Broke down

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

Tore into a 64 acre field of alfalfa yesterday with my NH495 and got to within 8 acres of being done when the reel drive chain broke.

Is it normal for a 40-pitch chain to break after only 35 or 40 years of service? :>)

Allan

randallnMo · Jul 1, 2011

Chain should not have broke. 'Had to be "operator error". How's the alfalfa this year? Do you grow any for seed?

Dave from MN · Jul 1, 2011

How wide of a cut is that haybine Allan? How many acre's do you cut? That 479 I bought seemed to work great onthe first cutting, hardest issue for me is finding the correct hold down clips for my sickle. It has the bolt on knifes and dealer keeps giving me ones that dont work, but says I dont need to shim it. My FIL says I need to buy "wear plate" shims and they should go under the hold down clips.

Old Roy · Jul 1, 2011

Heck no that chain shouldn't have broke !!
your over 40 and still goin strong. must be a problem in the manufacturing end ???

keh · Jul 1, 2011

Now your question is, "Do I replace the whole chain or just put in a repair link"?

KEH

IaGary · Jul 1, 2011

So did you drive the tractor back to the home base or just jump on the Honda?

Gary

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

The 495s take a 12' swath.

I bought this thing "very used" and promptly overhauled the bar with new guards and a riveted sickle.

Darned thing hasn't missed a stroke in what? 10 years now?

I finally just parked my IH 5000 because of the fine cheat grass that I fight. The longer 14' swath keeps pulling the head off the sickle every 100 acres or so.

Yes, the bolt on knives need a different hold-down. Do a search for Sickle Service located in Grand Island, NE. These boys are fantastic in setting you up with what ya need.

Allan

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

Jumped off the tractor, kicked the ground, got in the pickup and headed fer town.

Darned repairs cost me $13! :>)

Allan

Ron A Anderson · Jul 1, 2011

40 years old must mean it was some of the (made in Japan junk) from that era.

bison · Jul 1, 2011

No wonder that chain broke,must have overloaded it judged by the size of these swaths.

glennster · Jul 1, 2011

sounds like a warranty issue alan!!!! hope ya used your owners manual, i+t manual, blue ribbion service manual, disconnected the battery, blocked the wheels, and had a fire extinguisher handy before attempting any repairs!!!

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

I planted four 14" posts at the corners and chained 'er down solid.

Then completely read the Funk and Wagnal's cover to cover.

Figger I should get back to cutting hay by next February. :>)

Allan

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

I planted four 14" posts at the corners and chained 'er down solid.

Then completely read the Funk and Wagnal's cover to cover.

Figger I should get back to cutting hay by next February. :>)

Allan

old · Jul 1, 2011

Check the sprockets real well you may find you need to replace one or both of them as well. On my NH460 I had that problem and found the upper sprocket was so bad a new chain would ride up on the teeth and cause major problems

Mike (WA) · Jul 1, 2011

Boy, ya got me- just don't know why it would turn on you like that. . .

Janicholson · Jul 1, 2011

It is clearly a result of failing o remove it and sub merge it in melted Moly grease for 1 month as per the manual and best practices. What are we to do with your neglect!! Jim

jackinok · Jul 1, 2011

you must have been abusing it!!Surely you just put a repair link in it instead of replacing it all!.no reason if it ran this long you cant nurse another ten or fifteen years out of it.I try to run them at least until half the length of the chain are repair links to get my money out of them.LOL, seriously though what do your sprockets look like?if your luck runs like mine when i put a new chain on it never seems to run on those old sprockets like the old one did and i wind up with even more trouble.I think they need to sell this chain pre stretched!

onefarmer · Jul 1, 2011

"Darned repairs cost me $13!"

And $25 for fuel. ;>(

Allan in NE · Jul 1, 2011

Got the goofy thing on there after 3 1/2 hours.

Note to self for future reference: 118 links for that damned chain! No more, no less. :>(

Boy! I'll be glad when they cut this Gawd-fersaken cast off my arm!

Allan

Broke down

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

randallnMo

Member

Dave from MN

Well-known Member

Old Roy

Well-known Member

keh

Well-known Member

IaGary

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Ron A Anderson

Member

bison

Well-known Member

glennster

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

old

Well-known Member

Mike (WA)

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

jackinok

Well-known Member

onefarmer

Well-known Member

Allan in NE

Well-known Member

Similar threads