Haybine / Mower Conditioner - Sickle Drive Question

Bill VA · Apr 20, 2015

I read a lot about the New Holland "wobble" box that drives the sickle section on the haybine. They work great, but I gather, if worn, possibly trouble and difficult to rebuild?

What about Deere and Hesston mower conditioners? What mechanism do they use to drive the sickle section, a "wobble" box like New Holland or something more complex, more prone to wear and tear - or something more simple and reliable?

Thanks!
Bill

Brendon Warren · Apr 20, 2015

I have both Hesston 1091 and NH 488. The Hesston is a pretty simple set up. Its been pretty maintainence free for the ten years I've had it.

rrlund · Apr 20, 2015

Yep,it's hard to beat the Hesston system. My 1120 had what they called a half sway bar. There was a shaft with a counterbalance weight that turned inside a bar that mounted near the top of the machine. There was a pitman ball at the bottom of that bar. As the shaft turned inside,there was a bearing on the end with a casting that had a hole in each end. There were two short bars in that,that went to the sway bar to move it back and forth.
Sounds a lot more complicated than it is. It couldn't be more simple in reality. I put new bearings in it once in 21 years. They were just little bearings with a half inch center hole.

Northvale - PA · Apr 20, 2015

I have a NH 461 and had a NH 469. They are obviously both old machines. I greased the wobble boxes daily and never had trouble. The 469 was very much worn out when I bought it and I replaced everything that moved, rolls included, except the wobble bearings. No problems. My advice is go for a machine with a close by parts dealer. But NH invented the haybine, so you can't argue with that. One key thing to look for is straightness of the cutter bar and guards. Stay away from bent up machines as that will put a huge amount of stress on the drive line & bearings.

Texasmark1 · Apr 20, 2015

1209 JD is a '60's vintage 9' MOCO. Wobble box is used. Slop in the box or the bolt that connects to the bar have to be tight. Any slop and you usually break the bar about 4-6" down from the bar to box interface. JD stocks parts that you can get in a day or two.

Bret4207 · Apr 21, 2015

The wobble boxes need grease, lots and lots of good grease on a regular, daily or more, basis. There's should be no real noise from the box itself when it's running. Growling or grinding sounds mean problems. Rebuilding the box itself isn't that hard as long as the bearings aren't gone and the castings bunged up.

From what I've seen of the Hesston system, I like it better. More parts, but less bearings to go bad.

hd6gtom · Apr 21, 2015

I guess I don't understand what is so hard to rebuild on a NH wobble box. I did mine when I first got it. was very simple. that was over 15 years ago, works great

Our Farmer · Apr 21, 2015

I have a 469. Wobble box hasn't given me a lick of trouble. Should have no play in it. Be abundant with the grease.

Things to watch out for if you buy used are the the rollers, shoes and the long guard under the cutter bar. Worn shoes dig into the ground and tear it up or cause big wads to form as you cut. If the rock guard under the cutter bar is all rotted, the channel the bar rides in will flex and cause the blades to bind up, and you'll go through bushings, blades and guards like there's no tomorrow. Finally, rollers are expensive to swap out. I got around it by welding 1"x1" strips of angle steel around the rollers in place of the rubber. Dirty job, but it'll never have to be done again!

Roger in Iowa · Apr 21, 2015

1209 was first shipped in 1973!

Bill VA · Apr 23, 2015

Thanks everyone for your replies - very helpful info and much appreciated.

Bill

bison · Apr 24, 2015

The NH 114 uses a wobble shaft on each side.
In the 25 years i have used this machine i never had to replace a single bearing yet.
I cut 300 acre a year.

Haybine / Mower Conditioner - Sickle Drive Question

Bill VA

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Brendon Warren

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rrlund

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Northvale - PA

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Texasmark1

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Bret4207

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hd6gtom

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Our Farmer

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Roger in Iowa

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Bill VA

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bison

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