Need ledger plates for my MF41 sicklebar mower

[flusher]

Anyone know where I can find these.

My local TSC stores carry the guards complete with the ledgers, but they're expensive and the old guards on my mower are in good shape. Just need the ledgers.

 

[farmerjim]

you can try sickleservice.com they usually have almost any of the parts needed for the old sickle bar mowers. also check out valu built tractor they may have them also.

 

[jimg]

What are you calling ledger plates, hold downs? If so I found that, for my MF725, the comparable NH part fit it w/o modification.

 

[flusher]

What are you calling ledger plates, hold downs? If so I found that, for my MF725, the comparable NH part fit it w/o modification.

Left to right in the photo: sickle section, ledger plate with serrated edges, guard (with ledger plate installed).

That MF41 of mine uses the older style guard design with the ledger plate riveted into a recess in the guard.

The serrated edges on both the sickle sections and the ledgers are really worn down. I tested the mower as is and got a pretty ragged cut in a field of 2-ft tall pasture grass.

I'm toying with the idea of changing to the more modern style guard that has a tighter fit around the sickle section and doesn't use the ledger plate. Don't know yet if this is feasible on the MF41.

 

[jimg]

Ah, I see, thanx for the pics.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Flusher, I had a #41 for a few years. I liked my NH451 just a bit better, so the #41 went away a few years ago. While I had it, I swapped the guards for the new style (w/ledger plates "permenently" installed) It made a heck of a difference. More consistant fit between sections and ledger/gaurd. Tighter clearance meant better cut. The #41 was builkt by Vermeer for MF. Maybe a Vermeer dealer could cross the ledger plates to a Vermeer #?????

 

[flusher]

Flusher, I had a #41 for a few years. I liked my NH451 just a bit better, so the #41 went away a few years ago. While I had it, I swapped the guards for the new style (w/ledger plates "permenently" installed) It made a heck of a difference. More consistant fit between sections and ledger/gaurd. Tighter clearance meant better cut. The #41 was builkt by Vermeer for MF. Maybe a Vermeer dealer could cross the ledger plates to a Vermeer #?????

FWJ: thanks for the info. I'll check Vermeer.

TSC has single guards (malleable type) with riveted ledger plates that probably will work OK.

TSC also has dual guards (hardened type, I think they're for NH sickles). I bought one of these and tried to get it to work. The sickle sections get hung up occasionally on the guard, so I've put this idea on the back burner.

I've changed from riveted sickle sections to using bolts and locknuts (Herschel Adams from TSC).

Found out that the 3 sections nearest the Dynabalance drive still have to be riveted since the locknuts interfere with the spring strap that connects the knife assembly to the Dynabalance drive. No problem. When I was a youngster, I used to watch my grandfather recondition sicklebars (he was the town blacksmith in Auburndale, WI). Learned a lot about sicklebars that way almost 60 years ago and, like riding a bicycle, it all came back to me as I puttered around with this MF41 mower.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I switched to bolted sections about 20 years ago, used 'em one summer and switched BACK to rivited sections...... I can re-section a cutter bar FASTER with rivits. Takes some practice, but trust me.....40+ years of cutting hay with a sickle bar, and I've had practice. Biggest advantage to bolts is doing "in field repairs".

 

[sammyd]

Haven't seen separate ledger plates for years, don't even know if you can get em.
Rivets aren't as bad as some folks think. I've done a few quickie repairs by dropping a guard and putting something for an anvil under the sickle bar to mash down the rivets without removing the bar.
May try converting the haybine to bolts but the mower will stay rivets.