Knife & a Half

[Ghost River Retrievers]

I know that sickle mowers are largely out of favor these days, but my 9' NH451 is my favorite tractor implement. It's a huge time-saver when cutting around my 6 acre lake, which has steep banks in some parts, especially along the dam. I also use it to cut strips in the weeds/hay (that's related to my retriever training hobby).
It has always worked great for the lake, but when cutting the weeds/hay, it would get clogged up pretty badly at the end.
A couple weeks ago I found a few discussions about sickle mowers and clogging, with one article mentioning a "knife and a half." I'd never heard of such a thing (and it's not mentioned in the Operator's Manual or Parts Manual), but did a quick search and found a set at TSC.
I put it on the cutter bar and it was life-changing (that's only a slight exaggeration). To cut for over an hour without having to get out of the seat to clear a clog is HUGE!
I'm looking forward to this evening's sickling.
GRR

 

[davrow]

Thanks, sounds like exactly what I need.
But searching on TSC provides no hits. Pocket knives aplenty. Sickle mower provides no hits, either.
Any chance you can provide a link? Thanks.

 

[Ghost River Retrievers]

Thanks, sounds like exactly what I need.
But searching on TSC provides no hits. Pocket knives aplenty. Sickle mower provides no hits, either.
Any chance you can provide a link? Thanks.

Here you go:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/end-section-pack-of-2

I don't have a way to rivet the third hole, so I left it empty ... which is exactly what the discussions I found the other day said to do. It works fine that way ... at least it's worked fine for the 2 - 3 hours that I've sickled since putting it on.

Good luck!
GRR

 

[davrow]

Thank you, GGR

 

[Jrasband]

I love using my 451 as well, I will never get a rotary mower.

 

[Jrasband]

So you put the knife and a half only at the end of the bar?

 

[Hay Dude]

Do they work with haybines? If they do, wish I’d known about them when I was running my 1499.

 

[Ghost River Retrievers]

So you put the knife and a half only at the end of the bar?

Yep.