Sickle Bar More sickle bar mower questions

[Builder]

Wow that's exactly what I want! Excellent job!

How difficult to modify for the vertical cut and add the cylinder?

[oliver28472]

And how far below grade will it cut? Looks like a good one.

[Builder]

I found an A/C and a J/D semi mount sickle mower for cheap, but no hydraulics.

Allis Chalmers 7' semi mount sickle Mowers for sale at Wengers of Myerstown

John deere 7' No 38 semi mt sickle Mowers for sale at Wengers of Myerstown

[BlacknTan]

I had a walk behind sickle bar mower for awhile... Before it shook itself to an untimely death, and almost took me with it!
Do these 3 PH sickle bars have counter rotating shafts, or some way to cancel the vibration? They're great for rocky areas, as the glide right over, but I'd never deal with another unless some system was employed to control the vibration.

[rbargeron]

I had a walk behind sickle bar mower for awhile... Before it shook itself to an untimely death, and almost took me with it!
Do these 3 PH sickle bars have counter rotating shafts, or some way to cancel the vibration? They're great for rocky areas, as the glide right over, but I'd never deal with another unless some system was employed to control the vibration.

The intensity of the vibration depends on the design of the knife drive. Rotating imbalance wobble heads and short Pitman-arm drives tend to shake pretty hard. Other drives like the New Holland 451/456 Pitmanless parallel drive shake less (also shown on the Rowse website. It helps when the cutter is attached to the large mass of a tractor - the shaking is not as noticeable from the seat.

[wrangler6831]

Builder, I may be wrong but it looks like the JD has a pitman arm and it may not work in the vertical or below grade position. Just be sure to check before you buy. The AC looks like it work from a gearbox so it should be OK for your needs.

[KennyV]

Wow that's exactly what I want! Excellent job!

How difficult to modify for the vertical cut and add the cylinder?

The modification was VERY easy. The cylinder I used is a cross 2 inch by 18 inch stroke. I replaced the original lower attachment bracket. It was a straight flat piece pf steel. I used a curved longer piece. That gives me more choices of attachment points. (although I have not changed from my original setting). With this setting I have a 140 degree arc. I could easily change that to 180 degrees but I can not see the need to ever cut anything with the 7 foot bar hanging straight down (side trimming a cliff).
"Oliver: And how far below grade will it cut?"
with this setting I can go 50 degrees below grade, (down to 140 degrees). That is as deep as any of my ditches so I have no need to change from my first setting. I have about a 30 degree float that I can select that allows the bar to follow the most irregular side bank in a ditch without binding or plowing.
The vibration is non-existent the AC twin wheel counter balance cancels it.
If you are looking for a 3pt sickle there are a few others that will allow vertical cutting but none will be smother operating than an AC.
Wrangler is right, that JD is a pitman and will not work, JD has some belt drive models that will.
rbargeron right about the drive... another maker IH that has a balance drive is smooth. I have a 9foot model 100 trailer type.
I think a 9 foot bar is too long to use at extreme angles, but I know some that use them ...

[Builder]

Builder, I may be wrong but it looks like the JD has a pitman arm and it may not work in the vertical or below grade position. Just be sure to check before you buy. The AC looks like it work from a gearbox so it should be OK for your needs.

Thanks for the tips. I need to get KennyV to build me an "AC-80 special".

[Builder]

Well, I got more info on the gribaldi-it will cut in the vert. position it'll also cut down to 40* below horizontal. However, it will cost $3,000 shipped to my door.

I think I am going to go with a sickle mower to cut my field, now I have to decide whether to modify an old heavy steel American one or buy a new Italian one.

The American brands look heavier and might save me some $$, but will be a little more hassle.

This looks like the best candidate for cutting vertical and being made of "heavy iron"
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings...D92E043B962E7B

[medicshawn]

I have a italian made one that that came as a package deal with my tractor. I broke a couple mower sections (the teeth) and had a terrible time replacing them. Ended up with a New Holland version that was close. So that may be something else to sway your decision. Mine has hydraulics and will cut from vertical to 45degrees down.