John Deere No.5 mower problems

I went out to mow some hay yesterday, with the no.5. I bought it a year ago, I only use once before. I ran in first gear, full throttle, when I would get in to the thick hay the mower would plug, or if I would shift up to second, it would plug. Any idea what I should do to fix it?
Thanks.
[video play=false:654c4848f0]https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvvideos/cvvideo30571.mov[/video:654c4848f0]

Have you ever cut with a sickle mower before? The sickle sections and guard ledger plates must be sharp and in alignment. Sounds like you have very non-sharp parts.

Most likely need to get an Operator's Manual unless you already have one. The Manual will help you decide what's wrong.

In addition to what Ron wrote about the cutting parts needing to be SHARP and adjusted properly, if the area you are mowing has old, dead growth on the ground ANY sickle mower will tend to plug often.

Also, the more you use the mower the more the guards and cutterbar will get the rust polished off of them, and will slide through material much better with less plugging.

I have never used a sickle bar before. I do have an operators manual, but it says what the problem might be, it doesn?t tell me what to look for to know if it?s fixed.

Sickle mowers like lawn mowers need to be sharp. The sickle sections are the individual double edged triangle shaped cutters. They should be very sharp edged and serrated like a bread knife. They are riveted (or bolted) to the sickle bar that moves them back and forth. They can be sharpened, but today they are usually replaced (all at one time). The guards are the pointy things that stick out frontward. They have three purposes. First is their task of keeping the entire apparatus from digging into the ground. Second, they provide a place to hold the ledger plates. third they provide an anchor for the hold down clips than position the sickle sections/bar, with a modest fit, to the ledger plates.
If the ledgers are rounded and smoothish, they can be replaced. if the clips do not hold the sections very close to the ledgers, the grass gets bent between and not sheared cleanly. The clearance is about the thickness of a file folder tag board. up to 1/16". When dull and allowed to be too far away, it is like cutting with a dull and loose scissors. Jim

Take a few close up pictures the cutter bar assembly without the grass and hay. Let?s see what ya got.

Maybe just need to run it more and it will polish up some. Might also be time for new knives and guards

And if your hay has a lot of grass in it--and it appears yours does from the picture--that stuff just cuts harder! You will probably need to stay in first gear. Straight alfalfa cuts a lot easier and you can shift up a gear or two.

The ledgers are at the point or replacement. The section to ledger is a major issue. The piece of grass between them in the last picture should be cut in half. I believe there should be clips on every other set of guards, This distributes wear, and holds clearance better. Jim

I have a note in my Parts Catalog that there are 6 sickle (JD uses "knife" instead of "sickle") holders. I priced new John Deere guards for mine in 2003. They were 9.99 each !!! And there are 27 guards for the 7 ft bar.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]Any idea what I should do to fix it?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]CUTTER BAR, REGULAR[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.



Note the rock guard(Key 36), ledger plate rivet(Key 37), and guard ledger plate(Key 38).



Take a look at your photo below.



Notice two ledger plates are missing.

Inspect every rock guard on the cutter bar.

If a ledger plate is missing, then either replace the rock guard or install a new ledger plate.

Take a look at the [b:654c4848f0]CUTTER BAR, REGULAR[/b:654c4848f0] diagram below.



Note the outer shoe ledger plate(Key 41).

Inspect the the outer shoe and replace the ledger plate if necessary.





"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]I do have an operators manual[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]"

Review your operator's manual section on how to register the knife.

Since the operator's manual was <a href="https://youtu.be/zytzhAxRVsY">published between 1936 and 1956</a>, the instructions may vary from one manual to another; however, the basic, fundamental method is still the same.

Review your operator's manual section on the alignment or lead of the cutter bar.

Review your operator's manual section on the knife hold-down clips and wear plates.

Review your operator's manual section on the cutter bar tilt adjustment.

Hope this helps.

Replace ledger plates or buy new guards.make sure hold down clips hold knife on ledger plates but not tight or snug ,then set timing and lead there is an eccentric bushing where the hinge is on the cutter bar,timing is set by shims under drag bar,never take them out and throw away what comes out needs to go in other side.
And if its your first sickle mower pay attention NEVER USE THE GUARDS TO RAISE OR LOWER A SICKLE BAR. The knife moves when you raise and lower it.they positivly will cut a finger or 2 off.
I seen it happen when i was 9,thats etched in my mind.your owners manual covers this