For maximum efficiency when it comes to mowing, the SaMASZ KDD941STH Rear Mowers and KDF 301 S Front Mowers prove a winning combination
I’m a massive fan of the concept of grouper mowers. I have a set myself and not only do they save us money, keep valuable leafy crop intact and preserve moisture in silage during the summer months, they are also my favourite thing to drive.
The reason behind this is a combination of lots going on (which keeps you on your toes) and the visual satisfaction of the paddock going from unmown to ready to harvest in one pass – does that make me weird? Ok, maybe don’t answer that?
SaMASZ KDD941STH Rear Mowers
At our recent Harvest Showcase, we spent some time using the KJR Contracting-owned SaMASZ rear mowers, the KDD941STH model. The lineup of numbers identifies the range as KDD, 9.4m is the cutting width, S is conditioner, T is for transport belt (grouper) and the H is for hydraulic suspension and ground pressure.
The beauty with this hydraulic ground pressure is hydraulic break away, not only back but it also lifts to the set headland height, so the mower moves back and up from the obstacle, further preventing additional impact damage – clever. When it comes to controlling the mower, the in-cab controller is the SaMASZ GigaCUT monitor. An ISOBUS option is also available.
KDF 301 S Front Mower
The front mower is a 3m pull type design with conditioner (the S in the numbering) and boasts a robust, U-shaped frame for visibility. Unlike the rear mower, the 65cm of contour following is done via springs rather than hydraulically. However, headland lifting and lowering is done via a single hydraulic port, with hitching done via a standard A-frame headstock.
Common features
PerfectCUT Bar
The PerfectCUT cutter bar is integral to both the KDD941STH and KDF 301 S models. First up, in terms of protection, the bed has three layers. The first line of defence is the hard-wearing skid, followed by the main mushroom-shaped skid, and then the bed itself. If you do hit something, a shear pin keyway is designed as a primary line of defence against impact and prevents further damage by breaking off, safeguarding the more expensive components.
The cutter bar’s modular design allows for individual modules to be easily and cost-effectively replaced and as long as the discs are 90 degrees to each other, no further bar timing is needed. For knife replacement, both front and rear mowers have ample storage and feature quick change knives. There is also a little New Zealand modification that the factory has incorporated, which is a notched knife holder, so if a stone gets wedged between the disc and the knife holder, the knife won’t fall off. This is safe and smart.
Gearbox and conditioner
Right: The hydraulic suspension and breakaway lift up and back if an obstacle is struck
The gearbox is integrated directly into the bed from the rear driveshaft, with the same gearbox also driving the conditioner. This however has two speeds: 1000rpm and 700rpm, as well as conditioning aggression adjustment. The conditioner uses a steel bear claw design to enable conditioning in various crop types and conditions, as the claw always picks up the grass and carries through the conditioning process.
Conveyor belt
The KDD941STH rear mower conditioner includes merger belts making one row from three mower rows. The groupers on this mower have a self-contained onboard hydraulic system complete with cooling radiator and fan which has two main benefits. The first is that it doesn’t draw any additional power from the tractor other than driving the mowers themselves, and secondly, during hot summer months, thanks to the onboard cooling self-contained system, it isn’t unnecessarily increasing the transmission/hydraulic oil of the tractor. The belt speeds can be adjusted on the monitor individually, as well as the belts being able to move in and out of position for odd-shaped paddocks (or early in the season, this is useful for bringing the outside row onto the front mower row), to keep the rake at least three metres from the fence. Speaking of rakes, at this time of the year, they are simply not needed. Merging directly in front of the baler, loader wagon or chopper is a fantastic way to drive efficiency in the business.
Parts and warranty
Two of the major reasons these SaMASZ mowers are gaining popularity is that they come with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, providing operators with peace of mind and assurance of the product’s quality. And if they do break down, parts for these mowers are competitively priced. Chatting with the crew at KJR Contracting, these well-utilised mowers have completed their second season and have they have held up very well. There are no signs of stress on the frame and the paint is still excellent.
Paint
Speaking of paint finish, I suspect that the high quality is due to the electrophoretic cathode paint method used on all SaMASZ equipment. Similar to that used in the automotive sector, it goes through a seven-step process in a fully automated line that spans over 900 meters in the factory. This method ensures a high-quality, durable finish that protects the machine from corrosion and our harsh sun.
Summary
The SaMASZ KDD941STH rear mower conditioner with merger belts and the KDF 301 S front mower conditioners are designed for ease of maintenance, with parts affordability and the two-year warranty key selling points. We were very impressed with the PerfectCUT cutter bar, quick change blades adapted to New Zealand (particularly Canterbury) conditions, robust construction, and the high-quality paint finish. If these grouper mowers are as price competitive as we were quoted, then a demo is must, as it seems like a lot of steel for not a lot of money.
Top five
Ease of Maintenance: The PerfectCUT cutter bars modular design ensures that damaged components can be replaced swiftly and economically.
Comprehensive Warranty: The two-year manufacturer’s warranty provides peace of mind and assurance of the product’s quality and durability.
Parts Pricing and Affordability: The parts are competitively priced, lowering the total cost of ownership.
Exceptional Strength: Constructed using heavy-duty steel and featuring excellent welding, the strength of these mowers is impressive.
Superior Paint Quality: The mowers undergo a meticulous seven-point painting process, resulting in impressive quality after these mowers have completed two seasons.
Check out the Video: SaMASZ rear mowers:
https://youtu.be/TybbCAKnkjc?si=7oC56MXZK8KQpOhW
Credit - Thanks to Farm Trader for this article and video:
https://www.farmtrader.co.nz/harvest-showcase-samasz-kdd941sth-rear-mowers/