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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

repair of older sickle bar mowers

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Jerry Frey

11-05-2003 15:37:31




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I have an old New Idea trailer sickle bar mower. It is about 50 years old. Well, It mows poorly today, The bar is worn and needs replacement of the guards and guides? I think that there are wear plates or somthing too? I'd was wondering if there is any referance materials available to guide me to properly replace / Adjust the what is necessary to restore this unit to better service? I thougth I could take the bar off and work on it over the winter.

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Dick

11-06-2003 09:20:57




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 Re: repair of older sickle bar mowers in reply to Jerry Frey, 11-05-2003 15:37:31  

The previous answers are both good and correct.If you would lke some printed information with illustrations and photos order an operator's manual for a John Deere #5 mower from John Deere (800-522-7448). Setup, maintenance and operation are well detailed. Most sickle bar mowers are similar.
Dick



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paul

11-05-2003 18:20:53




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 Re: repair of older sickle bar mowers in reply to Jerry Frey, 11-05-2003 15:37:31  
What the other guy said.

You might want to look for a whole new sickle bar with new sections on it. If you know your mower model, you might still find one that fits from Shoup or the like for $70-100. If you are serious about hay, you probably need at least 2 sickle bars anyhow, when one breaks or gets dull.

Otherwise, a few boxes of sections & the new bolts (better than the old rivots, but you can do them too) and a lot of time will get your sickle back to shape.

Then take all the guards off, and pound out all the rivots & replace the ledger plates, new rivots back in. (Unless you don't have those plates, then toss the whole guard & pay $5-10 per to replace.)

Bolt the guards back on, but you might as well replace the hold downs (every 5 or so guards, there will be a little clamp on top that holds the sickle down). You can again get universal ones from the farm store or Shoup or the like - if you use the little bolts for the sickle, be sure you get hold-downs with enough clearance for the bolts. Some mowers have shims to adjust the height of these hold-downs, others have wear plates that go under the guards & the sickle wears on them, others have none of that & you just hammer the hold-downs down until they are real close to tight. Not actually tight, but right next to it. Shims you can reuse, anything with a lip that would wear you want to totally replace.

Very often there is a whole lot of extra slop near the round ball of the sickle bar. You probably have to shim that out so things are pretty tight again, so the sickle slides back & forth, not rattle up & down a 1/4" or more (want almost no clearance at all). New parts might not be available, or really big $$$$$, might need to be creative on this.

Just like a bicycle, sounds complicated, takes no real thought at all to actually do - once you know what to do. :)

New Idea is part of the Agco dealer network now, but if they can find you any parts, be sitting down! $$$$$ You would want to shop the farm supply stores - local & mail order.

--->Paul

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RJ-AZ

11-05-2003 16:11:49




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 Re: repair of older sickle bar mowers in reply to Jerry Frey, 11-05-2003 15:37:31  
Jerry I have never been around a New Idea trail mower but sickle bar mowers are a lot alike in the cutter bar area. Your machine probably has replaceable ledger plates in the guards. Newer style guard don't have these and need to be checked for rounding off. These are a yearly renewal thing. Hold downs and the shims under them are important too. Setting them up is a learning process. I can tell you how to ride a bicycle but until you get on it and pedal you won't get the hang of it very fast. A well set up mower will not chatter or have much side draft either. Good sharp sickles are also a must. I have changed them as often as every 20 acres when the gopher mounds are bad. Before pulling the sickle use water and a corn broom on it. If it is real scuzzy treat it with diesel fuel prior to pulling a sickle. The slickest way to pull a sickle is with a chain with a hook that catches the ball on the pitman head.I could go on forever but my tiny brain can only retreive so much 40 year old materiel.

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