self propelled sickle mower

Straw Boss · Sep 22, 2011

Anybody have one of these?
I need something to cut overgrown fencelines for the electric fence to work. I can rotary mow with the tractor but need to get under the wire.
Kochia, sweet clover, thistle, sunflowers, tall grass and cat-tails.

I rented a similar machine that was a string trimmer only it had the retractable poly blades on it like a disc-bine. It did cut but was under-powered and a MAN-KILLER to push!
The blade was not as wide as the wheels so had to attack the growth from an angle. Push it towards the fence, back it out, repeat a thousand times. Never again.

This machine looks to give me the reach to get under the wire and is self propelled at 2 mph.
Anyone know if its practical and manuverable enough to dodge steel fence posts or is it only good for open spaces?
Its a spendy unit so I would appreciate opinions from current users please. Thanks.

BCnT · Sep 22, 2011

neighbor has one of these Swishers...does a good job...its pricey too tho
Swisher Postmaster

JMOR · Sep 22, 2011

.......or more heavy duty:
http://www.fencemower.com/video/fm-video-large.html

Anonymous-0 · Sep 22, 2011

Jarimowers have been around for a long tome, check around antique farm equipment shows, auctions, they are out there. Does the new one have a reverse? We used to use a gravely 7.6 convertible for the job, now I use a combination of spraying, alternating herbicides, and a contraption that I made myself, a loader mounted hydraulic motor powered weedeater head, mounted on a rubber tracked skidloader, for maneuverability.

aFORDable · Sep 22, 2011

Ever thought of Roundup? Less time consuming and probably less costly for a few years. I use Roundup under my electric fence 2-3 times a summer and it stays clean.

Karl in MD · Sep 22, 2011

We had a Jari years ago. Good, strong machine. Year-Around Cab co. distributed them, I don't know if they made them. I haven't seen a new one in 20+ years.

Billy NY · Sep 22, 2011

I have seen these for sale on occasion, check the video out.
Troy Bilt Sickle Mower

JMOR · Sep 22, 2011

You will just end up damaging a sickle bar on loose wire & fence posts........line or covered blade much better choice.

rustyfarmall · Sep 22, 2011

(quoted from post at 10:20:23 09/22/11) Ever thought of Roundup? Less time consuming and probably less costly for a few years. I use Roundup under my electric fence 2-3 times a summer and it stays clean.

Yes, Roundup is much less costly and much more effective. I hung the string trimmer up 6 years ago and never looked back.

paul · Sep 22, 2011

Year-A-Round is 30 miles from me, still advertises them on their web site, don't see too many tho.

--->Paul

Anonymous-0 · Sep 22, 2011

That's an old ad! Do the new MTD"S, whoops, I mean Troy bilts have a reverse gear, I know , like the old Jari's, they didn't have reverse.

showcrop · Sep 22, 2011

I spent some hours with one about 40 years ago. It would cut well but grass would tend to not clear at the middle. I rigged up a rod similar to the one that sticks up from the middle of the bar of the one pictured and then it worked OK. No, they never paid me for the rights to my improvement.

Brian G. NY · Sep 22, 2011

The Jari is a tough well built machine that will last for years. I have one that I was using just this afternoon to mow some steep banks where I couldn"t get with my big tractor and sickle bar mower. Mine has dual wheels that give it much more stability on side hills.
There is no reverse and the drive system, altho very effective is petty crude in that the driver gears engage the wheel tires directly. There is no clutch so it's either "in" or "out".
Mowing under the fence works well but it takes a little practice to move the cutbar out around the post without having to stop each time.
On fairly level ground, the Jari is pretty easy to handle. On hills, it can be a man killer because of the lack of a reverse gear.
It is very efficient as a cutbar requires very little power as opposed to a spinning blade.
They are very expensive new but relatively cheap used.
I sold one this past June for $185; couldn"t get the $200 I was looking for.

Brian G. NY · Sep 22, 2011

Upon closer examination, I see the one in your picture is apparently not driven by gears to the wheels like all the ones I'm familiar with.
Maybe the newer ones have a smoother drive system and maybe, just maybe a reverse as well?

wolfman · Sep 22, 2011

I have one of these. Handy. No reverse, but light enough that you can just pull it backwards from a post or whatever.

johnw (OR) · Sep 22, 2011

I use roundup works good couple times a year. My Dad back in the fifties used an eight year old kid with a hand sickle and pair of lopers worked cheap!

Straw Boss · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks for the replys. I'll see if it has a reverse. I'll check out the other machines suggested also.

Roundup isn't an option as I'm trying to re-establish the grass. Once the grass takes over, it will choke out the weeds. I can spray with a broadleaf herbicide but I just didn't get it done on time so have a mess to clean up. Calves are walking through the fence because the electric is grounded out from all the big weeds.

I also don't want to create a snow fence this winter so I need to knock them down with something.
I've seen snow do more damage to a fence during a spring melt than the cattle will do in five years.

self propelled sickle mower

Straw Boss

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BCnT

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JMOR

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Anonymous-0

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aFORDable

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Karl in MD

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Billy NY

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JMOR

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rustyfarmall

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paul

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Anonymous-0

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showcrop

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Brian G. NY

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Brian G. NY

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wolfman

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johnw (OR)

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Straw Boss

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