New Idea 30a Sickle Mower on my CA
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=162041
Printed Date: 19 Jul 2025 at 10:03am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New Idea 30a Sickle Mower on my CA
Posted By: SGTJ
Subject: New Idea 30a Sickle Mower on my CA
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 9:48am
|
So its not necessarily an AC question -- but I'm using my new (to me) sickle mower on my CA and the bar lifts on its own during operation. I'm trying to cut about 5 acres of hay and about 60% of the time the bar stays low and cuts clean. But that 40% of the time the end of the bar closest to the machine tends to lift up on its own. I can use the hand clutch to stop and it'll lower back down - but stopping and starting every 4ft is getting frustrating. I have an owners manual coming in the mail, and I think it might have something to do with the slope of the field I'm cutting -- though its a relatively flat field. ------------- WD , CA |
Replies:
Posted By: PaulB
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 10:26am
|
You probably have the setting on your hydraulic pump wrong for what you are doing. It should be set for “ lift and hold”, ------------- If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere. Real pullers don't have speed limits. If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY |
Posted By: SGTJ
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 11:42am
|
its a tow behind mower -- I'm not using my hydraulics ------------- WD , CA |
Posted By: jiminnd
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 11:46am
|
Did some of them have a mechanical lift on the bar? Sounds like a mower issue, not a tractor one if you aren't using the hyd. ------------- 1945 C, 1949 WF and WD, 1981 185, 1982 8030, unknown D14(nonrunner) |
Posted By: old farmer
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 2:21pm
| Is the lift rope to short? Had that problem years back. |
Posted By: EPALLIS
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 8:27pm
| That was my issue, a too short rope. Fixed that and all was fine after that. |
Posted By: Mikez
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 10:38pm
| Does that mower have a wooden pitman stick |
Posted By: SGTJ
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2019 at 9:57am
|
Plenty of slack in the rope yes it has a wooden pitman arm I think that the end of the bar farthest from the tractor is maybe getting clogged / hung up on the ground ? Maybe that pressure is forcing the bar upwards ... no idea hopefully my manual arrives today ------------- WD , CA |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2019 at 3:45pm
|
I just had some flash backs to mowing with a sickle bar mowers. When I was about 8 I got to ride the old McCormick 5 foot sickle bar mower. It had been converted from horse drawn to a tractor pull unit. Grandpa and I mowed 60 acres each year for 10 years while it was in the soil bank. (they paid you to not grow crops. I was barely big enough to raise the bar of the mower with a lever and standing on the foot pedal! Then later on Dads farm there was the New Idea sickle bar (7 foot) that worked pretty well except for down clover. Then we had to only mow in one direction. And just today I helped friend Gary and Rick put new sections in a 9 foot bar for a New Holland Haybine. Times have changes but the sickle bar is still here. Maybe have someone walk behind and watch what is going on as you mow? If there is a trip mechanism to raise the bar it may have issues? Pictures might help too? Regards, Chris
------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2019 at 5:52pm
| Does it have a spring that assists the lift- maybe too tight? |
Posted By: critter
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2019 at 5:16pm
| You probably need new sickle sections, ledger plates and properly adjusted hold down clips. Or you are driving way to fast or the points of the guards are pointed down instead of flat or slightly up. |
Posted By: Bill Long
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2019 at 9:36pm
|
There was a special end sickle section listed as an after market attachment. This section had two cutter blades on it to be used in the very end of the sickle bar where it went through the end guard. It was made for sickle bar mowers that clogged on the end. I never sold one but remember seeing them in some literature. Good Luck! Bill Long
|
Posted By: yzfarmgirl28
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2019 at 8:53am
| Sounds like you may have a broken or weak spring on the lift mechanism. Remove top cover and take a look . |
Posted By: SGTJ
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2019 at 10:10am
Well it looks like a I have another project for this weekend ...  ------------- WD , CA |
yzfarmgirl28 wrote:Posted By: JaredC(WI)
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2019 at 8:18pm
| Let us know what you find....and let's see some pics of the hay making with your equipment :) Neat stuff! |
Posted By: Mikez
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2019 at 6:45am
| We came across some new idea pitman sticks, would you happen to know part number |