Which Mower to Buy?

[C.Amick]

I want to purchase a rear sickle bar mower for my Farmall Super C. It does not have a fast hitch. I'm trying to decide if I would be better off with one that clamps to the axle or a semi-mount one with a wheel that bolts to the drawbar. I won't be leaving the mower on the tractor full time, so it seems like the one that bolts to the drawbar would be easiest to attach and remove. I've never mowed with a semi-mount mower though, seems like they might be a little clumsy to use.

 

[AJB-830]

I want to purchase a rear sickle bar mower for my Farmall Super C. It does not have a fast hitch. I'm trying to decide if I would be better off with one that clamps to the axle or a semi-mount one with a wheel that bolts to the drawbar. I won't be leaving the mower on the tractor full time, so it seems like the one that bolts to the drawbar would be easiest to attach and remove. I've never mowed with a semi-mount mower though, seems like they might be a little clumsy to use.

Well if it was me, I would look for an IH 100 series mower that semi-mounts on the tractor drawbar. My dad bought a used one back in the late 1960s to mount on our IH H. It is probably about the handiest mower that you can find. But it is not all that easy to install and remove as you have to put some blocks under it to hold it up. Best if you have two people to install and remove it. That's why mine has not been removed from my H for probably 40+ years. I still use every year to cut the roadside and a few areas on my hobby farm. Al

 

[caterpillar guy]

I would want one with just a simple draw pin to pull it and a hose to raise it. Easiest to use and hook up to. Never liked mounted equipment. Suffered with 3pt stuff wretsling it around to get on and off that pull implements suite me best.

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

I want to purchase a rear sickle bar mower for my Farmall Super C. It does not have a fast hitch. I'm trying to decide if I would be better off with one that clamps to the axle or a semi-mount one with a wheel that bolts to the drawbar. I won't be leaving the mower on the tractor full time, so it seems like the one that bolts to the drawbar would be easiest to attach and remove. I've never mowed with a semi-mount mower though, seems like they might be a little clumsy to use.

The IH 120 mower would be what you are looking for. NH made a nice one too, with the 451, but I don't know if there was a semi-mount option. Think they were just 3PT.

I like my 120 semi-mount a lot & they do take a minute to get used to. The 115 belly mount is another good one. The 100 trailer mowers would be the last on my list. Nothing wrong with the machines themselves....

Mounted is by far more versatile, in my opinion.

Mike

 

[560Dennis]

What I got for our Farmall C !
Suggestion
1. The first thing is get the best the Best cushion quality seat you can for the C . ( after 8 to 10 hours sitting looking back you thank yourself for doing this , experience
2. Make sure the seat assembly is to blue print . If not the rocker side to side ,shock spring will add to the Tylenol consumption .
3 . Pump up front tires to thirty psi . Check oil in bolstering and grease steering. add a ball to steering wheel
4 Adjust the Right wheel brakes for your seat setup . You will need it .

I only know the single point hitch like the new idea 30a .We had a an axle hitch on the bill of sale for this tractor .what happen to it I don’t know.
Plan on having all the hardware set up on the sickle bar correctly set up on a single point . You will on and off the seat of the C to unplug jams due to poor cutting , also more Tylenol is required. Getting on and off your C .Ah , do it ,practice getting on and off your C 20 times in ten minutes. As you can see my C is not operational friendly for mounting and dis mounting.Check out what the cost mower sections you will buy cost. Ledger’s also.
Check the wear at the cutter bar pivot. Check out Pittman drive for wear,
Cost of the mower will be cheap compared to the repairs .

I would highly recommend from experience using my set up , the mid mounted power set up 1100 ihc , ( balanced head , model ? ) that way your not looking backwards all the time adding your fatigue and Tylenol consumption.
Good mowing !

 

[JIM MN]

Second New Idea pull sickle mower, but make sure the sickle bar is in top cutting shape!

 

[C.Amick]

I would want one with just a simple draw pin to pull it and a hose to raise it. Easiest to use and hook up to. Never liked mounted equipment. Suffered with 3pt stuff wretsling it around to get on and off that pull implements suite me best.

For the semi-mount mower, I will either have to attach a lifting rod to the rock shaft unit or install a hydraulic remote to use a lifting cylinder. I saw a video on Youtube showing how to add a hydraulic remote to a Farmall C or Super C.

 

[C.Amick]

Well if it was me, I would look for an IH 100 series mower that semi-mounts on the tractor drawbar. My dad bought a used one back in the late 1960s to mount on our IH H. It is probably about the handiest mower that you can find. But it is not all that easy to install and remove as you have to put some blocks under it to hold it up. Best if you have two people to install and remove it. That's why mine has not been removed from my H for probably 40+ years. I still use every year to cut the roadside and a few areas on my hobby farm. Al View attachment 75010View attachment 75011

It seems like that mower would still be easier to mount than the mounted mower one that clamps to the tractor axle housing.

 

[560Dennis]

Well if it was me, I would look for an IH 100 series mower that semi-mounts on the tractor drawbar. My dad bought a used one back in the late 1960s to mount on our IH H. It is probably about the handiest mower that you can find. But it is not all that easy to install and remove as you have to put some blocks under it to hold it up. Best if you have two people to install and remove it. That's why mine has not been removed from my H for probably 40+ years. I still use every year to cut the roadside and a few areas on my hobby farm. Al View attachment 75010View attachment 75011

I spy some antique car potential

Second New Idea pull sickle mower, but make sure the sickle bar is in top cutting shape!

amen

 

[300guy]

The IH 120 is a very good mower but they are hard to find in certain areas and sometimes very pricey if at an auction. When I was looking for mine there was one in Colorado that went for almost $2000 and was missing some parts like the other shoe and such. I finally bought mine in Missouri at an auction for $300, I thought I stole it!!!

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

What I got for our Farmall C !
Suggestion
1. The first thing is get the best the Best cushion quality seat you can for the C . ( after 8 to 10 hours sitting looking back you thank yourself for doing this , experience
2. Make sure the seat assembly is to blue print . If not the rocker side to side ,shock spring will add to the Tylenol consumption .
3 . Pump up front tires to thirty psi . Check oil in bolstering and grease steering. add a ball to steering wheel
4 Adjust the Right wheel brakes for your seat setup . You will need it .

I only know the single point hitch like the new idea 30a .We had a an axle hitch on the bill of sale for this tractor .what happen to it I don’t know.
Plan on having all the hardware set up on the sickle bar correctly set up on a single point . You will on and off the seat of the C to unplug jams due to poor cutting , also more Tylenol is required. Getting on and off your C .Ah , do it ,practice getting on and off your C 20 times in ten minutes. As you can see my C is not operational friendly for mounting and dis mounting.Check out what the cost mower sections you will buy cost. Ledger’s also.
Check the wear at the cutter bar pivot. Check out Pittman drive for wear,
Cost of the mower will be cheap compared to the repairs .

I would highly recommend from experience using my set up , the mid mounted power set up 1100 ihc , ( balanced head , model ? ) that way your not looking backwards all the time adding your fatigue and Tylenol consumption.
Good mowing !

I forgot those had the mechanical lift. That would indeed be an easier setup for the OP.

Mike