Sickle Bar sickle mower and some history

[jimmysisson]

I'm in need of some advice.
35 years ago I got my first tractor, a Farmall A. No lift, no hydraulics. Found a horse-drawn iron-wheeled, ground-driven sickle mower, IH I think. Used it by myself, even though it had a seat, and ran back and lifted the lever when needed. Total PITA, decided I needed to upgrade.
Next found another IH mower (I think) that bolted to the back of the A. A big old lever lifted the thing (no wonder my back hurts still) and the pitman arm was never too rugged. But it was a big improvement. Had some trouble mowing over already-mown areas, to finish up at a triangle, for instance. The cut grass would block the guards and keep the uncut grass from reaching the sections. I figured it was me, or yet another PITA mower.
Today I rescued a practically new sickle mower (Kuhn 6') from a neighbor's barn, cleaned it up and greased it, etc. It is a pretty basic unit, not much adjustment, pitman drive, etc. Sharp sections, not loose anywhere.
Before I went over to mow the same neighbor's field (first time this year, she's a new widow and her son didn't get to it) I tried it out in my back field - flat, no rocks, etc.
Darn if I didn't have the same problems with cut grass blocking the cutter bar and leaving uncut strips of grass. Mine was mowed rotary in late July, grass and clover about 12" high. I imagine it will work better in 3-4' weeds, but is this just the way these danged things operate?
How do you mow a field so that you're never mowing over part of what you already cut? With a brush hog it makes no difference. I already cut around her 10 acre field with 3 passes of my brush hog so I'd have a place to drive to start with.
Maybe that's why people use haybines and disc and drum mowers - no tangles?
Thanks, Jim

 

[Jerseyguy]

I believe the problem you are having is due to the previously cut hay or grass that is still laying on the ground. Farmers that used this type of mower years ago always raked and baled the hay leaving the field clean. I have used sickle-bar mowers and first cutting is never a problem, but cutting again or going over ground where a rotary has already cut with lots of old cutting still laying around is causing the trouble.

 

[KYErik]

As jerseyguy said, it is always a pain to go through a field that has cut grass laying around when using a sickle mower.

Is there a place for a hydraulic cylinder on that Kuhn mower to lift it? You will need to raise it when you turn the corners so it doesn't clog up.

I have an old Case SC and use a JD#8 sickle mower that bolts to the drawbar of my tractor and uses a remote cylinder to lift it. My tractor, like yours, did not come with hydraulics, so I had to add a hydraulic pump and valve so that I could raise and lower the sickle mower when turning corners etc. I think you will have to find a way to raise and lower it. My system is simply an old chevy power steering pump running off of the fan belt and a wood splitter "open center" hydraulic valve with a couple of quick couplers connected to it.

Others have talked about using a 12 volt hydraulic pump/resevior unit- this would be the simplest solution (assuming your tractor isn't one of the old 6 volt types)

 

[turnkey4099]

With a power lift the technique is to raise it as you come out of the swath and drop it just as you enter for the cut. Drop too soon is likely to plug it. Takes good timing. I don't know how you would do it with one that doesn't have easy lift capability. I Mowed with horse drawn ones and a Farmall M (or H, not sure now) with the Farmall lift.

Mowing behind a team of horses on a lazy summer day was enjoyable time for a kid.

Harry K

 

[jimmysisson]

This is a 3-point mounted mower. It's a pitman arm job, so the cutter bar more or less stays level, but you can raise and lower with the 3-point. I'm really trying to find the right speed to run the cutters at. 540 is pretty clattery so I've been running it probably at more like 475. Maybe that's the problem, plus trying to trim up the triangles in my neighbor's field.
Someone said to point the guards down slightly (with the top link on the 3ph) and I'll try that too. The piece at the far end (name?) that keeps the cut grass from laying off the end of the cutter bar might dig in then, but it might be out of adjustment. Again, this is a pretty basic unit compared to the JD, Ford, Massey, NH mowers I've seen, and maybe it just doesn't work that well in skilled hands even. I'll keep trying.
Jim