Sickle Bar Barn Find - Sickle Bar Mower

[dougtrr2]

Could you just shorten the PTO shaft?

Take Care,
Doug in SW IA

 

[kevin37b]

Or lengthen the tongue .

 

[dieselscout80]

I have been wanting a sickle bar mower for a few years and found one - a NH 455. Got it for $300. It has not been used for at least 20 years and the sickle is rusted bad and stuck maybe due to corrosion. It also has a busted lift spring and cable and needs a little paint. Otherwise everything looks good. Even the belt looks to be in fine shape.

I am excited to tear apart the bar and make it run. I grew up with sickle bars and always loved how they cut! Always had Deere and IH though. This is my first time with an NH!

Looking at that rear PTO output shaft has me wondering were these setup to allow two mower to be pulled in tandem?

 

[brin]

Really Jealous..! Nice find..:thumbsup: I have a pond too...I will keep looking...

 

[aczlan]

Looking at that rear PTO output shaft has me wondering were these setup to allow two mower to be pulled in tandem?

It was intended so that when cutting hay, you pull a conditioner behind the cutter, so you cut one pass while conditioning the previous one.

Aaron Z

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Nice find. Is your drawbar original? Hope you figure that one out. Post pics of it when you get it going.

 

[Creamer]

Shortening the PTO shaft will get a little involved although the stretch is not in the front section but the long section aft of the front support.

Extending the tongue has its promises except that keeps the hinge point of the tongue just aft of the PTO shaft and not in the middle of the run which I believe will bend the front knuckle more on turns. I also thought of putting an "extension link" in the connection as both the tractor and the mower have clevis type connections, i.e. top and bottom not just one piece. This would work fine going forward and I could learn to turn with it but it would be real difficult to back up and I do have some tight places I want to get into.

It sure seems like it is an original drawbar. I will try to get a photo and post.

 

[Lawnman TX]

I have both a 455 and 456, both are good mowers. You can get allot of parts from Rouse Rakes, they still make the 456 cutter head new and some parts fit the 455. Just a word of advice there are no grease zerks to the main shaft through the cutter head, you need to tear it apart and pack with grease, and add a zerk, same with the sleeve just in front of the pully on the pto shaft, take off the u joint and slide it out the back and re-pack those bearings, and add a grease zerk there as well. Just guess how I know. Both of mine are for sale now that I got a Disc mower.

Jason

 

[Creamer]

Actually you can still buy a new 456 from New Holland - how's that for longevity? They have been making the same design since at least 1970.

Appreciate the advice Lawnman. As I go through the mower I will make sure I add those two zerks and pack those bearings. I appreciate people who share their hard earned lessons.

BTW - Can you tell me what the differences between the two models are?

 

[jinman]

Creamer, I think you just bought yourself $300 worth fun and entertainment. The fact that you'll soon have it functional is just money in the bank.:thumbsup: