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Another postcard from OklahomaFor the un-initiated, this is a swather/mower-conditioner  A 1970's Hesston 1014 Hydroswing, to be exact.  A sickle machine as opposed to a disc type machine.  I don't like disc machines for my uses.  I'm a one man operation, and mowing with a disc mower, then having to rake it into windrows, is a time consuming PITA.  This machine does it all in one pass.....cuts, and windrows.The machine steers independently from the tractor.  It can be moved right, or left, of the tractor by means of hydraulic controls.  It takes a bit of attention to run because you're steering the tractor while steering the swather.  Not a big deal on a square field with no curves or obstructions.  My fields are all irregular, and it requires constant "steering" while your working.  It becomes second nature after years of itThere aren't too many of these around anymore.  It was a very advanced machine in its day, and will still do the job nicely.  I believe Hesston was the first maker of this type of machine.  Hesston is still making farm implements in Kansas to this day.If ya got  the patience I'll go over how it works.........."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The heart of the system is the hydraulic pump.  It mounts to the PTO, and puts out high pressure, high volume.  You can see the large hydraulic hoses, lotta oil moves through these.The high pressure fluid runs a hydraulic motor which is mounted on the machine.  This motor drives everything......the sickle bar, reel, auger, and conditioner rolls.  Lotta power thereCrop material is combed by the reel (the thingy with the battens, and spring teeth) as it passes thru the sickles, the very sharp jagged thingies on the lower edge of the machine (the cutting bar).  Contrary to what most people believe, the reel doesn't "feed" the crop, the forward motion of the machine "feeds" the crop, and the reel just combs it so it flows thru the sickle evenly.After it's cut by the sickles, the crop is gathered by the auger, which directs the crop towards the center of the machine from both ends.After the auger delivers the crop to the middle of the machine, it passes thru conditioner rolls.  These spin at very high speed, and eject the crop out of the back of the machine.  The purpose of the conditioners is to crack the stems of the grass/alfalfa/or other types of hay crops.  Cracking the stem helps the hay dry.more to come.............."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The whole mess is ejected out thru the windrow forming shields.  They can be adjusted to form varying width windrows.  The brown unpainted thingy on the rear of the machine is a towbar I fabricated so that I can tow a truck behind the swather while moving it down the highway to get to the this particular field which is 2.5mi from the house in another county.  (My properties are spread over 2 counties).  It's quite a sight to see it going down the highway Probably near on 70 feet long combined (tractor, swather, and pickup)  No need for it anymore since K'kins is here to drive behind me, and return me to the house to get the truck.A drop leg with a ball attaches to the towbar.  It's left off while cutting.Got a few vacation days left, then back to the grind"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice description!Never seen these over here. This kind of cutters were only used on horse drawn mowers and later on Cormicks until about 40 years ago. Maybe this type of mower and comb is still in use over here for reed harvesting (without the crusher).
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersamm  Another postcard from OklahomaFor the un-initiated, this is a swather/mower-conditioner  A 1970's Hesston 1014 Hydroswing, to be exact.  A sickle machine as opposed to a disc type machine.  I don't like disc machines for my uses.  I'm a one man operation, and mowing with a disc mower, then having to rake it into windrows, is a time consuming PITA.  This machine does it all in one pass.....cuts, and windrows..........
Reply:Originally Posted by MeltedmetalSamm  I know you've heard of discbines. Way faster than a sickle bar cutter but you need a bigger tractor too. Just have a seat and a couple of EMT's standing by when they tell you the price.---Meltedmetalhttps://www.google.ca/search?q=New+H...tm%3B800%3B533
Reply:Thanks for the pictures and description of using the thing. I always though when seeing one of the rigs in action that it would be kind of a nightmare to keep going where it needed to be.My total haying experience has been loading, hauling, and stacking. All by hand. I'm very glad those days long gone and done.
Reply:This is very interesting. Great work.PlasmaCam CNC cutterLathe and Band SawClamps
Reply:Are there anyone by you that use a discbine ?? That's mostly what used near me.
Reply:Looks like it leaves a nice fluffy windrow for drying also.
Reply:wheres the cover for the auger tube? Go thru the machine?
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66wheres the cover for the auger tube? Go thru the machine?
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersamm  Another postcard from Oklahoma  I'm a one man operation, and mowing with a disc mower, then having to rake it into windrows, is a time consuming PITA.  This machine does it all in one pass.....cuts, and windrows...........
Reply:They used to make a merger that could be put on a tractor to  put multiple windrows together while you were cutting or bailingMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Suppose I shoulda said what I got tied up in the thing for what it doesBought it almost 20yrs ago for around 12-1400 bucks.  I spend about 400 bucks a year maintaining it..........mostly changing sickle sections, and guards.  It's really some pretty cheap cutting.I can cut prairie hay at around 4.5mph with it.  Doesn't seem like very fast, but on an irregular field there's a lot going on at 4.5mph  Any faster, and the thing would be resting on the hood of the tractor..........I'm getting sorta older, and the motor skills ain't what they used to be.  AND IT'S PRETTY CHEAP CUTTIN'Ever heard the joke................That guy drives like old people ####........It's true........us old farts get a bit slow in our golden years"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:the #### started with an "f""Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You like sickle bar mower??Your living in the dark ages Samm.Here's me mowing.Vicon Discbine.
Reply:Part 1.Part 2 is above.
Reply:Why aren't you hooking a couple horses up to your sicklebar mower???Be more practical...We barely put $20 a year in our two mowers....And can mow at 10-12mph....
Reply:Might just do that.  Would be environmentally friendly.Kelly loves horses, never had the will to get them though..........hay burners"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well "allrighty" "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammWell "allrighty"
Reply:Yeah, I am ya "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Get your crap together kid, ya put up some good stuff that turned mediocre."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammGet your crap together kid, ya put up some good stuff that turned mediocre.Never have actually, would like to when it comes to Haygrazer, but I'm all about equipment that's paid for, so I never take the plungeThis is HaygrazerI have a very healthy profit margin.  It's all about cutting costs.With me, it's all about hay, it's all about beef, and it's all about the tonnage of the hay I feed my beef.  Lotta tonnage passes through those old machinesAnd that's the "son of Hydroswing" a little 1010 hydroswing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,eats the crop like your lunch"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:This is the South boy, don't ever f@@@ with us when it comes to hay production, or cattle production"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammNever have actually.
Reply:See ya tomorrow kiddo"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammSee ya tomorrow kiddo
Reply:I remember using one of those Heston's when it was new. Also had the companion pieces- the stackhand that picked up the windrow and compressed it into a tight stack and the tilt trailer with chaindrive pawls to move the stacks.  Thanks!
Reply:We had a Hesston Hydroswing for many years. The only problem with it and every other sickle bar mower in our area is you have to spend too much time replacing knives with all the rocks we have. We had a 16' Hesston and replaced it with a 9' JD discbine (1327). There was some initial hesitation from my father whether it was up for the job being nearly 1/2 the size, but when you can drive 3X as fast and not worry as much about breaking knives it was an easy sale for the dealer. Since then, I've run a Kverneland (336C), Taarup (4236C), and now a John Deere 835. I cover a lot of ground (300 A cut 3-5 times a year), so we trade them in before they start costing us downtime. The only machine that was down more than it should was the Taarup. I swear it was built late on a Friday when everyone just wanted to get the hell out of the plant. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Samm.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammWell "allrighty" Attachment 864551
Reply:Pretty slick, but I get nosebleeds if'n I go over 5mphSorta like flying..........I feel if I was meant to fly, I'd have wings, and a tail feather stickin' out my butt"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:SamHow do you change those spring forksDo you have to remove the shaft and put them on from the ends, One piece shaft or sections ?
Reply:Originally Posted by 12345678910SamHow do you change those spring forksDo you have to remove the shaft and put them on from the ends, One piece shaft or sections ?
Reply:Sam thanks for the video.  My deceased father in law used one of those many years ago.   I enjoyed watched the mower conditioner work.