Mounted mower comparison – part III For this, the third and final part of our mounted mower test, we switch attention on to what our nine mower conditioner models are like to live with – to hitch up to, to adjust their ground pressure settings and to service and maintain. The test candidates in this comparison hail from Claas, Vicon, Fella, JF-Stoll, Krone, Kuhn, Lely, Pöttinger and Ziegler
Machinery selection is no simple science. There are so many factors to take into account – more than just weighing up what can be only marginal differences in work output.
For example, a particular machine may have a small but irritating point of design detail that finishes up tarnishing a user’s overall impression. It could be an awkward method of in-work adjustment, an unduly demanding maintenance schedule or even a weight distribution set-up that affects the ride and handling of the host tractor. All of these seemingly minor factors can accumulate to the extent that they have an impact on seasonal output. It is for these reasons that we now take a look at how our test candidates fare in practical terms (refer to the ‘Dimensions, weights and prices in comparison’ table).
As for previous test instalments, note that the Vicon mower is pictured over the next six pages in its green Deutz colours for sale in mainland Europe; for UK farmers, the machine is only available in red.
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