5209 disc mower conditioner

Animal

Well-known Member
I just bought a used one, for those of you that have them what are your likes and dislikes and what do I need to watch for?
 
I bought the old style new in 1990, ran it til '01, usually 140 acres 3 cuts per year. Later (red) had better protection for the cutterheads. I did shear one off with a rock, dinged up a gear and shaft. I liked the hyd hitch for adjusting width of cut on the last round. Anything going in the front, crossing windrows, etc., comes out the back in a new windrow. I NEVER plugged that machine. First ones had a 3 disc slip clutch, was replaced with a 4 disc. Easy to sharpen, clamp a vice grip on the blade and sharpen with a 4 1/2 inch grinder. Son bought the machine, cut with 3020 or 4020 for years after.
 
I bought a used grey 5209 last spring. Love it. The dealer replaced the drive shaft, which was twisted, apparently. However, they didn't re-fill the gear case with lube, one of the disc module housings was chipped beyond use, 3 shaft bearings were shot, the blades were all beat up and the knives were all out of time. I took the cutter bar entirely apart and checked everything. If you go over everything and make sure it is perfect, it will cut like a champ. Stay away from rocks.
 
If you buy it, Adjust the flotation springs so that you an easily lift each corner with one hand, and adjust the top link so the cutter diccs are parallel to the ground or a bit up on rocky tarrain. Many people think they have to tilt them down to get every last inch of stalk, but all they end up with are broken knives and damaged root crowns, in crops like Alfalfa.
How are you progressing with things since the fire?
Loren.
 
I have a CaseIH 3309 which is the same thing with a different paint job. The only common problem spot that I know of is the beam across the top between the two main "posts". A crack tends to form between the beam and the post on the left side (side that the hitch attaches to). When I bought mine, this had already been repaired.
 
I had the same issue on mine.....dropped the entire head, flipped the frame over to rebuild and strengthen.....to later factory specs when they welded BOTH sides of the frame to the uprights. Inside and outside where the frame members went thru. I did it on my own.....later found that the factory change was the same. No more problems.
 
I spent the day knocking walls down taking pictures and inventoring two tool boxes. I am beat tonight, but I will try to post some photos on they using your tractor site tomorrow. Thank you for asking.
 
EXACTLY!!!!!re adjusting the floating springs!!!! So many dealers sell the machine, you take it home....you are on your own. Mine...........delivered it, matched it to the tractor....JD 4430, re hitch height, then stopped repeatedly as we went down that half mile field....setting the springs.....HE was a real dealer. And he gets repeat business from me.
 
get an operators manual and read it throughly before you use the 5209. Important stuff is floatation adjustment (get a scale it's easier that way) greasing the pods every 400 -500 acres (it's a pain but worth it) and don't run the cutter head in a down position... slightly up like Adirondack says. I bought a late 90's machine a few years back and put it in shop and went through it... following the recommendations and suggestions in the operators manual. If the individual pods have too much slop you may need to replace the x-shaft. Nice machine well balanced and doesn't plug... and will actually operate rather well using a 50 - 55 HP tractor. Remember...perhaps 75 -80% of all users of farm equipment don't read the manuals..as per my JD dealer friend ...don't be one of the many.
 

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