Hay cutter

[Lone Wolf]

New at this but was wondering does the cutter skid plate lay on the ground or is there some clearance? I know the cutter knives are positioned to a position so the grass is not cut to close to the ground. I tried it yesterday and the skid plate occasionally would bunch up with grass that I had to raise the cutter to dump the grass and then I would contiune cutting. Thanks

 

[beenthere]

Can you fill us in on a bit more detail? Kind of "out of the blue"...

Should this be in response to another thread?

 

[flusher]

New at this but was wondering does the cutter skid plate lay on the ground or is there some clearance? I know the cutter knives are positioned to a position so the grass is not cut to close to the ground. I tried it yesterday and the skid plate occasionally would bunch up with grass that I had to raise the cutter to dump the grass and then I would contiune cutting. Thanks

I assume you're talking about a sicklebar mower.
I have metal parts installed on my old 7-ft MF31 sicklebar to handle "end effects" like the one you described.



I've rebuilt that MF31 three times this year and it still needs more work to get it working the way it should. Such are cheap, old sicklebars--lotsa headaches.

 

[beenthere]

flusher
I wondered if the sicklebar mower was the cutter in the OP's ??

In your second pic, what is the bent flat bar that curves toward the sickle bar at the tip? Seems that would fold grass (hay or straw) over leaving it long after the cutter bar passes by.

Or does it help move straw out of the way when cutting stubble after the combine leaves the field? Just curious.

 

[flusher]

flusher
I wondered if the sicklebar mower was the cutter in the OP's ??

In your second pic, what is the bent flat bar that curves toward the sickle bar at the tip? Seems that would fold grass (hay or straw) over leaving it long after the cutter bar passes by.

Or does it help move straw out of the way when cutting stubble after the combine leaves the field? Just curious.

These old sicklebars sometimes have worn parts on the outboard end that are difficult to get back into alignment. The result is clogging at that end of the mower. So I just added that piece of metal to keep the hay away from that part of the mower. It seems to work OK--that clogging problem went away.

 

[AKfish]

Flusher,
Is that a 7' or 9' cutter bar? Looks like you've got it in pretty good shape, actually! New guards and the sickle sections look like you could shave with 'em!

How many bales do you get with your field?

Always like a few pics, thanks.

AKfish

 

[Lone Wolf]

I have a New Holland 462 cutter that lowers along the side of the tractor to cut hay. Basicly I am not sure if the cutter is suppose to be flat on the ground/riding the ground or off slightly. The skid plate closes to the unit/what I consider the #1 cutter knife blades will drag some grass as I cut. Therefore it gets so bulky between the tire and unit that I have to lift the cutter so the bulky grass will fall off and I can contiune to cut. Also noticed lastnight after we baled that there were alot of slim grass stripes that was not cut. Maybe to close to fresh grass as I was cutting or need new cutting blades. Thanks

 

[Dill]

So you have a disc mower? If you leaving strips, either you not setting over the proper distance or you have a bent knife or two. Also if you dragging clumps of grass, it usually comes from when you turn in heavy grass. Try lifting the 3pth before you turn at the headlands. Also reduce speed and raise the rpms. I've also found that shortening the top link and tilting the cutter bar forward will cause the mower to throw the grass up a bit and help. But I wouldn't recommend this if you fields are rough/rocky.
I run mine right down on the ground, it takes some working with the 3pth and the hydro lift to get the bar level. You might have the far tip pulled up some.

 

[beenthere]

Lone Wolf
Do us a favor and fill out your profile. That will help keep the focus on any help we can provide.
And the skid plate doesn't have to run flat on the ground. It can be raised with the 3 ph setting but will depend on how flat the ground is to remain at that set height.

Not knowing where you are running the the #1 cutter with respect to the mown edge, so can't say if you are crowding it too much, getting cut grass caught up, or have dull blades.

Post some pics of your mown strips, and position you are running the NH 462. We like pics.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks guys, got the profile done, will take picture tonight if it is not dark or early tomorrow morning. Just will need to learn how to post the pictures.

 

[sweettractors]

I have a New Holland 462 cutter that lowers along the side of the tractor to cut hay. Basicly I am not sure if the cutter is suppose to be flat on the ground/riding the ground or off slightly. The skid plate closes to the unit/what I consider the #1 cutter knife blades will drag some grass as I cut. Therefore it gets so bulky between the tire and unit that I have to lift the cutter so the bulky grass will fall off and I can contiune to cut. Also noticed lastnight after we baled that there were alot of slim grass stripes that was not cut. Maybe to close to fresh grass as I was cutting or need new cutting blades. Thanks

Try screwing your toplink out longer. This will put a slight upward angle on the leading edge of the cutterbar. The grass this not being mowed, may be where you were dragging cut hay. Let the Hydraulic cylinder fully out and then lower the 3 point until the outside shoe and inside shoe just "Kiss" the ground and then lower about another 1 inch on the depth control on the tractor 3 point. Ken Sweet

 

[jimmysisson]

Or maybe you have a damaged or loose section or guard near the wobble box, so it's ripping the grass out and can't do so fast enough for your travel speed. I think the ends are hardest to get cutting right, on mine anyway.
Jim

 

[flusher]

Flusher,
Is that a 7' or 9' cutter bar? Looks like you've got it in pretty good shape, actually! New guards and the sickle sections look like you could shave with 'em!

How many bales do you get with your field?

Always like a few pics, thanks.

AKfish

7 ft cutter.

About 1/2 ton/acre, 20 small square bales or so.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Well I took pictures but can't figure out how to post-never been good at that. The missed or taller grass stripes look even all across the pasture area that the wife did, she thinks it was her cutting ability-LOL, plus gettign dark. Looked at the blades and a few of them probably need replacing which I will do as a winter project. Thanks guys for the input.

 

[beenthere]

LW
If your pics are on your computer, then click on the "Go Advanced" button next to Post button below.
Then scroll down to "manage attachments" box and click.
That will take you to a "Browse" button which gets you to your computer files. Find the photo you want, click on it and "Upload" button. The software here will make a thumbnail of it in your post. Back out of the window and "Preview" your post. If all is as you want it, click on "Submit Reply"

It is as simple as that.

 

[mlauk]

Running over a wet or damp ant mound will cause striping, until the "mud" comes off or is removed from the cutter.

 

[slowzuki]

Replacing sickles isn't a winter job, its a daily job when cutting hay. Its one of the reasons sicklebar mowers aren't that popular.

Guys with absolutely no rocks can get more time out of them.

 

[beenthere]

I'm pretty sure this isn't a sickle mower, but is a disk mower.
NH 462

Still need good cutters.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Hope this worked. Disc mower. It does the same thing for me but differently not as bad.

 

[Lone Wolf]

beenthere---man thanks alot for the help.