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Allis Chalmers Discussion Forum
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mowing with sickle bar

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big hunter

10-01-2006 11:21:47




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I bought a CA this past June. It came with a md 80R sickle mower. I replaced some guards, sharpened the sections, greased it up and a few other adjustments. I'm mowing grass hay (orchard, timothy, fescue blend I think). I mow in 1st gear, full throttle. The problem I'm having is the grass bunches up and drags on the sickle bar, in the middle or either end, doesn't matter....whereever it feels like it. I tried 2nd gear but seems too fast. What do you guys think I should do. (just finished the last cutting for this year.

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Kent of SW MO

10-02-2006 06:33:43




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 Re: mowing with sickle bar in reply to big hunter, 10-01-2006 11:21:47  
All PTO powered equipment is designed to run at a PTO speed of 540 RPM. To have a PTO speed of 540 from the tractor you need to run the tractors engine near full throttle.

Kent



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Dick L

10-01-2006 14:49:25




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 Re: mowing with sickle bar in reply to big hunter, 10-01-2006 11:21:47  
I have never mowed with a CA. Have mowed hundereds of acres with an Oliver semi mounted sickle bar mower. I have mowed mostly in second gear but have mowed in third gear a lot more than first. Always mow a little past half throttle. Never wide open. To me running a sickle bar at full throttle makes it sound like it will fly apart. Out of adjustment is what I agree with. Dull knives and the (kinfe being able to lift off the ledger plates with tuff (wet dead grass) stuff being stuck under the knives) will cause what you discribed. Other things as well. Adjustnents outlined well below.

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Sid

10-01-2006 14:30:39




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 Re: mowing with sickle bar in reply to big hunter, 10-01-2006 11:21:47  
Is the grass falling foward and then causing problems? If so ground speed is too slow. Is dead dry grass causing the hay to bunch up? If so tip the cutter bar back so the point of guards are not digging in. Sometimes I have to lower the inner and outer shoe to raise the cutter bar above the dead stuff. A sickle that is not timed (the sections should stop mid point of the guards at both ends of each stroke) will make a mower work hard and will have a jerk and clatter sound to it. Another thing that will make a mower work hard is that the cutter bar must have some lead to it. When sitting still the outer end of the cutter bar must lead about one inch per foot(if memory serves me right). of lenght. As I remember we would take a lenght of baler twine and line it up with the pitman arm and take it on out to the end of the cutter bar and check it that way when in motion the drag will cause the outer end of the bar to drop back and be in line with the mower while in operation. Since the 8o series mowers don't have a pitman arm I don't remember how this adjustment was made. Too much lead can be a problem as well as to little lead. The cutter bar needs to enter the grass fairly square as opposed to an angle. Of course the obvious such as sharp or loose sections, worn ledgere plates on the guards, and hold down clamps not tight enough will create the problem you mentioned. I used to mow with a 80 series and would go in third gear with my WD. I would think a CA you should be able to mow in second. We used to mow in second with B and C tractors.

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den/southern illinois

10-01-2006 12:00:00




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 Re: mowing with sickle bar in reply to big hunter, 10-01-2006 11:21:47  
There should be an adjustment to tip the points up. My # 7 has a quick adjustment with 3 or 4 spots to set it at. By raising the tips of the points you will not pick up as much old grass which causes most plugging problems. Another possibility would be the stroke being set properly but that will amost certainly take a manual to explain. Basically I guess you would have to say the stroke is off center from the points but I am not sure if this would cause your problem or more likely just not give you a clean cut. Hope this helps. Den

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big hunter

10-01-2006 16:31:31




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 Re: mowing with sickle bar in reply to den/southern illinois, 10-01-2006 12:00:00  
thanks for all the info, I'll try messing around with it some more



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