Author	[Modern View]
timis 06-26-2012 11:38:45 170.111.2.10 Report to Moderator	Gonna have to use the old sickle mower this year. Been a couple years but the disc mower is down and not worth fixing. Seems like no matter what I do I get "mohawks" where the grass falls the wrong way and I always fight getting the grass board to cleat for my next pass. I have tried angeling guards up or down a little and they always seem to catch and want to drag and it looks terrible -- still get 99% but would like to do a nice job cause its by the road. I'm cutting brome with a MM J7A 3 pt mower. Gonna also break out the horse drawn IH my great-grandpa used -- my grandpa restored it about 5 yrs ago and its a better mower than the others ive used. Figure the wife can drive and I'll ride on the seat :) [Reply]   [No Email]
jackinok 06-26-2012 13:04:18 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to timis, 06-26-2012 11:38:45   only other thing i could think of ,you might try lowering your cutter bar more or less by adjusting the shoes. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 06-26-2012 12:09:31 209.86.226.40 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to timis, 06-26-2012 11:38:45   Does the end of the bar sit forward of the part that is closet to the tractor?? If it does not that could be your problem. As for the old horse pull type mower unless you have a tractor that is as slow as a horse you will find it will not work well if at all seen many people try and found they do not work well behind most tractor due to the ground speed being way to fast for them. Also the swather board has to be such that is lays the hay down at least a foot to the side or you do not have a open path for your next path [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 06-26-2012 12:58:20 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to old, 06-26-2012 12:09:31   i used a old horse drawn mower for several years behind a JD "a".And old is right,anything above a slow idle in first gear and it would fly all to pieces.check the lead as others say but also make sure you set your guards right and have your holddowns tight enough.wear plates also need to be set right and not worn too much to hold knife sections down on ledger plates. [Reply]  [No Email]
timis 06-26-2012 12:14:29 170.111.2.10 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to old, 06-26-2012 12:09:31   I'll look at the lead of the bar -- how far ahead should it be - I think some on here were saying a couple inches - its a 7 footer. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 06-26-2012 13:58:11 209.86.226.19 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to timis, 06-26-2012 12:14:29   Figure 1 to 2 inches per foot of the bar. So 7 foot about 6-7 inches at the very least [Reply]  [No Email]
Nebraska Cowman 06-27-2012 03:06:23 66.252.115.26 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to old, 06-26-2012 13:58:11   2 inches on a 7 ft mower. at least that's what a #5 John Deere book calls for. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 06-27-2012 08:09:42 209.86.226.54 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 06-27-2012 03:06:23   Ya different mowers different specs. I have found if you can get one with a little more lead it will cut better and not clog up as easy [Reply]  [No Email]
Retired Farmer 06-26-2012 11:59:08 207.200.116.9 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to timis, 06-26-2012 11:38:45   Have you tried adjusting the lead-lag on the cutter bar? [Reply]  [No Email]
RevJJ 06-27-2012 14:46:30 71.97.238.67 Report to Moderator	Re: Sickle mower help in reply to Retired Farmer, 06-26-2012 11:59:08   Get a Reese Drum mower. Mine is 20plus and except for a set of belts and a few blades its going strong. replaced the first bearings this season-29.95 worth of bearings and an hour to do it. [Reply]  [No Email]