Filed under: August 2018 | Tags: #9 hay mower, draft horses, harness bells, hay making, horse drawn, Small Farming
August 8, 2018
I bought this #9 regular gear horse drawn hay mower, to mow my hay. I have been using a tractor mower for the last eight years. It had reached it’s limit and I had reached mine working on it all the time! I have time now to relax and make hay when the sun shines! Using the horses is good for them and me!
This mower was rebuilt by a friend of mine. He has been rebuilding this type of mower for his entire life. It has been done from the “ground up”. I am looking forward to using it. I have four acres of second cutting grass to use for our maiden voyage. This thing sounds like a sewing machine. I can’t wait to try it out.
Usually these have a cast iron seat. This one has a seat for an old man with a sore back….
This mower will cut six feet in a swath. The guards down near the mower are called stub guards. The short “stub” guards reduce plugging by a lot! The machine has been timed, all the seals replaced and a new style pitman arm bearing installed. It is as ready to go as I am.
These McCormick Deering mowers came in several styles regular gear, high gear and trailer gear. I did a lot of research before choosing this one. All of the Amish farmers that I asked said pretty much the same thing…. Well timed machine, sharp knives mean everything…the rest is “fluff” and mostly personal preference.
When I started farming, I used a McCormick Deering #7. It is a model a bit older than the #9″s. I got along well with it. I only sold it to be able to go faster…or so I thought. As I was mowing hay with my tractor mower for the last time, I realized that I was going 3MPH…the same speed a horse walks. The only thing that made it seem faster was not having to stop and rest the horses.
So, I listened to the noisy tractor drone on as I mindlessly drove around the fields. Now, I will listen to the horses and their harness bells. I will stop to rest them and give the mower a shot of grease or a splash of oil. I can listen to birdsong and enjoy farming in the way of my grandfathers. Plus…I will still be mowing at 3MPH!
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RicelandMeadows 
Looks beautiful Ralph! Enjoy!
Comment by Jacklyn August 9, 2018 @ 12:22 amThank you!
Comment by ricelandmeadows August 9, 2018 @ 9:55 amNice. Reminds me of the one your grampa used, except yours is much prettier. I think you need a seat belt, though.
Comment by Aunt June August 9, 2018 @ 7:19 amYes ma’am, it is much like his, for sure from the same time period!
Comment by ricelandmeadows August 9, 2018 @ 9:56 amSeat belt :o)
I love the images in your last paragraph about your interactions with the horses on this new mower!
Comment by The Sailboat Tara: A sailboat, a couple, and their little dog too. August 15, 2018 @ 7:40 amThank you.
Comment by ricelandmeadows August 16, 2018 @ 7:32 am