise/lower cutterbar to quick. Granted some caddies do come with extra weight inside the LH tube frame.

 

[HayDR]

Tarter Gate make the Frontier caddy for John Deere

 

[HayDR]

Your first red caddy was a Lely Caddy which was a copy of the KMC cart.