Wanted: Single horse mower

[Donn Hewes]

George, I am just going to guess it makes a huge difference. Most of the weight is centered around the axle except the cutter bar, and they are surprisingly heavy.

Andy, I remember those figures from when they came out. Tim came down a little hard on the sickle bar mower as a hard pulling machine. That has certainly not been my experience. I have seen many mowers that horses pulled while poorly adjusted steel parts slowly rubbed themselves off. That would be a hard pulling machine. A mower is basically 20 to 28 pairs of scissors. If they are all sharp and work right, no problem. I am a little under the weather with a cold. A little hard to imagine measuring that right now but you never know. I have been welding new lugs on a broken wheel with some success, but it is a big commitment to start on good wheels.

[paintpony]

Thanks, Donn! He’s become a real help around here.

I’m loving all the great points everyone is making.

How does one go about replacing the steel wheels with tires? And is that prefered over the steel wheels or not? Just curious.

Thanks!

[Donn Hewes]

You don’t really replace the steel with rubber. Some folks have replaced the rubber with steel; either because the rubber tire were hard to find, or expensive,or if they were Amish. I have friends that say the rubber pulls easier and I suppose it does. I have never tried it so I wouldn’t know. I am happy with my steel wheels. If I had hay fields a couple miles down the road, I probably would like some rubber tires. Donn

[Jay]

I had the use of a rubber tired mower for a bit 1 year- the rest of my 35 years of mowing have been on steel steel wheeled #7s and #9s. The rubber tired one had a 6′ bar, dolly wheel and was in pretty good but not quite excellent shape. I was quite happy with the way it handled and mowed. With the dolly wheel, it followed the contour of the ground a little better than mowers with a long pole, but in most hay fields, that’s not so much of an issue. It had a comfortable ride- though I’m not sure that I would bother to spend the extra to go out and get the tires if I hadn’t had them already. Over all observation: If the mower is in GOOD shape- tight and in tune, it will mow well with out too much draft, through almost anything…. If it’s not quite in great shape, then it pulls progressively harder as the condition goes down. I remember one workshop participant recalling a salesman telling his father when the #9s were first coming out and his #9 was occasionally slipping on heavy hay under the wheels that rubber tires would cure that. His father got the tires and didn’t have the problem again- though no one was sure if that was because of the particular conditions that year or if the tires did actually make a difference. I have made some “boots” for my own steel mower wheels out of old car tires which I tie on before going the mile down the paved road to my sister’s hay field. Makes the ride down much more pleasant. The price is right too. Jay

[Donn Hewes]

I gotta make some of those! d

[Dennis]

On the discussion about size difference I am with Donn on the subject. I work three different mules, single, team, or 3 abreast. The are all different sizes from 14.2 to 17 hands. It is easier to find a single than a team so that is how I get them. The picture attatched is of my shortest and tallest mule working together. I have a young jack stud that I will be starting soon and he will be teamed with the big mule for training, going to be quite a size difference with them.

[j.l.holt]

@paintpony 38323 wrote:

Hi, I’m looking for a single horse mower ready to use. Prefer one that is easy to find parts for.

Thanks

Did you ever find a single horse mower, or did you solve that problem ?

[paintpony]

Actually, no, I haven’t found a mower. My hubby and I went back and forth about either a one horse or a two horse. But, now we are stalled in getting any mowers because he wrecked his 18 wheeler in early Jan. and funds are now limited. Will have to wait till he’s back to work and making more than what workman’s comp provides.

[j.l.holt]

I knew a guy who had a single mower for sale,,,i think in the 650 range. but hes had it a good while, so might deal…you could remove the shafts and fix a pole to hitch two..now you have a easy pulling mower that to light horses can handle…I think if I remember it cut 4ft.
If you are in need and interested, I will try to find the contact info I have hidden in my computor!

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