Sickle Bar Barn Find - Sickle Bar Mower

[Creamer]

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!

 

[Don87]

Good find.
Are you planning a complete restore, or just getting it field worthy. Give us updates on your progress

 

[MIKE R]

Looks good. Them mowers are fairly easy to work on.

 

[Creamer]

Just a field worthy. I have a pond that I wanted a bar to flop over the bank edge and keep it trimmed, cutting small brush, rose, etc. on the edge of tree lines and a little grass area cutting. I probably did not need it but it sure makes it easier to trim around the pond than a string trimmer. As I get older I think of those things!

 

[Don87]

Just a field worthy. I have a pond that I wanted a bar to flop over the bank edge and keep it trimmed, cutting small brush, rose, etc. on the edge of tree lines and a little grass area cutting. I probably did not need it but it sure makes it easier to trim around the pond than a string trimmer. As I get older I think of those things!

You and me both. I dread getting out the string trimmer more and more every year.

 

[whistlepig]

It sure looks like it is in great condition. I love to watch the sickle bar mowers cut also. Just something that I always thought was fun to watch.

 

[flusher]

Nice mower. Have fun on the rebuild. So far I've rebuilt two 7-ft sickle bars. My Allis Chalmers is a tow-behind like yours.

 

[Creamer]

I tried hooking it up to my Ford 1710 this evening and it is obvious the drawbar is too short. I never pull anything but a trailer with the 1710 I just use the 3 pt. What is the best way to extend the drawbar so I get the 14-20" from the end of the PTO shaft? I have toyed with a drawbar in my 3 pt whic should work as long as somebody does not raise the 3 pt.

 

[Dozernut]

Check your drawbar, there should be a large pin that holds it in place. If it is like my drawbars on my tractors you can shorten or lengthen it by removing the pin and slide the bar out. There should be at least three holes in the bar for adjustment. Maybe yours is different but it would not hurt to look.

 

[Creamer]

Dozernut - I did look at it and it is bolted solid to the rear end housing - four bolts that mount it - no adjustment. I found this strange as I grew up with IH M's JD 4020 and the like and they all had exactly like you say - drawbars that had a single pin and they could swing side to side if they were let loose but this one instead of being a single drawbar is a clevis type where the pin is about two inches behind the tip of the PTO shaft and bolted solid.

 

[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: