Adding hydraulics to a sickle bar mower

[Donnyj]

I have a older NH sickle bar mower and would like to add a hydraulic cylinder so I can raise and lower the blade assembly. Has anyone done this and if so it would really be helpful if they would post some pics. Any advice would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

 

[beenthere]

How about some good pics of the mower, and some explanation of what you want to raise?

A sickle bar usually needs to raise in two places, one at the 'heel' and the other at the tip. If the heel can be raised a few inches, like 6-8", then cutting can be done at a height above the ground level. This may now be controlled by just a lever, and this is what you want to replace with hydraulics.

If you want the end of the blade raised from cutting height to full height, are you interested in the tip reaching down an embankment (like the recent request for a mower to do the pond bank) so how low do you want it to go? And how high? all the way vertical for a travelling position?

Lots of things will need to enter into your design.

A pic or three or four will help. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Donnyj]

I will add some pics tomorrow if I get a chance. I would like to be able to control the tip. I would like to be able to mow at different angles if that is possible with this mower design. Thanks for the responsel.

 

[slowrev]

Is this the old wooden stick type sickle mower ? If so they won't mow too far out of level without breaking the stick.

Ben

 

[Donnyj]

No it is not the wooden type.

 

[beenthere]

Any pics yet?
I noticed in one 'ad' for sickle mower that they advertised a mowing feature of 20° below level, and 30° above level. This was with hydraulic driven sickle, and not the wood pitman arm. I recall that wood pitman working at those angles, but there was a good amount of chatter to the system. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif And sometimes the wood had some crossgrain that would allow it to break. The best pitman arms were made from wood that was first split to get the straight grain.

 

[Donnyj]

When I get home from work before dark I will get some pics. Maybe this weekend. I will try before then.

 

[PoleClimber]

Donny---I have an IH 1300 sickle bar mower I converted to hydraulics. Your more than welcome to look it over first hand.
In case you don't remember me I was with Bernie H. when we checked out your new tractor. Send me a PM if your Interested. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bernie K.

 

[KennyV]

Hey you guys… post those pictures anyway… /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I am also planning to put a cylinder lift… to cover around 130 degrees on my AC 80-R sickle mower. I side trim all my hedge rows /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif and trim a very steep ditch with this, it would be much handier if I could stand that cutting bar vertical without manually lifting and bolting it to the transport rod for the side trimming. KennyV.

 

[PoleClimber]

Sorry Kennyv, I'll post what i have. If there's something you don't see let me know. Here's pic.1