One of the things I'm going to do over the winter is refresh my MF32 sickle mower's sickle sections. Presently they are riveted sections. I'm considering converting everything to bolt-on sections and hold-downs.
My concern with the bolt-on sickle sections and the hold-downs that go with them is this - does the additional height cause a plugging problem - as in the additional height gives the hay something more substantial vs a rivet to grab as it's being mowed.
I can see where on a haybine the reel pulls the grass off the cutter bar, but I have some concern that bolt-on sickle sections and the higher arched hold-downs may not be such a problem.
As we look towards opening up more fields, rocks are going to be somewhat present and I can see a broken sickle section here and there. I assume that with bolt-on sections, I can replace without removing the whole cutter blade assy? This would be very desirable going forward.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Bill
My concern with the bolt-on sickle sections and the hold-downs that go with them is this - does the additional height cause a plugging problem - as in the additional height gives the hay something more substantial vs a rivet to grab as it's being mowed.
I can see where on a haybine the reel pulls the grass off the cutter bar, but I have some concern that bolt-on sickle sections and the higher arched hold-downs may not be such a problem.
As we look towards opening up more fields, rocks are going to be somewhat present and I can see a broken sickle section here and there. I assume that with bolt-on sections, I can replace without removing the whole cutter blade assy? This would be very desirable going forward.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Bill