Sickle Bar remove knife from new holland 450 sickle bar cutter

[Pusto]

I need to remove the knife in my new holland 450 sickle bar mower, but after unbolting the knife head bolt, I can only pull it out about six or eight inches. A sagging bar could make it hard to move, but I was unable to pull it out, short of using a come-along. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[sweettractors]

Hook a 16-20 ft log chain to the head of the bar...slack it....give it a yank. If that don't work, hook something to the chain and keep steady pressure on the bar while pecking on the rock guards. Worst case scenario is loosen some of the rock guards and toe clamps. Ken Sweet

 

[jdtractor]

hey i had a new holland 450 rear mower not to bad of mower , i had to rebuild most of it , it wasnt taken care of very well by previous owner. the sickle stuck on mine also and i used to get pissed, make sure the brackets that attach sickle to the pitman are spread apart you mite have to loosen all the bolts concerning the pitman etc. next do like the other post said a chain or come along hooked to tractor etc and pull ,keep tension on the sickle tight and tap at knife sections rivets or bolts depending on what you have ,keep tapping and pushing ,along with tension and you should be able to get the sickle out.it will move easier as you go, once out clean all dirt etc. out of bar around the guards and hold down clips etc.... then oil the bar before installing sickle back into bar this always helps. i always oiled all my sickles , haybinds and 3pth mowers, even in winter it keeps them ready to go .i hope this helps good luck

 

[sweettractors]

The New Holland 450 and 451 do not have a pitman. They drive from a balanced head. Ken Sweet

 

[Pusto]

Thanks very much. After the knife didn't just ease on out of there, I started suspecting that there was more involved. As usual. The reason I need to take the knife out is because one of the rivets is loose on a knife section, and is wobbling around. I used it as it is, and still works, but I need to fix it.

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks very much. After the knife didn't just ease on out of there, I started suspecting that there was more involved. As usual. The reason I need to take the knife out is because one of the rivets is loose on a knife section, and is wobbling around. I used it as it is, and still works, but I need to fix it.

There is no reason to remove a sickle knife to replace a section or multiple rivets.

Tools needed to repair sections in the machine:

1. Safety glasses.
2. Cut off chisel 1/2 inch wide.
3. Punch little smaller than the rivet diameter.
4. 2 Female rivet punches.
6. Ball peen hammer.
7 Piece of 2 x4 about 12 inches long
8. Maybe a 6 inch long piece of 3/8 inch pipe (in case the Rivet is hard to punch out the bottom)

Ken Sweet

 

[Pusto]

Regarding Ken Sweet's advice. Thanks! I will get the tools together that you recommend and then try what you advised.I am not quite sure of the procedure to use to actually remove the old rivets. Maybe you could offer me some more advice. Thanks,Pusto

 

[jdtractor]

to sweettractors around here where im from we call them pitman arms that drive the sickle. i m awareof what they are called by the manufacture. i was just trying to explain to this poster an easy term ,and where to begin. as far as removeing the sickle you can repair the sections in the mower it self if you have the proper toolsetc and expereince to do it. this is far from my first rodeo when it comes to farming , ive been doing it long enough to know .thank you

 

[sweettractors]

Here is a Pic of Ford 501 pitman style mower with the Wood pitman showing in the back, down low. $15-$20 if you break one. I just bought a 30 yr old Massey #32 with the original Massey pitman still in it. Ken Sweet

 

[sweettractors]

Regarding Ken Sweet's advice. Thanks! I will get the tools together that you recommend and then try what you advised.I am not quite sure of the procedure to use to actually remove the old rivets. Maybe you could offer me some more advice. Thanks,Pusto

Put your safety glasses on, knock off the top part of the rivet head with the chisel and hammer then punch it through the bar. If it is difficult to punch through, raise the cutter bar a little and put the wood block under that general area and then put your 3/8 short pipe under the bar and rivet and let the bar down and so it rests on the 2x4 and the other end under the rivet you are trying to punch out. Go back to the top with your rivet punch and knock it out. Ken Sweet