SP Haybine vs. Pull-type Discbine

Hello all,

Been pondering again. If you were to grow 100-200+ acres of alfalfa and alfalfa/grass for your own cows and for sale, which would you rather have? Say, for example, a NH 2450 SP mower/conditioner or a NH 1431 disc cutter/conditioner. I vote for Self-propelled. Here's my Pro's and some Con's

NH 2450 sells for about $20,000 in good cond. a 1431 sells for about $15,000 in good cond.
Discbine may cut faster, but SP can turn faster and make more efficient field maneuvers.
Haybines are much simpler and cheaper to repair than disc cutters.
Less horsepower required with a sickle.
Less compaction of the hayground with the SP
The work is being done in front of you with an SP instead of looking over your shoulders all the time.
Discbines are loud and throw rocks and break back windows.
Cab with A/C on the SP
A tractor big enough to pull a 1431 with a nice cab will be $15k or more.
Unless you already have the tractor.
The SP is another engine and hydraulic driveline to maintain.
SP has slower road speed than most tractors.

I guess it pretty much comes out even, but for the coolness factor alone, give me the 2450 self-propelled. What say you?

My problem with anything self propelled is that if something happens to the power unit you're done. With a pull type,I can switch tractors and go.

Good point! Very good point.

I am facing similar decision. I won't go the discbine route. Been there done that. Way to much cost per acre in maintenance. I wonder more do we invest in a second hydro swing or go to a 16 or 18' sp. Would like to cut at least 80 to 100 acres a day. But labor is always an issue.

Awful big windrow with a 16 or 18'. Tough to get dry unless you ted, isn't it? I dunno.

For sure. But, yes I ted everything at least once. That tedder is the second most profitable implement on the farm. Only second to owning your own sprayer. Over the past 7 years since buying the tedder I have baled about 5000 Lg rounds with less than forty getting 3 tenths of an inch of rain and having 10 bales turn to crap. Being timely and having capacity is the only way can do that. Just ordered an acid applicator for the big square baler today hoping we can widen that time window and maintain quality.

Friend of mine bought the NH SP two years ago. He cuts 500 acres of alfalfa three time a summer. He has flat well managed fields, He mows 20 acres in and hour.
No brainer if you have large flat fields like SD.

Tedder is a very impressive piece of equipment.... We talked about buying a discbine before we bought a new haybine. For us the haybine made more sense. Right now we are making around 80 acres of hay. We can pull the haybine with our new tractors and can still hook it up to the JD G.... I had always used NH rakes with or without dolly wheel but we picked up a 3pt ford rake that is very nice and its nice to use...

^^^ Very good point....

If you gotta do much road time a self propelled unit sucks. Our Hesston 6400 goes about 8 mph. Our fields are close but one spot is 2 miles away, Seems like it takes all day to get there.
In the field I prefer the self propelled machine. We got a 1014 also for a backup unit.

Sickle bar machines are all scrapped over in the British Isles, We have been using disc mowers since the early 70s and we won't be going back! Never ever broke a window with a disc mower and I used to cut 4500 acres per year....Get your front safety curtain fitted!

Sam

Couple a relatives raise and custom cut and bale irrigated alfalfa. The people they custom cut for won't allow discbines claiming they shatter the stalks too much and it takes longer to regrow. Don't have any experience myself just repeating what I was told.

I have had both. Prefer the pull-type. As already stated. Faster road time behind a tractor, also can put different tractor on it if I need to.
I got tired of spending most of my maintenance/parts money on things that had nothing to do with cutting hay (batteries, water pumps, oil changes etc.) Already had to do that regardless for the tractor on the baler and rake, didn't want to do it all again just for cutting.
The self propelled was much handier in small/odd shaped fields though.

You for got that the haybine will last longer, I have been cutting with a 499 NH for 15 years, cutting 250 acres 4 times a year, just needed a little maintenance, and a set of conditioner rolls, been great machine!

I have a MacDon 7000 SP - it does 13-14 mph. Their new models do 20+.