I cut and bale for myself, sell a few to cover twine, fuel, and parts. Enjoy making it all work myself therefore am into equipment cheap and see a breakeven point vs buying hay next year (mower, rake, and baler had an initial cost of $1050, tractors would have been here anyway). Thinking about upgrades for next year, winter project and focused on the mower. One problem with the mower is a mixture of guards and some with dull ledgers. I have decent relationship between the sections and the ledgers now but some could be better and believe the problem to be the different guards down the bar. I know about adjusting them but some are not malleable, don't move no matter the force applied.
Saw a Ford sickle for sale one time that had all the guards changed to the double point guards like on a New Holland machine. Anybody ever done this? Any insights or tips. I have the knife bolted, high arch clips, and good wear plates. When I adjusts the hold downs to close the various gaps the knife starts to bind. Believe I need a set of guards that match. Thanks for any tips.
Saw a Ford sickle for sale one time that had all the guards changed to the double point guards like on a New Holland machine. Anybody ever done this? Any insights or tips. I have the knife bolted, high arch clips, and good wear plates. When I adjusts the hold downs to close the various gaps the knife starts to bind. Believe I need a set of guards that match. Thanks for any tips.