Need opinion(s) on sickle bar mower

Am looking at a JD Model 450 sickle bar mower to purchase. Going behind my JD Model 60. Would like to know any opinion about this mowing machine from former/current owners.
 
No inherent problems in design. They are subject to wear and abuse just like any other piece of machinery. Look to make sure the driveline is tight plus look for bends, cracks, and non-factory welds to have an idea as to previous care. 350 and 450 mowers bring good money so unless the seller is clueless expect to pay a couple of thousand dollars.
 
Thanks NY, only seen pictures to this point, but unit looks to be in good shape except for a couple missing guards. also looks like it has a new bar or recently repainted. have read a couple places where owners were not happy with this mower.
 
I gave up on the constant hassle of repairs on my 350. It's a good mower within the limitations of a sickle bar mower. Constant replacement of guards and sections due to stones in the many molehills. Also doesn't do well with thick,downed or leaning hay. Also have had issues with wear to the head end of the sickle knife where the drive pin works. That said, most all sickle bar mowers have these problems. Also have a JD no 5. It has much the same problems. Except that is a pitman driven knife. As far as the Deere mowers, I think they are about as good as any on the market.

Myself, I went out and got a MINOSagri 190 DRUM MOWER, and never looked back. Cuts far faster,cleaner, doesn't clog. Blades are $10 a set and take ten minutes to change out.
 
I think a drum mower is the real deal, but your limitation my be the 60 JD, it may not have the power for a drum mower.

I have a MF sickle mower, its fine for cutting weeds, but in heavy hay it would be a bear, even with new blade sections and guard ledger plates.

new Holland made a good mower, but all those mowers are getting age on them, ask your local dealer how many drum mowers they sell compared sickle mowers.

sickle mowers are old technology!!!!!
 
I don't know about the JD mower in question, but my dad swore about #5 JD mowers,. Its the only sickle mower he had, and he had around 3 of them in the 60yrs I knew of his farming.
Ive got a IHC simi mount mower that is easily 70yrs old. I bought a new sickle bar for it in 75 for $18 as they were closing out a bunch of sickle bars. This year, I finally had to replace it. I doubt if I replaced 4 sections in all that time. Ive possibly replaced a 1/2 doz rock guards over the same time frame.
Ive probably gone through the same amount of pitman rods.

What im trying to say, is that a sickle mower is as good as the man who uses it. Keep it greased and oiled, have the sickle professionally sharpened, which I started doing last year after I found it to cut so much better than when I sharpened it myself, and it should run great for longer than youll likely use it.
 
I'd say go for it. I don't own one and have never used one, but
two things jump out at me. One it is a true trailer mower,
which in my neck of the woods is a rare find and two, I believe
it is one of the last models of sickle mowers JD made, so if it
ain't wore out or abused, at least it's newer.
 
Gary I remember when those came out. We would fill the tires on them with fluid to keep them from dragging sideways. I don't know why they did it or if jd ever fixed the problem. We did quite a few of them.
 
It's as good of a sickle mower as anyone has ever made.

It lifts high to clear debris when turning, and is pitman-less so it will cut at any angle the cutterbar may get lifted to.

The only downside is that the wobble sickle drive is unbelievably expensive to repair if major repairs are ever needed. (Of course, what isn't nowadays?
 
350 mowers bring a premium here even if they are on the rough side. I've been trying to buy a 9' cut unit for mowing ditch banks and nothing goes under 1,500 dollars hence I have not made a move yet. The OP did not state his intent with the 450 but most guys buy the mower to do what I want to do or trim pasture. Anyplace here in the NE US that would have a cut that small for hay would have a conditioning apparatus on the same machine. I have a Deere 1219 for cutting hay and am satisfied for what it is. I need more storage for the tools bought in recent years.
 
There are brand new sickle bar mowers made with a double cut, scissors action, They don't clog much at all I'm told. That being said, if you are looking for a JD mower to go behind your JD tractor, then get the best you can. I ran a #9 for years. Put an awful lot of time and money into it and replaced pretty much any wear part, some were replaced twice. In the end I had a good cutting machine that still clogged, wouldn't cut in damp conditions, wouldn't handle tangled or fine stemmed grass very well. Then I caught a ledge just exactly right and busted the frame. I bought a haybine the next day and never looked back.
 
Where did you find someone to professionally sharpen a sickle ?There was someone show sold sickle parts some years back .
 

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