update on hesston pt-10 haybine

We got the machine loosened up so that it will turn reasonably well by hand. It is still a little stiff, but it is definitely turning.

We will need a new main drive belt as the one on the machine now looks really ancient. Does anyone know anywhere but a dealer where I can look for competitive pricing on this part?

The big problem we are experiencing with this machine is the lift cylinder. It retracts just fine (of course there is no load on it). It will not lift, though. It extends a fair way, but then it stops. It doesn't even get under a load (the haybine head has been pinned in the transport position). I've tried two different tractors, so it is not the tractor. I took the fitting off at the cylinder and there seems to be good flow when activated. I switched the hoses to see if that made a difference. Nope.

Is the best way to approach this to take it to a cylinder shop? Or could we work on this here? Money for this is an issue, but so is time since it is the second week of May and we really should start cutting if we ever get a stretch of non-rainy weather. We are currently getting as much rain this year as we didn't get last year. But that is for a different posting.

Any help is definitely appreciated.

Christopher

The cylinder only needs to be single acting since it pushes up only and if you use a double acting cylinder you retract the cylinder and pull the bottom cylinder mount sliding out of the sheath. With the machine pinned in the up position the cylinder should make a full stroke. It only takes an 8" stroke cylinder, I always used a 3 or 3.5" diameter cylinder, most recently single acting.

There is somthing in the cylinder snagging or leaking past the piston at that point where it stops. But are you sure the line from the rod end of the cylinder is accepting oil from the cylinder without restriction? That would stop the cylinder and that having that return line fall out too many times is why I've gone to single acting cylinders on my implements that don't need double acting cylinders.

Be sure all the guards ride up on the bottom of the knife or the mower will plug where they don't. That took some extra shims at the right hand end and a few years to figure out why it tended to not mow well there.

Gerald J.

Christopher

• Shorthorn country

Christopher