Sickle Bar Superior Sickle Bar Mower

Joker Ridge Farmer · Sep 16, 2012

I just purchased an older Superior Sickle Bar mower at an auction and i'm trying to figure out how old it is and what model. It has been stored inside and in very good shape. It has a white outside cover on the belt and pully housing with red lettering that says Superior. Very little rust except on the blades and appears to be very well maintained. It has two belts and I am assuming that both the bar and the blades move. Anybody familiar with this brand and or model? I noticed online that the superior brand is red in color so this must be an older version.

frankminor · Sep 24, 2012

You can google DNequipment and call them and they will tell you .You should have 3 belts on it.These mowers mow very well.Just make sure all the nuts and bolts are at the right adjustments.A common problem is the guard holes near the rear tractor wheel get worn and it is difficult to keep the two guards tight .Im currently worrking on mine attempting to make larger holes for larger rivets.I will probable end up parking it for the season and use my new holland haybine.I have not got a drill bit through the metal yet and am determined to cut the rest of the hay needed,Ill work a little more on it early morning .Parts are very high for this also .is best to buy another one for parts if you ever come across a deal if you plan on using much at all.Ive cut about 30 acres so far and about that many to go.

Gordon Gould · Sep 25, 2012

I also have three belts on mine. You are right, both the guard teeth and blade sections move. I have not had trouble with mine.

keegs · Sep 25, 2012

Curious how you guy maintain your mowers. Besides keeping it greased and clean, what other kind of preventative maint do you do? Do you do anything to keep the blade rust free? Do you do a routine inspection? ...regular adjustments? etc..

sweettractors · Sep 25, 2012

If it is older than 1994, Parts are almost unavailable. Newer than 94, We stock most parts new and we have 1 we are parting out. Ken Sweet

Gordon Gould · Sep 25, 2012

keegs said:
Curious how you guy maintain your mowers. Besides keeping it greased and clean, what other kind of preventative maint do you do? Do you do anything to keep the blade rust free? Do you do a routine inspection? ...regular adjustments? etc..

Nothing special.
Beginning of season: Check belts and tension, fix anything as needed, grease, give the bars a dose of oil.
After each use: clean, inspect, grease.
Before putting up for winter: grease, give bars a dose of oil.
I have broken a few knife sections and guard teeth by trying to cut rocks and I lost the sole piece off the far end of the bar this year. So far parts are easy to get from Ken Sweet.

keegs · Sep 25, 2012

Hey Ken, I'm looking at a used MF 30 sickle bar mower that's for sale on CR. There doesn't seem to be too much info available online for this particular model and so I imagine not too many of them were sold. Have you come across any MF 30's? Do you know anything about them...eg. how they compare to the models 31 and/or 41? Are parts as readily available for the MF 30's as they are for the others? I found some information that described the 30 as one of the models in the dyna balance line. Not sure what that is either.

keegs · Sep 25, 2012

Thanks Gordon, This MF mower I'm interested in looks like it hasn't been used in a year or so and so the bar has gotten rusty. I've used something called Marvel Mystery Oil to soak old rusted parts. I think it's a kind of penetrating oil. Maybe going over it with a paint brush and some MMO would clean up the rust off the blade. I imagine the manufacturer specifies the kind of grease to use?

sweettractors · Sep 26, 2012

keegs said:
Hey Ken, I'm looking at a used MF 30 sickle bar mower that's for sale on CR. There doesn't seem to be too much info available online for this particular model and so I imagine not too many of them were sold. Have you come across any MF 30's? Do you know anything about them...eg. how they compare to the models 31 and/or 41? Are parts as readily available for the MF 30's as they are for the others? I found some information that described the 30 as one of the models in the dyna balance line. Not sure what that is either.

I have not seen a 30 MF mower that I am aware of? Can you post a pic? Ken Sweet