JD 350 sickle bar mower question(s)

I'm considering purchasing a JD 350 7 foot sickle bar mower priced at $1,250.00. It appears it was always shedded, no rust. Knife sections are sharp and it appears it may have newer or different type guards than the rock guards. The cutterbar is yellow-is this a later model? Has a swathboard and stick. When I give a a lookover what should I look for? How do you keep it from swaying from left to right when mowing with it? Any input and/or advice is greatly appreciated.

I'll alert James to your post. He can help.

Great little mowers. Just check the wobble head for excessive play, sickle should move with the smallest movement on belt side. Make sure it turns smoothly. Just have to set the sway blocks or chains to hold it center, there is a chain that goes to the drawbar it lifts the bar end just adjust to correct length. The owners manual is available from JD.

Exactly what I was going to say. My tractor has a stabilizer bar on one ofthe 3pt hitch arms. Price seems a little steep, but that's just me. I've fought about every battle there is with a 350. There should be little play in the pin between the wobble drive and the knife bar header. Proper hold downs and plates behind the knife bar is essential and must be properly adjusted. Rock guards being of different brands probably not a problem, just indicates they have been replaced throughout the life of the mower. I end up replacing a couple every few acres due to breakage. (Lots of mole hills with rocks in them.)

The yellow cutter bar is quite common on the 7ft mowers.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/Nelson/IMG_1432.jpg.html" target="_blank"> </a>

As [b:654c4848f0]RayP(MI)[/b:654c4848f0] mentioned below, [i:654c4848f0]"There should be little play in the pin between the wobble drive and the knife bar header."[/i:654c4848f0]

The photo below shows this pin.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/013-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>



[i:654c4848f0]"Proper hold downs and plates behind the knife bar is essential and must be properly adjusted."[/i:654c4848f0]

These knife hold-down clips may vary from mower to mower.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/IMG_1640.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/Nelson/IMG_1495.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>



Also as [b:654c4848f0]Lpmm[/b:654c4848f0] mentioned below, [i:654c4848f0]" there is a chain that goes to the drawbar it lifts the bar end just adjust to correct length."[/i:654c4848f0]

The photo below displays the pivot arm that helps raise the mower.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/Nelson/PivotArm_zps0936fc3e.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>

The photo below displays the draw bar clevis and chain.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/Lee%20S%209-3-12/IMG_3462.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>



Make sure that both ends of the large float spring are not broken.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/003-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/user/jameslloydhowell/media/John%20Deere%20Equipment/350%20Mower/004-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"></a>

These are good mowers and <a href="http://youtu.be/_CJbfqofbUE">work very well when set up properly</a>.

Would strongly recommend that you buy an operator's manual as soon as possible if you get the mower.

Hope this helps.