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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Sickle mowing

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Freud

07-26-2004 11:28:06




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What gear on an old Super M should I run when cutting with my NI model 30b sickle bar (7') mower? Slow or fast? The mower blades are sharpened.




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Jimmy King

07-27-2004 05:25:48




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
We hve mowed with an H, B,Super A, and 230. John Deere, IHC, and New Holland mowers. With each tractor the gear below road gear wide open, when cornering throdle back to about60% and use brake for square corner. The New Holland was a trailer mower you must pull sickle to the edge of where you have cut then turn.



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Devin

07-27-2004 05:15:30




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
I run my old M in 4th and the throttle about two or three notches back from wide open. I use an IH model 31 mower with it. It seems to do better going faster. I guess it would all depend on how smooth your field is and how sharp your blades are. Make sure your mower is adjusted right and it will be alot of fun. If not it will be a pain in the butt. Good luck.
Devin



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Freud

07-27-2004 03:52:16




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
Thanks much to all who responded to the post. As soon as the rain stops and we dry out a bit, I'll give it my very first attempt at making hay. Be Well all.



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RJ-Az

07-26-2004 21:36:25




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
I used to run in fourth with a H and #5 JD mower but dad had put a bigger sprocket in the top shaft of the mower gear box. This was on upland prairie hay where the fields averaged 60 to 80 acres. the other tractor was an 8N and #5 JD and he ran in 3rd and about 3/4 throttle. Stab the brake and spin the wheel and you have a square corner. DRIFTIN'



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wolfy

07-26-2004 19:25:01




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
Probably third in most cases. Any faster & it's tough to make good non-stop square corners. If you're 15 or 16 yrs old & have a steering wheel knob & sharp knife, maybe 4th. If you're 60 & enjoy the sights and sounds, stuff it up in 2nd & cut non-stop til it's time for lunch.



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Brad

07-26-2004 14:37:44




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
I have used a sickle mower many years and have mowed quite a few acres. mine works best when conditions are dry. Fine grass seems to plug at faster speed. I have had good luck with faster RPM vs Ground speed with thick hay. When cutting dry mature hay I can increase my ground speed. Also helps if your ground speed is fast enough to let the hay fall backwards after being cut. This sometimes will not work when going down a hill. Best thing to do is just try different speeds and see what works best for your conditions.

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Joe in IN

07-26-2004 12:57:29




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 Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Freud, 07-26-2004 11:28:06  
I have same question that is buried in a post below. How fast? Some of my clogging problems could be related to slow speed(2nd gear at 540PTO....)



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paul

07-26-2004 15:02:50




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 Re: Re: Sickle mowing in reply to Joe in IN, 07-26-2004 12:57:29  
With sharp sickle & good ledger plates, running as faster ground speeds is better. With dull sickle, quit what you are doing... ;)

On my Ford 960 5 speed, I cut alfalfa in 4th, grass hay in 3rd or 4th.

Even if wet, the clear alfalfa cuts great with the sickle. Finer grass hay will give problems, even if wet.

Basically try faster gears, if it works keep going. If you drive to slowly on ground speed, the crop tends to sit on top of the sickle & not clear off.

My proof meter went to heck a few years ago, but I run perhaps 3/4 throtle, less than the full 540rpm, but somewhat close. I don't mind slowing the engine speed way down if I need to drive slower....

--->Paul

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steveormary

07-26-2004 17:36:30




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 Re: Re: Re: Sickle mowing in reply to paul, 07-26-2004 15:02:50  
Freud

You could probably cut in 4th altho we used 3rd most of the time. Same with our 850 Ford.

steve



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