Trying out the John Deere sickle mower

I went over the new to me sickle mower this morning. I
did order a book for it and followed the instructions. Our
weather has changed from rain and cold to dry and 90 for
the week so I gave it a try!

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The first pass looked like the hogs ran through it!

Back to the shop, make a few adjustments, try again.
After 2 or 3 times and a break for lunch, I think Im close
to having it dialed in! I cut a very small area just as a test.

It still plugs up here and there but at this point Im
attributing that to operator skill and needing new knifes.

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Back when I mowed with a JD No 5 for it to work GREAT I had to have New knife or sharp serrated sections,,,,,,,,new sharp ledger plates,,,,,,,,,,,well adjusted hold down clips,,,,,,,,,,proper register and lead,,,,,,,,an H & S 1 1/2 end section out on the last knife,,,,,,,,WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO a mowing machine in its day.......Then years later after I used a rotary knife haybine the Old Number 5 was out to pasture n rust grrrrrrrrrr I kinda miss those days

John T
 
Hey old,
I think Im about 4 hours north east of you. We had some flooding but it wasnt as bad as what you all got. Now that its drying out maybe we can get our gardens going!
 
John T

Its kind of a pain in butt to get it working right but once its cutting it sure is a good feeling!

If you ever get down thinking of those days with the No.5 your always welcome to come by an turn a wrench on this No.37!
 
Maybe you need to adjust the bar and raise the front tips of the guards a little l think there is a lever to change the angle of the guards
 
Mowed a lot of hay with a No. 5 quick-Tach with a 1950 JD B. It was kind of peaceful. Now mowing with a NH 489 and a 3020 power shift not so much but I can cover a lot more ground.
 
I have to mow my garden before I can till it up. I have weeds etc. in it 6 plus inches tall. Once mowed I hope it will dry out enough to till. Hope to ow it a bit later today when it is in the shade. Then maybe till it tomorrow
 
Your grass might be a little too short and sappy to let it slide over the top of the cutter bar. If the cutter bar is dialed in just perfect and is shined up the cutting might go better. If you get it into dry tall grass in mid-summer it might do better.
 
My upper area I was able to till a week or so ago but it was a bit wet. I planted a number of things in it after I did so. I have potato's tomato's hot peppers, zuke squash, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, and cauliflower planted so far
 
Fixer upper



Thats a good point. I think you may be right. This little
area I did wasnt very tall and may very well been too wet.
I guess well see what happens in a month or two



Thank you
 
I wish you the best of luck with your sickle mower. I used one for several years on my small hay operation. I got tired of the plugs and the hay laying on the sickle bar. A very frustrating machine. I like my NH 489. I sometimes still get a wad on the cutter bar and leave a strip uncut. But with the reel pushing and the rollers pulling the hay just glides thru the machine. gobble
 
Never owned a 37, best I recall 39 was the first 3 pt mounted mower?? I had a No 2 and No 4 horse drawn, didnt they make a Number 8 tractor mower after the 5 of course which was the first tractor mower ??

John T
 
John T.

My book covers No37, No38, and No39. 39 is the only 3point one in the book so I think your right. I dont know about the earlier one.
 
We had a #7 mounted mower. It was a real finger pintchingxx, well it was a finger pincher to put on. It was geared a little faster than the #5. We couldnt push the throttle as far ahead when we mowed with the #7 as we did with the #5. That sickle would only go so fast without self destructing.
 
John, you missed one item, the wear plates under the back edge of knife will need to be good and square, flat as well.
 
That No. 2 mower was first piece of machinery I ever bought and would mow rings around the David Bradly horse drawn mower Dad had.
 
Its been years since I operated one but I know it never worked very good in short grass like you are cutting in your test plot. For what its worth.
 

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