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Advice on Scythe Mowers

Posted by Andrew Midgley on May 4, 2016 at 5:29pm in Machinery
I have several customers who need their orchards strimmed twice a year and the brash raked off to reduce the fertility thereby creating a wildflower meadow. One orchard will take about two hours to strim and the other orchard is on a slope and take the best part of half a day to strim. I could hire a scythe Mower but I quite fancy buying a second hand scythe mower as it will make it a bit easier on my body!Anyone got any experience with Eurosystems or the Al-KO Framer range? I know BCS are good but I will only be using this at most 4 times a year. If I was doing this regularly I would be looking at the BCS range or similar.Thanks for any information.Cheers Andrew
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Replies

  • Andrew Midgley May 5, 2016 at 7:16am
    Any advice anyone? Cheers
  • PRO
    James Brett May 5, 2016 at 7:24am
    What about a hayter condor?
    • Andrew Midgley > James Brett May 6, 2016 at 7:05am
      I did consider them but they not what I really need. Good bit of kit though.
  • Doug May 6, 2016 at 5:28am

    I use a BCS with the flail mower attachment for meadows. It mulches things up very finely so can be difficult to rake and collect - the scythe mower would leave it cut in whole lengths ready for hay raking. For larger meadows on sloping sites i use a tractor mounted flail with collector - which is the perfect tool for the job as I can then move the clippings away for composting or hay making. On an awkward or sloping site I think theres a lot to be said for a really  high powered brushcutter, its surprising how much you can get through.

    If you're interested I have a second hand BCS740 power unit going cheap . It can take the flail or scythe mower. I've replaced it this year with a brand new unit as its a bit tired for regular commercial use and needs some attention, but is basically solid.

  • Andrew Midgley May 14, 2016 at 5:21pm
    After much research and Doug's experience with his BCS, I bought a second hand BCS 610 powered by the reputable Honda GX160 5.5hp engine with a scythe attachment. I collected it this morning and had a quick session mowing an overgrown verge near my home. Very pleased with it and with a service and draining the fluids in the transmission and engine it will be as tight as rain. It's so manoeuvrable and surprisingly quiet to use. Looking forward to use it sometime next month when I do several customers' orchards.

    What I will say is that the second hand market can sometime churns out some good bit of kits if you are on,y using it from time to time. If I wa using it two or three times a weeks o er an extended period, I would seriously be looking at investing in a brand new BCS. As it is I got it got a very reasonable price.
  • Doug May 14, 2016 at 7:09pm

    Nice one Andrew, now you'll just want the mini baler!!! 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1TwbTwFBl0

    • Andrew Midgley > Doug May 14, 2016 at 7:25pm
      On my Christmas List!

      Actually Doug, what oil do you use for the gears/ transmission on your old BCS model? Thanks
      • Doug > Andrew Midgley May 17, 2016 at 5:08am

        according to the manual you use a W7 SAE 80W-90 gear oil.

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