Sickle mower - pitman or pitman-less?

[bwlarson_ca]

I'm looking for advice on a sickle mower. This will mostly be used to periodically mow longer grass around some out buildings and some shallow road ditches. When I was growing up we had a Case Model 10 trailing mower - 7 or 8 foot as I recall which worked well and mowed a lot of hay in it's lifetime. I have a line on a 3ph mount version of the same mower. However I was wondering about pitman-less mowers like the newer New Holland mowers. What do folks who use these think of them relative to the pitman mowers. Are there other mowers to consider. I think I remember how to change sections and guards or at least I hope it will come back to me:<)!

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks and stay well.

Barry W. Larson

 

[showcrop]

Barry, they are called balance head mowers. I doubt very much that there is anyone who would rather have a pitman than a balance head.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

Definitely prefer a pitmanless mower. Would never go back to a pitman model.

 

[David Snipes]

I know a lot of people who need to get a balanced head!

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

Amen brother

 

[bwlarson_ca]

I been accused of being a half a bubble off plumb, but unbalanced - well ok maybe I resemble that:<)!
I guess I'll search for a New Holland or other "balanced head" mower.
Any other brands I should be looking at?

Cheers and stay well.

Barry W. Larson

 

[wolfman]

Balanced head, belt drive, pitmanless whatever you call it is quite an advancement over the old clickerty click pitman mower. The balanced head will mow at about any angle which is a plus for road banks,etc, the only possible negative is that they run so smooth they don't shake grass off them when raised. Some 3-point NHs are tough to mount but good mowers. I like the International 1300. The 1300 is red and it also sold as a silver New Idea 2426 or such and as a blue Ford 515 I think. I could be wrong on the NI and Ford numbers.

 

[300guy]

I have a fully mounted 2 point Model 100 and love it. When I bought it, the head had lots of water and rust in it. I sent it up to Rouse Rakes in Burwell,NE to have it overhauled. They are people who manufacture the balance heads for mowers, so they are the experts. The overhaul with new bearings and such was very reasonable!! I had a Model 27 mower before that and broke a lot of pitman sticks over the years even with the clutch spring set at a low tension. It would seem to always find a bolt, piece of barbed wire etc. and lock up the knife. My only way to finally protect the stick was to loosen the belt so it would also slip if the clutch didn't. I would never want a pitman mower back!!!!!

 

[Farmallb]

I mow with a 60yr old IHC simi mount on an H Farmall. Ive also mowed for many hears with a MH Horse mower. Both with sticks. I finally learned what I needed to know in dealing with them, I havnt replaced a pitman in a decade at least.

 

[Phil Tibbetts]

I have a Massey Ferguson 41 Balanced head and am very happy with it. If you find one make sure the crankshaft is good. That is the weak point if it has not been greased regularly. I grease mine every day I use it. No problems. Also have a IH 100 or 110 , can't remember which model it is but it is a nice mower too.

 

[jsborn]

(quoted from post at 18:33:21 05/20/20) I'm looking for advice on a sickle mower. This will mostly be used to periodically mow longer grass around some out buildings and some shallow road ditches. When I was growing up we had a Case Model 10 trailing mower - 7 or 8 foot as I recall which worked well and mowed a lot of hay in it's lifetime. I have a line on a 3ph mount version of the same mower. However I was wondering about pitman-less mowers like the newer New Holland mowers. What do folks who use these think of them relative to the pitman mowers. Are there other mowers to consider. I think I remember how to change sections and guards or at least I hope it will come back to me:&lt!

Any and all advice is appreciated.




Thanks and stay well.

Barry W. Larson

I have used a 3pt JD 350 balanced head belt mower and a New Holland 456 Trail behind mower. I would highly recommend a pitmanless trail behind over any 3 pt mounted mower. the trail behind is so much easier to hook up and works great. I use mine mostly for pond bank mowing now and being able to lower bar below horz. is great.

 

[Leroy]

All I ever had were pitman and we never had a pitman break. Something else is wrong if you ever break a pitman but they only mow horisantal, no below or above level, no as I understand the pitmanless you can mow with the cutter bar on a down hill or up hill position instead of a flat position.