Back when we used to cut alfalfa with a sickle bar mower, residue/juice would build up and combine with dirt and make the sickle bar rattle and pull hard when mowing. We would take the machine to the creek crossing and run the bar in the water for a while. This really loosened the bars up and we always done this when changing a bar. I would think running it with a water hose on it would accomplish the same thing. We used very little oil or grease on the bars as it seem to combine with dirt/dust and aggreivate the build up. Probably oil before storing would be cool.
We always kept a spare bar and would just switch to keep production going.
As far as removing the sections when out of the machine, place the bar in a vice and hit the section on the back side with a hammer and it will shear the rivets. Wear safety goggles. We even changed and replaced sections on 14" combine bars. Hate to do that with todays big headers.
We always kept a spare bar and would just switch to keep production going.
As far as removing the sections when out of the machine, place the bar in a vice and hit the section on the back side with a hammer and it will shear the rivets. Wear safety goggles. We even changed and replaced sections on 14" combine bars. Hate to do that with todays big headers.
