Sickle Mower Advice

[Triumph66 1,256]

One of my customers want me to look after the management of the orchard in her garden as the other gardener is retiring at the end of the season. Robin does all the grass cutting there which she will farm out to another gardener to cut but she want me to create a conservation wild flower meadow in the wilder parts of her garden. To do this I need to acquire a sickle mower to cut the long grass and then rake it off to reduce the fertility. I could buy a modern sickle mower but these are downright expensive and I will not have call to use it that often. I could strim it of course but the sickle mower is the way forward and less intrusive noise wise.

I have thought about buying a Oxford Allen Scythe or a Mayfield equivalent version. Have anyone got one or another vintage scythe mower they are using to cut their long grass? How good is the cut and how easy are the parts to obtain? The Oxford Allen scythe is the more common one to buy so parts should be fairly easy to source I suspect. I do have a Haban sickle mow to attach to a garden tractor but need to buy the right Bolens for this to happens and in any case space is restrictive to use a GT with a sickle mower.

Thanks in advance.

[Anglo Traction 1,016]

Ok, I'll be first to offer an opinion. I think your right to look at an Oxford Allen Machine, but I know nothing about them.

Only to say that I intend to obtain one for a full Refurb project in the future.

I have seen them in use and are easy to handle and versatile in awkward areas. Also if you like using/maintaining a vintage machine, it should fit the bill.

Cost-wise, as you say, they are plentiful and reasonably priced.

What also would sell me on one is that you can obtain many parts for the Machine and it's engine, more-or-less from one source that specialises in them.

If they are carefully prepared for storage outside, they will cope with a winter ok.

If you do get one, I for one will be in envy that you'll be able to use it in what sounds to be an idyllic location.

Good luck and enjoy.    

[Triumph66 1,256]

Thanks Richard for confirming my thoughts on the Oxford Allen. I have never used one myself and it's good to know that they easy to move around.

You are right about the idyllic location as my customer lives in Dittisham on the River Dart in South Devon; the orchard itself consists of the rare variety of Dittisham Plums. The jam from those plums are divine.

Thanks

Andrew

[slf-uk 914]

Andrew,

I have a couple of Oxford Allen Scythe's and they worked really well for me clearing overgrown land. I found it handy to have two as one would work really well one day and be temperamental the next. Left in the barn for a couple of days to think about it's behaviour, it then worked well again. I just alternated between the two.

 

I have been thinking about creating a wild flower meadow and was thinking of using the Allen Scythe's for cutting but I have not worked out an easy way to pick up the cuttings once the seeds have dropped. It will be very interesting to hear about how you approach this.

 

I was given one of my Allen Scythe's and picked the other one up cheap at our local auction, they are really good value and great machines to own.

 

Iain

[Triumph66 1,256]

Thanks Iain; that's my thoughts too on having a backup as well!

I have just been looking at some of the YT videos on the Allen scythe; look very capable. The trick to cutting wildflower meadows is to cut when it is dry and then leave the brash for a few days to die off prior to raking it. The rake to use is a curved grass rake from Shelwoods which make life a lot easier to use as when the grass inevitably stick to the tines you push the grass rake away from you on the ground and the grass falls away. Also rake in the direction of the cut and do it in sections. At the end of the session a good pint of Real Ale will set you up nicely!

The other way to do this is to cut the grass and then get someone to bale it up for hay using a small compact baler producing square bales if it's free from ragworts and dog mess. Usually you can get someone to do it for nothing if they can have the hay themselves, particularly if it's organic. Indeed we had contractors taking our hay away for nothing in exchange for cutting and baling it.

Here's a close photo of the curved tines.

[HeadExam 1,783]

One of my customers want me to look after the management of the orchard in her garden as the other gardener is retiring at the end of the season. Robin does all the grass cutting there which she will farm out to another gardener to cut but she want me to create a conservation wild flower meadow in the wilder parts of her garden. To do this I need to acquire a sickle mower to cut the long grass and then rake it off to reduce the fertility. I could buy a modern sickle mower but these are downright expensive and I will not have call to use it that often. I could strim it of course but the sickle mower is the way forward and less intrusive noise wise.

I have thought about buying a Oxford Allen Scythe or a Mayfield equivalent version. Have anyone got one or another vintage scythe mower they are using to cut their long grass? How good is the cut and how easy are the parts to obtain? The Oxford Allen scythe is the more common one to buy so parts should be fairly easy to source I suspect. I do have a Haban sickle mow to attach to a garden tractor but need to buy the right Bolens for this to happens and in any case space is restrictive to use a GT with a sickle mower.

Thanks in advance.

Some of the older Bolens Vers-a-Matics had a 22 or 25 inch front sickle bar that could walk through grass pretty fast, Simplidcit made a model and as you said Oxford-Allen, and Allen Simmons might also be a good choice. Something that has a greater availability of spares,

[Chris 642]

Ok, I'll be first to offer an opinion. I think your right to look at an Oxford Allen Machine, but I know nothing about them.

Only to say that I intend to obtain one for a full Refurb project in the future.

I have seen them in use and are easy to handle and versatile in awkward areas. Also if you like using/maintaining a vintage machine, it should fit the bill.

Cost-wise, as you say, they are plentiful and reasonably priced.

What also would sell me on one is that you can obtain many parts for the Machine and it's engine, more-or-less from one source that specialises in them.

If they are carefully prepared for storage outside, they will cope with a winter ok.

If you do get one, I for one will be in envy that you'll be able to use it in what sounds to be an idyllic location.

Good luck and enjoy.    

 

Richard. Did you spot an Allen scythe at Johns the other day for restoration??

Andrew,

I have a couple of Oxford Allen Scythe's and they worked really well for me clearing overgrown land. I found it handy to have two as one would work really well one day and be temperamental the next. Left in the barn for a couple of days to think about it's behaviour, it then worked well again. I just alternated between the two.

 

I have been thinking about creating a wild flower meadow and was thinking of using the Allen Scythe's for cutting but I have not worked out an easy way to pick up the cuttings once the seeds have dropped. It will be very interesting to hear about how you approach this.

 

I was given one of my Allen Scythe's and picked the other one up cheap at our local auction, they are really good value and great machines to own.

 

Iain

 

Kept that quite Iain

 

I used to have 15 of the things, but all have gone to make way for current projects

[Alan 1,273]

Don't know if Richard spotted the Allen Scythe Chris, but pulled it out from it's hiding place on Thursday.

 

Looks in fair condition.  Engine turns and appears to have good compression. The cutter bar is detached, didn't get a photo.

 

Good for spares if nothing else.

 

A few pics taken in a hurry just as we were packing up for the day.

 

 

 

Alan.

[Anglo Traction 1,016]

Richard. Did you spot an Allen scythe at Johns the other day for restoration??       I used to have 15 of the things, but all have gone to make way for current projects

Hi Chris, Afraid I didn't. I was shown some of the Aladdin's John's Cave, but I was mIndful of not taking up too much of John and Alan's time.

 

Don't know if Richard spotted the Allen Scythe Chris, but pulled it out from it's hiding place on Thursday.  Looks in fair condition.  Engine turns and appears to have good compression. The cutter bar is detached, didn't get a photo.  Good for spares if nothing else. A few pics taken in a hurry just as we were packing up for the day.     Alan.

 

Hi Alan,  Well, part of me wishes I had seen it, the other says glad I didn't . I will get one when I'm able, if only to do a full rebuild to see what makes 'em tick.

Haven't got a use for one anymore  .  Would need to make space and dump one of the Red Tractors at least though!. 

Regards.  

[the showman 4,074]

Hi Chris, Afraid I didn't. I was shown some of the Aladdin's John's Cave, but I was mIndful of not taking up too much of John and Alan's time.

 

 

Hi Alan,  Well, part of me wishes I had seen it, the other says glad I didn't . I will get one when I'm able, if only to do a full rebuild to see what makes 'em tick.

Haven't got a use for one anymore  .  Would need to make space and dump one of the Red Tractors at least though!. 

Regards.

Dump a red tractor! No swearing on the forum please 😂

[slf-uk 914]

Just as I add another red tractor to my collection everyone is dumping them. I never have been one for following the trends

 

 

Iain

[Triumph66 1,256]

Some of the older Bolens Vers-a-Matics had a 22 or 25 inch front sickle bar that could walk through grass pretty fast, Simplidcit made a model and as you said Oxford-Allen, and Allen Simmons might also be a good choice. Something that has a greater availability of spares,

Alain. Thanks for the recommendations on other potential pedestrian scythes. I would love to own a Bolens Vers a Matic but I don't think there will be many, if any, over here in the UK. They do look very cool machines.

I have discovered a website for the Allen Oxford Scythes with a potted history of the models including supplies of parts to keep them running. I have clocked one and I am awaiting details on this. Also I will be seeing my customer tomorrow to see if she would want me to cut the orchard this year instead of starting it next year.

[howardman 30]

I have an allen scythe and a sickle bar attachment for my howard dragon..but my preffered machine for high grass is my Hayter  26"roller drive  motor scythe . These old hayters  will make fast work of high grass without smothering you in a clould of oily blue smoke (allen Scythe). There was one on the" for sale" section of this site some time back.

[Triumph66 1,256]

Thanks Howardman; I have forgotten about the Hayter scythe. Did you find it user friendly and manoeuvrable in confined spaces? I will do some research into this model.

Cheers.

[howardman 30]

The Hayter 26 motor scythe has no reverse....would be tricky to use  in confined spaces. Its very fast for open areas and if you fit an electronic coil from a later briggs would be reliable. Its kick start via the 3 speed albion gearbox...1st gear is nice and slow..3rd gear you would have to run after it!!!

Edited July 5, 2015 by howardman

[Triumph66 1,256]

Thanks for the info on this.

I am thinking of cutting the grass using a traditional Austrian scythe as I think using a heavy machine would be too cumbersome. I am already ahead of the game as the grass has already been cut by the other gardener and I have raked off the grass to make a hay stack. In essence I have taken out the build up decayed material to make scything easier for next year and also got a feel of the ground too.

Of course I could use a strimmer but using a scythe will be interesting, keep me fit, reduce my carbon footprint and be a lot quieter.

[paul 64]

I have two. a ts model with a villiers mk 15 four stroke engine.I prefer the four stroke as found the two strokes get tempremental when hot. Only problem I find is there is no adjustment to the handles and im tall so tend to stoop when using it. The second one I have was chris's on here which is a junior model. The blades only eighteen inches long, powered by a four stroke jap engine.

Nice machines but you know when you've used one. They shake your fillings out.

[Triumph66 1,256]

I was tempted to buy a Mayfield scythe mower near me but resisted the temptation. I think it would be too bulky for what I would need it for unfortunately.

[Triumph66 1,256]

I decided to buy a BCS scythe mower instead. In fact I a collecting it tomorrow from Somerset. It's about 18 years old and have been well looked after.  I would have like to have used an old scythe mower but I needed something practical and reliable for my business.

 

 

 

 

[Triumph66 1,256]

Well I collected it this morning from Somerset, a 150 miles round trip and have already used it for 10 minutes to assess what needs doing. A good service and changing the transmission oil will do wonders. The blades are fine for what I need to do with it. I have posted up several photos of it in the back of my £50 Ifor Williams trailer. I am well chuffed with both the trailer and scythe mower.

 

 

 

 

[meadowfield 1,900]

A tidy haul in more ways than one!

[Stormin 4,458]

18yrs old. That's been well looked after.

 

You paid £50 for that trailer?  You were robbed.  Well some one was.

[ranger 373]

A nice bit of kit there, I've got a couple of  BCS  603's  both with briggs v twin engines, if you use top gear, you'll certainly keep fit keeping up with it.

They have a weak point, what ever you do, don't engage the pto drive without using the clutch, it rounds off the corners of the drive teeth and the pto will keep dropping out. I don't have a 'sickle' bar for mine, just a 30" rotary deck that will cut anything, a flail head and a 4" chipper. using a sickle bar cutter on long grass, you could bale it for hay, the round bale attachment only costs around  £10 1/2 K

[Triumph66 1,256]

15 minutes ago, ranger said:

A nice bit of kit there, I've got a couple of  BCS  603's  both with briggs v twin engines, if you use top gear, you'll certainly keep fit keeping up with it.

They have a weak point, what ever you do, don't engage the pto drive without using the clutch, it rounds off the corners of the drive teeth and the pto will keep dropping out. I don't have a 'sickle' bar for mine, just a 30" rotary deck that will cut anything, a flail head and a 4" chipper. using a sickle bar cutter on long grass, you could bale it for hay, the round bale attachment only costs around  £10 1/2 K

 

For the tramission oil do you use EP90? If so can it be synthetic or no synthetic? 

[Triumph66 1,256]

Norm, the trailer was part of my 'severance pay' as my customer were down sizing and moving up country. The owner of  the trailer always looked after his possessions.