How to Use a Mower Conditioner

6/8/2022

Sydney Clifford

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Hay operations require many steps to produce the perfect batch of hay, but today we are focusing on cutting. Cutting hay can be done multiple ways, but there are two ways that are most common for larger operations that can be found here in Texas. Those two methods make use of either a disk harrow or a mower conditioner. While the disk harrow method offers a lot of benefits, today we will be focusing on the mower conditioner-- how it can be beneficial and how you can use it. Keep reading to find out more.

Check out this video from Tips Notebook to view a demonstration on how to set up and operate your mower conditioner.

Disc Harrow vs. Mower Conditioner

These two hay implements have some similar components. Both are constructed with cutterbars to cut the hay. The key difference is the mower conditioner does two jobs in one by cutting the hay and conditioning it. So, how does it work? When the hay is cut, it is then run through rollers in a conditioning system that cracks the stalks and then pushes it back on the field. This process of hay conditioning can be beneficial to your crop by protecting it from bad weather, increasing moisture evaporation, and giving it a faster drying time.

How to Use It

Get Attached

Now that you have decided on a mower conditioner as your cutting tool, let’s get you set up. First, you will have to attach it. You will want to grab your Operator’s Manual to ensure you are setting it up correctly according to your hitch system. The top of your drawbar should be 13-20 inches off the ground. Also, the distance from the top of the drawbar to the tractor’s PTO shaft centerline is 6-12 inches.

Next, measure the distance from the end of the tractor’s PTO shaft to the drawbar pin hole centerline. The distance should be 14 inches for 540 rpm or 16 inches for 1000 rpm.

Then you can attach the PTO, secure the safety chain, attach the hydraulic hoses, remove the jack stand and store it on the MoCo’s tongue.

To finish it off, get in the tractor cab and set the depth stop on the 3-point control. This will allow you to return the MoCo to the same position every time the machine is raised using the 3-point hitch.

Set It Up

Adjust the cutting height by adjusting the gauge shoes. You can do this by releasing the swing lock, then swinging the MoCo out into operating position.

Make sure the lock cylinders are locked by moving the locking lever to the horizontal position.

Remove the locking pins to raise or lower the gauge shoe on one side. Then replace the locking pins to set the gauge shoe at your desired height. Repeat to make the same adjustment to the gauge shoe on the other side of the machine.

Adjust the cutter bar tilt by using the turnbuckle to angle the cutterbar up or down. In most cases, it is best to have a flat angle for your cutterbar.

Adjust the float. This will keep the machine’s weight off the cutterbar and on the float springs, allowing the MoCo to follow the natural shape of the field.

Cutting The Hay

When you are all done getting attached and setting up your mower conditioner you can finally get to what you came for, cutting the hay. When you’re in the field you will want to make sure the MoCo is operating off-center from the tractor. Doing this ensures the tractor goes over cut hay while the MoCo only goes over uncut hay. Begin by running the tractor along the outermost edge of the hay field. Then, move the MoCo to the opposite side of the tractor, on the outside edge of the field, and begin the next pass with the MoCo cutting back swath. This way, the operator continues working in a pattern that becomes smaller and smaller with each completed pass until the field is cut, the tractor doesn’t run on top of uncut hay, and all the cut hay will lay in the same direction. After cutting your first few yards of hay, hop out the tractor to make sure it is giving your desired results.

If you get lost along the way, be sure to read your operator’s manual or contact us to get connected with an expert who can help you out.