Self-Propelled Mower Conditioners/Windrowers For Sale

About Self-Propelled Mower Conditioners & Windrowers

Mower conditioners and windrowers are used on farms to harvest small grains, forage crops, legumes, and hay. Self-propelled models have their own engines and operator stations, in contrast to tractor-mounted or pull-type machines. Self-propelled units leave tractors free to perform other tasks, which is a key benefit in larger operations where multiple machines often work concurrently.

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Case IH WD2505 Windrower

Mower Conditioners vs. Windrowers

Although mower conditioners and windrowers serve a similar purpose, there are slight differences. For example, a mower conditioner uses a sickle, disc, or drum mower to cut the grain or hay. It then conditions (crimps or crushes) the crop with a flail, intermeshing rubber rollers, steel rollers, or high-contact rolls to speed up the drying process. Rubber rolls are ideal for legume crops, while long-lasting steel rolls excel at conditioning grass hay.

Windrowers are similar to mower conditioners but use an auger, a rotary disc header, or a sickle cutter bar and draper to mow the grain or hay. Also referred to as “swathers,” windrowers then form the crop into windrows, not only to reduce drying time, but also to make it easier for harvesters and balers to come in and finish the job. Ideally, the stems of the crop all face the same way in the windrow in order to make harvesting and baling more efficient. Windrowers may have a working width of up to 40 feet (12.2 meters) or more.

Drivetrains

Late-model self-propelled mower conditioners and windrowers may come with diesel engines that comply with fuel efficiency and emissions controls such as the EPA’s Tier 4 Final standard. Current models may range from 150 to 265 horsepower (112 to 198 kilowatts) or more.

Some self-propelled models can reach cutting speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h) or more with travel speeds in excess of 30 mph (48 km/h). Hesston by Massey Ferguson WR9900 series models feature a low-effort drive-by-wire system and support a RearSteer option for better control and roadability.

Cabs

Some self-propelled swathers are equipped with fully enclosed cabs filled with tools and design features built to maximize operator comfort and productivity, as well as the machine’s efficiency. From premium seats to cab suspension, and from Bluetooth radio to high-output LED work lights, windrower cabs benefit from many of the same creature comforts as tractors.

Features & Technologies

Newer mower conditioners and windrowers from John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Case IH, and other leading brands feature a wealth of cutting-edge tech to make them more productive, efficient, safer, and more accurate.

You can expect to find machines equipped with automatic steering guidance systems, options for different conditioners, technologies that maintain optimal header speeds for the crop and conditions, remote machine monitoring via telematics, onboard diagnostics, headland aids, enhanced cutting accuracy, ISOBUS control, ground-adapting technologies for a more uniform cut, and more. The Hesston by Massey Ferguson WR9900 series, for example, features an onboard computer that can automatically adjust conditioner roll pressure and other settings to match harvest conditions. There are also controls for automatic header speed control and load control, and more.

Other features are less high-tech but just as useful, such as quick-change knives/knife systems, self-cleaning radiators with reversing fans, hydraulic header flotation and tilt, auto idle shutdown, and shields and other components that prevent crop buildup. Other mechanisms such as John Deere’s cutterbar shear hub protect the machine and operator if they hit a rock, branch, or other obstacle.

Find The Right Self-Propelled Mower Conditioners & Windrowers

TractorHouse.com is your leading source for new and used self-propelled mower conditioners/windrowers for sale. Prices range from less than $10,000 to $240,000 or more. Popular manufacturers include Case IH, Hesston, John Deere, MacDon, Massey Ferguson, and New Holland.