| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
steve(ill) 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Sickle bar design / operation help
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 1:16pm |
I have a 6 ft side mount sickle ( wood bar / crank operated) that i brought back from the dead about 20 years ago. I mow grass/ weeds/ crown vetch along the side of the road about 3 miles long.. 2-3 times per year. Normally the stuff is 2 ft tall.. Also do a 3 acre patch once per year when it is 3-4 ft tall.
I have always had a problem with a "BALL" of trash forming up on the tip of the bar while cutting.. I might go 3-400 ft no problem, then all of a sudden it starts to ball up and gets bigger and bigger.. Within 100 ft i have to pull to the side, back up and DUMP the pile, then continue on my way. I have modified the end of the bar with 1/8 inch plate a couple different ways to try to get around this. The last cutter goes INSIDE the plate so i dont have any "dead" areas. I have the knives adjusted so i have proper timing / stroke. I do have the outer edge about 2 inches lower then the heal by the tractor end, so it will lay over into the ditches more..
This has been going on for 20 years.. Works OK.... i just can eliminate the BALL forming at the tip.. Sometimes it can be half the size of a 55 gallon drum. Its hard to believe it dont FALL OFF on its own...
Any ideas of what to try ? Swath board is not a good option for locations i work. RAis bar outer end ? More point on tip ? ... ?? ........... most "parts" are new... a couple times.
Edited by steve(ill) - 19 Sep 2021 at 1:18pm
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
Lars(wi)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 6622
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 2:11pm |
|
When the sickle is at the furthest travel of the stroke, going towards the far end, is there a ‘half sickle blade’ that protrudes out?
Why is that plate covering up that last section?
|
|
I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
|
|
Kiwi
Silver Level
Joined: 23 Jan 2018
Location: New zealand
Points: 371
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 3:04pm |
|
just take the cover off the end and put a piece of rod on the cast piece at a 45 to push the crop down it will let the bar ride over the crop and not block up
|
|
Tractors Allis EB,two C,diesel G
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 3:12pm |
yes, i added the "plate" 20 years ago.. Sounded like a good idea because i had some BALLING at the end.. Yes there is another sickle guard under the plate..
I have been wondering if the "PLATE" being about 4 inches wide is letting extra grass hit it and get PULLED into the last open knife.. TO MUCH GRASS ?
OK, Kiwi... i was thinking to slope the plate OUTWARD to push the grass out instead of pull it in... but you might have a better idea.. Remove plate, let the last knife and sickle guard do some cutting... but at the OUTSIDE edge i need some type of guard for the LAST blade to run up against...( maybe the shoe does that (?) ... I will remove the plate and look..
Edited by steve(ill) - 19 Sep 2021 at 3:44pm
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 3:15pm |
|
Does that outer FOOT look odd ? I think the BACK end broke off / bent when i got it .. Hurt anything ?
Edited by steve(ill) - 19 Sep 2021 at 3:46pm
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 3:39pm |
I found this picture on the internet that is missing (?) the last knife ? Looking at my picture above, behind the plate, i dont see the last knife... Maybe thats why it originally balled up and i put the plate on..(??). been too long to remember.. Will have to remove and inspect..
Kiwi... Where does that ROD go ?
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
DiyDave
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gambrills, MD
Points: 50495
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 4:30pm |
In addition to what others have said, try a double cut end section. Link is for reference, and picture, Tsc and others have these in stock, most of the time...
|
|
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
|
|
Lars(wi)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 6622
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 4:52pm |
|
With that missing sickle section, you will have all sorts of problems.
Edited by Lars(wi) - 19 Sep 2021 at 4:54pm
|
|
I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 5:11pm |
|
I will not get to the job for 1-2 days... but i think your right Lars ... i should have looked closer the last few years... Modification was 20 years ago..
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
klinemar
Orange Level
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Points: 7933
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 7:25pm |
|
Yes the last section must cut. Even the haybine sickle protruded past the end guard and if my memory is correct ours had a 2 or 3 bladed knife.
Edited by klinemar - 19 Sep 2021 at 7:26pm
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 Sep 2021 at 5:22pm |
Well, i took the home made steel plate off today. It is built into the SKID PLATE that bolts to the bottom. All that was worn out and i made new 20 years ago. I guess the last cutting blade was missing 20 years ago, thats why i extended the top plate...
Skip forward 15 years and i put all new cutter blades and replaced several missing guards... but put the home made guard / boot back on !!... Now 5 years later i dont remember all the details.
Took the plate off today and the cutter blade DOES go out into the foot area at full stroke.. Yesterdays picture was with the arm fully Retracted.. Today Extended...Cut the plate top off and reinstalled the bottom as the "wear plate" on the foot.
Have not tested yet, should be much better.. Biggest problem is i modified 20 years ago and never questioned WHY when i rebuilt 5 years ago..... Still thinking about Kiwis "rod" at the 45 degree angle...
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
Tracy Martin TN
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gallatin,TN
Points: 10551
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 Sep 2021 at 7:03pm |
|
A New Holland sickle bar head with the top mounted ledger plate and a double tip sickle plate for blade would cure 95 % of your problem. HTH Tracy
|
|
No greater gift than healthy grandkids!
|
|
klinemar
Orange Level
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Points: 7933
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 Sep 2021 at 9:52pm |
|
Steve,is that red grease on board under the cutterbar or did you cut yourself?
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 20 Sep 2021 at 9:56pm |
LOL.... thats a 1/2 inch sheet of insulation board that i use in the driveway to keep my KNEES out of the rocks... Also use it to paint parts.. You can see a circle where the quart can sat at one time... Probably painting the grand kids wagon !! No blood today... I have paid a LOT of ATTENTION in the last 20 years, every time i lower or raise that bar.. Sure dont want MY fingers in the wrong place !! 
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
klinemar
Orange Level
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Michigan
Points: 7933
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Sep 2021 at 6:32am |
|
Yep! I understand about knees! Glad it's paint.
|
|
allisbred
Orange Level Access
Joined: 28 Mar 2015
Location: Hanover Pa
Points: 1011
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Sep 2021 at 8:39am |
|
I would change the second to last section, looks like its a skipper.
|
|
bikley
Orange Level
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Maryland
Points: 5402
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 21 Sep 2021 at 9:54am |
here I thought you was talking motor sickle bar
|
|
Ray54
Orange Level Access
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Location: Paso Robles, Ca
Points: 4340
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 Sep 2021 at 10:19am |
|
The last guard has the top broke off. You need all the parts to make a sickle mower cut. They also need to have all the spacings about right. To big of a gap and it balls things up just like your having. The foot at the end may have excusive gap above the section as well.
|
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 77648
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 22 Sep 2021 at 4:26pm |
|
GEE Ray, i had not even noticed the last guard... 90% of them were new ( green) about 5 years ago. I took the last two off today and sharpened the ledger plates with a hand grinder.. Welded a top plate on the last guard... Change out the second to last sickle blade as allisbred suggested........ I think im ready to go !
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
Ray54
Orange Level Access
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Location: Paso Robles, Ca
Points: 4340
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 11:06am |
 Hopefully it cuts like a hot knife though butter.
|
|
