The new 9.1m-wide Disco was mainly working alongside Metcalfe Farm’s Disco 9200C Business, which between them have cut about 3,200ha, and replaced another 9200C Business.
Ben Hutchinson was one of the regular operators of the new Disco 9300 and has been impressed with how easy the mower is to set up and use.
“The Comfort specification is certainly not a backward step compared with the Business specification we would normally use. It was very easy to set up and the hydraulics are extremely straightforward, literally one pipe for the left wing and one for the right; it couldn’t be simpler.
“The new screen layout is far better – it’s both simpler and clearer, so it is easy to programme and use. I would reckon on comfortably maintaining a steady 8ha/hour and certainly knock down about 80ha a day.”
However, it is the small things that have been updated on the mower that, as an operator, he finds help make the Disco very user-friendly.
The blade box is in a far better position right on the back of the mower where you want it, he explains, and it’s handy having a drain hole so water does not hold in the box, which means the blades are not rusty before they have even been used. There’s also space to store worn blades.
He adds that the Quick Change has always been good and having the different colours helps save time when swapping blades.
“Also, the hydraulic pipe holder is in a far better position and right where you need it when taking the mower off. In addition, the [Hardox-reinforced] hood above the conditioner is far tougher and there are no dents at all where stones have hit it compared to the other mower, plus the darker covers don’t show the dirt as much, so it looks cleaner.”
Overall, Ben says they have got on really well with the machine. It’s simple, straightforward and easy to operate, even in small fields. As for variations in the crop, he notes that in lighter silage or heavy crops for digesters, the Disco 9300C Comfort just eats the crop.
“Also, the Active Float system makes it very easy to alter the ground pressure on the move, which is important, especially where we are multi-cutting every 30 days, as you do not want to scalp the swath and need to be more gentle.
“The [Max Cut] bed has always been hard wearing and it is simple to change the oil. It is noticeable how good and clean a stubble the Disco leaves, especially when we are working alongside other makes of mower, some of which leave a dreadful finish,” he concludes.