I&J Ground Drive Sickle Bar Mower | Model 653 | 78" Cut | Pull-Type Open Gear | 20 To 60 HP | For Tractor

Product Description

I&J Ground Drive Sickle Bar Mower | Model 653 | 78" Cut | Pull-Type Open Gear | 20 To 60 HP | For Tractor

DESCRIPTION

The I&J Ground Drive Sickle Bar Mower Model 653 is a rugged, no-nonsense cutting solution built for farmers, land stewards, and regenerative agriculture professionals who value simplicity, reliability, and clean cutting performance. Designed with ESM open-gear technology, this mower is ground-driven, meaning no PTO, hydraulics, or complex hookups just efficient mechanical power transferred directly from the wheels to the sickle bar.

With a 78-inch cutting width, the Model 653 delivers smooth, low-impact mowing ideal for hay, cover crops, pasture maintenance, and organic farming systems. Its open gear drive is easy to inspect, service, and maintain in the field, reducing downtime during critical cutting windows. The precision sickle bar provides a clean scissor-style cut, helping crops dry faster while minimizing tearing and soil disturbance.

Built for compact and utility tractors, this pull-type mower performs flawlessly behind 20–60 horsepower tractors, making it an excellent match for small farms, horse farms, and diversified operations. The mechanical ground-drive system automatically adjusts knife speed to ground speed, ensuring consistent cutting performance without burning fuel or stressing your tractor.

If you’re looking for a durable, fuel-free, and field-proven sickle bar mower, the I&J Model 653 delivers dependable performance season after season.

Key Features

• Ground-Driven Power System Eliminates PTO and hydraulics, reducing fuel use and mechanical complexity while delivering consistent knife speed matched to forward travel.
• ESM Open Gear Drive Heavy-duty open gears provide reliable power transfer, easy inspection, and simple field maintenance for long-term durability.
• 78-Inch Cutting Width Covers more ground efficiently, ideal for hay fields, pastures, and cover crops on small to mid-size farms.
• Clean Sickle Bar Cutting Precision knife sections deliver a scissor-like cut that improves crop dry-down and reduces plant damage.
• Pull-Type Tractor Compatibility Designed to run smoothly behind compact and utility tractors without PTO or hydraulic connections.
• Automatic Speed Matching Ground drive naturally adjusts knife speed to travel speed for even cutting across varying field conditions.
• Low Soil Disturbance Design Gentle cutting action preserves soil structure and is ideal for organic and regenerative farming systems.
• Simple Mechanical Operation Fewer moving parts mean less downtime, easier repairs, and dependable performance in remote fields.
• Heavy-Duty Frame Construction Built to withstand daily farm use with reinforced steel components for long service life.
• Ideal for Cover Crops Excellent performance in rye, clover, vetch, and mixed species without plugging or tearing.
• Fuel-Efficient Operation Ground-driven design reduces tractor load and saves fuel compared to PTO-powered mowers.
• Field-Service Friendly Open design allows fast access to knife sections, guards, and gears for quick adjustments.
• Compact Transport Profile Easy to maneuver through gates, barns, and narrow field access points.
• Reliable in Uneven Terrain Consistent cutting performance across rolling ground and variable crop density.
• Proven I&J Durability Manufactured with the same rugged standards trusted by farmers worldwide.

Detailed Specifications

Manuals & Documents

General Warranty Info:

• Ripping It Outdoors works closely with our manufacturers to supply and support your products warranty needs as best as possible!
• The majority of products come with a manufacturer represented warranty against manufacturing defects for at least a 12 month period after the date of sale.
• Expendable components and "wear parts" including but not limited to blades, knives, teeth, oil, chain sprockets, skid shoes, knife mounting discs, and similar components are usually excluded from manufacturer warranties.
• Please reach out to us for any specific warranty information needed about products and parts you can’t find!

Videos

Shipping

General Shipping Info:

• Instantly calculate shipping quotes to the lower 48 states by 1. adding this product to your cart, 2. click continue to the checkout page and 3. enter your shipping address to check rates. Contact us for quotes for shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and Internationally.
• Complimentary lift gate service on all freight shipments where it’s possible. We guarantee safe delivery!
• Low shipping rates for customers. We have negotiated the best possible rates for customers from our trusted carriers (ODFL, ESTES, UPS, and FedEx).
• Negotiate shipping rates if you think we can do better please reach out. Keep in mind some shipping rates also include assembly & configuration as well!