Sickle Bar Farmall H with side mount sickle bar mower

[T-Bow]

Hello All,

I am hoping that someone with sickle bar mower experience can help me understand what is going wrong.

Background information: The tractor is a 1941 Farmall H that my great grandfather purchased new. The tractor was restored about 5 years ago and looks and runs good. The side sickle bar mower was restored at that time also (not sure of the model number on the mower but I did find this number on it 464077-R1) and seems to run like it should until we try to mow with it. When mowing we open the throttle and run in 1st gear. The problem is that when we mow the fields, the grass gets all jammed up in the mower and doesn't cut good. Unfortunately anyone in my family that might have been able to help is no longer with us.

Questions: What do you think is going wrong? Any suggestions as to what to try. We think but do not know for sure that the blades are sharp. We also think that we are running at 540 PTO speed. Any thoughts as to what model number the mower is or where id of the mower might be located?

One other thing that I should say is that I am not very experienced with this tractor and this style mower so the problem may be very obvious to someone with experience. All I can say is that I can not wait to learn. Thanks for your help.

T-BOW

 

[sweettractors]

The first thing to check is the amount of wear on the rock guard ledger plates. If the serrations are gone, you can replace the ledger plates or the rock guards. The second thing to check is the hold down clamps. These come up from the back usually held on by 2 bolts. They should press the sickle blade down aganist the rock guard ledger plates. To adjust remove or add shims or use a hammer to peck down. I noticed in the picture that the sickle bar looks bowed. It may be a optical illusion, however, if the bar is bowed, it will need to be straightened. Ken Sweet

 

[DonnieP]

Here's a copy of manual for mower for our farmall cub, similiar but not the exact same. I would say the knife is probably dull. We use to sharpen at the first of the season and several times during the cutting season. We use a stone for sharpening the knife. This is a link to a picture of the type of stone we used. It is much easier to sharpen if the knife is removed from the mower.

Utility File Sharpening Stone # 87750 by Norton / Saint-Gobain

 

[dirt devil]

I know this may sound funny but your knives might be out of time. Basically when the knives are at the end of the stroke they should be lined up with the guards. If you read the cub mower's manual it should give you some good ideas of what to look for and what I mean about timing the knives.

 

[Big Bri]

i sorry i don't know anything about sickle mowers, but i must say that is a great looking tractor.

 

[flusher]

Hello All,

I am hoping that someone with sickle bar mower experience can help me understand what is going wrong.

Background information: The tractor is a 1941 Farmall H that my great grandfather purchased new. The tractor was restored about 5 years ago and looks and runs good. The side sickle bar mower was restored at that time also (not sure of the model number on the mower but I did find this number on it 464077-R1) and seems to run like it should until we try to mow with it. When mowing we open the throttle and run in 1st gear. The problem is that when we mow the fields, the grass gets all jammed up in the mower and doesn't cut good. Unfortunately anyone in my family that might have been able to help is no longer with us.

Questions: What do you think is going wrong? Any suggestions as to what to try. We think but do not know for sure that the blades are sharp. We also think that we are running at 540 PTO speed. Any thoughts as to what model number the mower is or where id of the mower might be located?

One other thing that I should say is that I am not very experienced with this tractor and this style mower so the problem may be very obvious to someone with experience. All I can say is that I can not wait to learn. Thanks for your help.

T-BOW

Looks like someone sprayed yellow paint all over that sicklebar. Not a good idea.
I'd take a squirt can with light weight motor oil and spray it all over the sickle sections (the triangular parts) and the guards (the pointy things). Then just run the mower for 15-20 minutes with the tractor stationary. After that try to cut with the mower. If it still jams, then you will have to check the alignment of the sickle sections and the guards (assuming the cutting edges aren't worn down too much).

 

[Egon]

Beautiful looking tractor.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Many years ago I many hours guiding a wide front model back and forth in the field.

The mower items seem to have all been covered. If this is to be used for serious mowing I'd suggest replacing all the ledger plates and the bar knives. Take plenty of tine to get everything shimmed up proper. :thumbsup:

We used to sharpen the knives daily when mowing hay.

 

[T-Bow]

Hello All,

Thank you so much for all the great information as to what may be the cause of my mowing problem. DonnieP, I was not able to open the file so I sent you a PM with my email address. I would really appreciate it if you could email it to me. I'm sure that once I review the manual and then look over the sickle bar mower I will have more questions. This was a great start to the learning process.

T-BOW

 

[Egon]

Just a note to watch the fingers when working on the bar. And also when lifting and lowering it!:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Egon
Glad you mentioned that.
Learned at an early age to not raise the bar to road travel position and have the fingers in the wrong place. My cousin almost lost his finger doing it wrong. The sickle can drop when the bar is raised, cutting whatever is in its path.

Is the bar flat when lowered? Also looks to have a bend to it when raised, but that may be built in bend so the bar "hangs" out flat when close to horizontal.

Like the H restoration. Cut my eye teeth on one just like it, at the age of 11. Elder farmer across the road had me drive it for him on his oat binder and the hay loader. Also to pull the rope pulling hay up into the barn hay-mow.

Also, the attached zip file would not open....

 

[T-Bow]

Egon, good point about watching the fingers. There are definitely a lot of areas where not to put your fingers on a sickle bar mower. Beenthere I will have to take a look at the bar better the next time I go up to the farm. I usually go up there on the weekends. Actually I never even noticed the bow until it was mentioned but then I didn't know to look for it. Also a good point that when in the horizontal position the bow may flatten - I hope.

T-BOW

 

[T-Bow]

DonnieP,

Thank you for emailing me the manual. It will make for good reading and help me understand the parts of the mower.

T-BOW

 

[Budman1]

I have a 1944 Farmall H and I would love to put a mid mount sickle mower on it like the one you have here. Does anyone know the model number and where to get one? Did IH make one specifically for the H? Thanks in advance.

 

[fredr123]

Hi all, I have recently purchase a nice farmall super a with a side mount mower with the same serial number as was in the question. 464077-r1. I would like to purchase the operators and or servicce manual. Can anyone be of assistance? I live in central New York where it has rained for the last week so no corn planting. Time to get the a's oil changed.:thumbsup:

 

[Chip Soles]

Hello,
Check all of the sections(knives), to be sure that they are tight on the bar.
If the hay/grass, is just getting tangled, by falling on the cutter bar, try going to 3rd. gear to cause the hay to fall backwards, over the cutter bar.
Bob

 

[Chip Soles]

Hello,
Check all of the sections(knives), to be sure that they are tight on the bar.
If the hay/grass, is just getting tangled, by falling on the cutter bar, try going to 3rd. gear to cause the hay to fall backwards, over the cutter bar.
Bob

 

[BoFuller]

I don't know anything about the mower, but that is about the most beautiful tractor I've seen in years! I grew up on an H.

 

[Grandad4]

Just a note to watch the fingers when working on the bar. And also when lifting and lowering it!:thumbsup:

+1 re. safe operation of sickle mowers. If it's clogging up frequently, there will be a temptation to clear it while it's still running to save time. Don't do it!