Cutting Hay With an IBEX Drum Mower and Compact Tractor

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

See how we put this mower together here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXKbgmqAlMiIbqM Hay equipment provided by Tractor Tools Direct: tractortoolsdirect.com/ @Tractortoolsdirect New way to fence your land! Cat's Claw Fasteners. Use code PGFREE for free shipping! fencingstaples.com/ Or Amazon Affiliate Link: amzn.to/4dDcaJ7 QC-Mate X-Boom Hydraulic Coupler Clamp: www.skidsteersolutions.com/ Use PINEYGROVEHOMESTEAD for 5% off anything on the website! This is our Amazon store with affiliate links to products we use on the channel. It doesn't cost you anymore and it helps support the channel, THANKS! www.amazon.com/shop/pineygrovehomestead-tractorsandoutdoors Some of our favorite products on Amazon (affiliate links): Mower Blade Sharpener Guide: amzn.to/4dGYZa5 Dewalt 20V Cordless Grinder: amzn.to/4bF2trS Flap discs: amzn.to/3UKEzo0 Grinding wheel: amzn.to/3K95ipi Proven Industries Trailer Lock: amzn.to/3WVzytv Flex Tape: amzn.to/3R4MdWm Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf Titan Post Hole Auger: amzn.to/3toHEx2 Ratcheting Fence Tensioner: amzn.to/3aEfSX0 Pope and Pipe Level: amzn.to/3tqUhHX Fence Post Puller: amzn.to/3QbcNhy T Post Manual driver: amzn.to/39dwt3J Come Along Winch: amzn.to/3aQMqND Clip bending tool: amzn.to/3xlqrG0 Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf 6’ Digging and Pry bar: amzn.to/3vH5Agx Dewalt 20V ½” Impact Wrench: amzn.to/3UOcXNH Dewalt 20V brushless Leaf blower: amzn.to/3zwJcYm Dewalt 20V brushless ½” drill: amzn.to/3HGXJ7z Welcome to our channel! 🎥 What to Watch Next: Fixing Leaky Pond: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHbahIedZsaCjcU Transforming Our Property: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5uleHiPf8qUZ7s Clearing Thick Brush with Mini Excavator: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4exmqqFfbiKmtE Mowing Large Acreage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYm5Znadh9hmpM0 ➤FOLLOW US on Social Media: Facebook - facebook.com/PineyGroveHomesteadAndMiniFarm/ Instagram - instagram.com/pghomestead/ TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@pineygrovehomestead Our Story: We are six years into a seven year effort of transforming 20 acres of "Piney Grove" in Northwest Florida into our dream homestead/mini farm to be filled with animals and joy. We plan to have a variety of miniature critters on our pastures, raise free-range chickens, grow fish in our pond, garden, plant fruit and nut trees, and harvest wild game. Our goal is to escape the stresses of corporate life and embrace all that country living has to offer as we enter the next chapter of our lives. Follow along on our journey! Thanks for watching and please Like and Subscribe to help our channel!! Brad & Deb

[@mycenae2]

Two years ago I drove up to TTD from North-Central Arkansas and picked up the TX31 twine baler, TX 80 belt rake, and TS53 mower. Great equipment and customer service from TTD! I've baled just over a thousand bales since I got the equipment. Super easy to operate and maintain, and very easy to handle the small bales - we feed them to our goats, sheep, and cows. ETA: I have the same tractor as you, Kubota L3901 HST. Definitely recommend safety glasses on an open-station tractor - those drum mowers have A LOT of inertia and will cut through most anything you'll find in a hay field. That also means they'll take awhile to stop after disengaging the PTO - be safe and don't go near the mower until it comes to a complete stop.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for sharing....good tips!

[@tommywise1702]

We are in Central Arkansas as well and have the same baker and mower. They both run fine on our 3025e JD. We have bales about 800 bales with no issues at all.

[@mdvinspections]

We use an Ibex TS53 here on our twenty five acres of mixed grass hay operated with a Mahindra 1626 HST. No complaints, and the tractor handles it well. I do have to go down to medium gear for going up some of the hills to haul all that mower weight (they are heavy!), but otherwise it has gone through the thickest grass at good speed without really knowing it's there. It reliably gets the job done. Going into our second season with it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Awesome. How often do you change the blades?

[@mdvinspections]

@@PineyGroveHomestead I'm still on original blades after 25+ acres (haven't even sharpened)! They are also double edged (reversible) so that should pay off at some point to get a new edge. I have two extra sets of blades on hand, but I'm betting I can sharpen these a couple of times as well. Plus the blades were pretty inexpensive (3$ ea = $24 set). Quick to change, long lasting, reversible, inexpensive. Blades are really not an issue with this machine. I thought cutting height would be a huge concern (it does cut shorter than I'd like) but everything has grown back fine. There is a "kit" to raise it, but vastly expensive ($549), and seemed to never be in stock at TTD. Used it without and was satisfied. They say to keep it level, but I also add a little tilt with the top link to increase height a little.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

@@mdvinspections It doesn't really cut any shorter than the sickle bar we used last year.

[@mdvinspections]

@@PineyGroveHomestead Finally had an issue with my Ibex TS-53 (end of second season). The four bolts holding the gearbox came loose while cutting. One completely lost, another no longer touching threads, and the remaining two backed 1/3 of the way out. It would have been catastrophic if the PTO gear box dropped while being driven by the PTO! As a farmer, I am mechanically inclined and would have tightened these to a published torque spec in the manual when assembling (no spec was provided), or looked at them and told myself to lean on them since no spec was in the assembly instructions. I did not check these (and other) bolts before the season started, and certainly should have as regular maintenance. Good lesson in how important this is. I have a replacement bolt (and a spare) coming from TTD (purchased - I had hoped they would just send it as a warranty) and I will loctite them this time and record what torque I tightened them to. The gentleman I talked with at TTD could not provide a torque spec for these (and none was in the assembly instructions). I will also mark with nail polish so I can see at a glance if any have loosened. Overall, still happy with the machine but wanted to follow up with this. Applies to lots of attachments I'm sure.

[@elliepedigo3390]

Oh how I miss the hay fields.Thank you so very much for this video. My husband passed away and I have not done hay. I miss it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Glad we could bring back fond memories. More to come. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesharrod8733]

well i will have to say that conditioning of hay is NOT how it is laid, but breaking or crushing the stems of hay so they can release the moisture in the plant, similar to an older hay conditioner or haybine

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Good point!

[@Lackieestatesfarm]

Not sure about your climate, but up here in eastern Canada, a Tedder is an absolutely crucial step in the hay drying process between mowing and raking

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We ted....video coming soon.

[@lukeypops-q8s]

I could not wait for this video. I love compact tractors and mowing cant wait to see the rest of the hay bailing!!!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

More to come! We are editing those videos now!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Nice job

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks bro!

[@aaronburford5701]

Per usual, I am always impressed with Brad and his teachings, demonstrations of equipment at Piney Grove! Brad is so passionate and excited about these videos to share and I have become a HUGE fan of Brad and this channel. I always looked forward to seeing the process and work being done at Piney Grove! Great Job again Brad and thanks for sharing!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Wow, thanks! It's fun sharing our adventures with y'all!

[@3MISSISSIPPI]

Looks great!! I will have to look into this :)

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Your LX should run it fine, Mike! But we all know Frankie will be doing it!

[@Josselintail]

I purchased the package last year. This is the first full cut on 12 acres. I am not getting a clean cut, even after replacing blades. I have followed all set up protocols on the drum mower.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Ours cuts good. What do you mean by not a clean cut?

[@SkylineAcresVA]

Good job! I imagine those conditioning fins crack the stems of the grass and allow it to dry faster

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes, I think you are correct!

[@garynelson4749]

@@PineyGroveHomestead ...yes conditioning is not about windrowing ...its about stem cracking or stem rubbing to allow stem moisture to escape

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Living the dream, Brother! Nice work.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

You know the feeling!

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Great work Mr Brad

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tommywise1702]

We start our ibex drum mower at 1500 rpm by bumping the pto on till the engine struggles, pto off for 5 seconds, pto back on them it runs. Throttle up as soon as possible. JD 3025e with ~18 up at the pto.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

It takes some power to turn for sure!

[@JohnBraman413]

i'm new to this, how often are you cutting and raking the hay?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We can cut hay 3X a year in Florida. Here's a playlist with all our hay videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLG5yS75HLzo3qiXtZRXDZSZ7g2bDZ78NN

[@toddfouty9772]

Can we look forward to livestock on the Piney Grove Homestead soon?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

They will come after we get this house built! Thanks for watching.

[@bobkelly5254]

Love Deb photo bombing ya in the distance!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

She was working the zero turn that day!

[@rtundlt1]

It looks like your drum mower is leaving a small clear area on the right side of the swath, much like a sickle or disc mower does. From what I could see, if you'll run your front tractor tire along the left side of that clearing, or the right side of your swath, you should be able to cut cleanly without the mohawks.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for the tip

[@garynelson4749]

you need to start the mower as low a rpm as possible 900-1000 ish .......think about starting to move a clutch tractor in high gear at high rpms will kill it every time as it cant match speed etc up fast enough .....trying to start it at 1500 was probably to high ........over 2000 is going to put a lot of pressure on your pto clutch

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Normally, yes, but it would stall the tractor started that low.

[@garynelson4749]

@@PineyGroveHomestead im not familure with Kubotas but it must not have a pto soft start then.....i used a drum mower on a JD 4500 (39hp) it started it fine but like you mention it was heavy hanging out back and to the side.....so i moved up in tractor and mower to full size stuff...suggest a rock screen for back of tractor

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Why are you talking about aardvarks

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I'm blaming the heat!

[@craigwarren3439]

Aardvark is south African version of a Ant eater

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

@@craigwarren3439 The mind goes and the tongue gets fat when it's hot and I'm dehyrated!

[@roadrunner3563]

For that price, I'd much rather sickle bar and conditioner. And this one is only 4ft wide.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I want to get a sickle bar too to have all the options.

[@wildbill23c]

A friend of mine cuts all their hay with a sickle bar mower, and they just use a regular side delivery rake. Nothing special, gets the job done, and easy maintenance, and a hell of a lot less expensive than all these high priced small hobby farm setups that cost as much as a tractor. A lot of this stuff is really for the rich who have more money than they have brains....its not a very high production type of equipment to buy. A sickle bar mower, a rake and a regular old square baler for the win when it comes to actually going into hay production. Those mini balers are a waste overall if you are trying to make money, the packages from these types of companies are not the way to go. An auction to pickup some good used full size equipment is the better way to go. These small mini hay implements are great if you have a very small property and you just want a few bales for your own use...even at that its extremely expensive to get this equipment.

[@cathiwim]

@@wildbill23chow many times can I like this comment?

[@justins7450]

The only problem with that way is I've been there done that and you spend nearly as much time repairing and maintaining the equipment as you do using that and unless you have other help free people have the time for that

[@justins7450]

Few not free