Sickle Bar Sickle Bar Mower

armyret · May 21, 2004

Hope some of you old time farmers reply to this. I have a 7ft sickle bar mower and it cuts fine except that the end keeps clogging up with hay. Only the very end aprox 6 to 8 inches.
Am I doing something wrong? Also I am mowing with a B78oo kubota with hydro transmission. What gear should I run it in?
How fast should go? I am running it at the recommended rpm to achieve 540 pto output. [/list]

Darren · May 21, 2004

I run as fast as ground conditions and the grass will allow. With the L3710 (hydro) that means in the mid-gear range. The idea is to have the grass fall backwards over the bar as it's being sliced. Sometimes in heavy grass if mowing too slow you may push the grass forward and have it fall forward creating a problem. There's no one speed that will work in all conditions. Wiry grass may require a slower speed to avoid jamming the knives.

One solution to the grass clogging at the end is to replace the last knife with a double point knife rather than a single point.

As far as RPM, the manual for my sickle bar (scissors action- both knives and guards move) recommends running below 540 rpm.

HayDR · May 21, 2004

You may want to use a half-knife section on the end, this will help with end clogs. Also remember that if the grass is wet a sicklebar mower will clog more often. Even the high maintenance double action sicklebar mowers have trouble with wet grass. A sicklebar mower is good for trimming up around the edges of fields, around ponds & creeks and around rocks. If you want to stop the clogs you might want leave the hay harvesting to a newer technology like a drum mower designed for a B7800 Kubota.

Egon · May 22, 2004

Pehaps you have a little slack and the bar knives have a little clearance from the ledger plates. There may be shims that can be used if this is the case.

Are the ledger plates sharp and is the sickle bar sharp?

Egon

Darren · May 22, 2004

I'm curious about your comment that double action sickle bars are high maintenance. I've used one for three years and other than greasing it before using it, I haven't seen any maintenance problems. it's been a dependable piece of equipment and great to operate once you learn how fast you can push it. What are you seeing?

My NH451 on the other hand was a PITA in the heavy grass no matter what speed I ran. I was constantly on and off the tractor.

HayDR · May 22, 2004

We distribute thousands of US$ worth of parts a year for these double action mowers. The OEM G&S guards are stamped sheet matal and one stick 1/2" in diameter can do hundreds of $ worth of damage in seconds. We have 20 years of experience in selling these double action sicklebar mowers. If there are any trees around or rocks, you had better stay away of these double action mowers. We still sell them but tell customers up front that these double action sicklebar mowers must be used in clean fields with no rocks.

ZJ_HR · May 22, 2004

CCM,
Just a curious question: what brand of double mowing sickles do you sell Gribaldi&Salvia (GS), Gramip (GD) or Gaspardo?

HayDR · May 22, 2004

Gribaldi & Salvia from the old WWII tank factory.

ZJ_HR · May 22, 2004

We had 3 of their side mounted models (single move) in last 35y.
Pretty durable machines, even license build by Gramip.

sweettractors · May 22, 2004

I haven't seen any maintenance problems. it's been a dependable piece of equipment and great to operate once you learn how fast you can push it. 

I agree with you, We have 20 years of selling thes "G&S" Superior double action machines and have had no problems at all with them--I guess, If I had to complain about them at all? They are cutting into the number of new Disc Mowers and Drum Mower that we sell annually. I have customers that are mowing round for round with thier neighbors Vicon, Lely,Vermeer,NH etc Disc Mowers. Now if it is raining, The disc mower will out perform the double action. We have had first hand experience on our farm with that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 5-6-7 Ft Double Action Sickle Mowers by First Choice*

Darren · May 22, 2004

Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I've chopped down lots of stuff larger than 1/2" with my Enorossi sicklebar. I ease into it. the shrub starts shaking, and TIMBER! Never had a problem with the guards. To be fair any rocks I might encounter are too large to fit between the guards.

armyret · May 25, 2004

I appreciate all who replied, this is a follow upquestion do you thunk perhaps i am going to slow? [/list]

Egon · May 26, 2004

Try different speeds. Emperical observations. Is sickle cutting speed independant of your forward speed?

Egon

nomad · May 27, 2004

Mow at the lowest tractor speed and at the the highest PTO speed... This is the best to cut the grass in general and the wet grass in particular. However, your PTO speed will have to be limited because the technology in the sicklebar mower won't permit you high linear speed in the knife bar. So, find the highest PTO speed till you break somethings by real field scientific experiements.

HayDR · May 27, 2004

How is the Rug & propane cannon business, Nomad?

KiotiJohn · May 28, 2004

Mark, why do you always pick on Nomad? Does he push some button in your psyche that hurts? Sometimes you're just going for the throat, without reason it seems. John

sweettractors · May 28, 2004

Mark, why do you always pick on Nomad? 

John, I thought Mark ony picked on me. I dont mind too much. I know when he is picking on me, he is leaving everyone else alone /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New D&G Italian 3 Point Backhoes for 40-60 HP tractors $4500*

HayDR · May 28, 2004

Ken,
I'm glad to see you monitor my posts as thousands of customers are doing. Some news of interest is we are 95% complete on our new 10,000 sq.ft. distribution center here in Johnson City, TN. Thanks to the thousands of TBN viewers that have made much of this possible. Mark Carter
SITREX HYDRAULIC FOLD 17' TEDDERS- $ 2,950

sweettractors · May 28, 2004

Congratulations to you and your Uncle Clyde and William. I am sure they appreciate the new found internet business sales /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We wish you continued success--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 5-6-7 ft Double Action Sickle Mowers in Stock TODAY*

nckennedy · Jun 1, 2014

Thanks for the insight. How important is the grass catcher/board on the end of a sickle bar mower? Mine is clogging up on the opposite end, pitman end. Is it because the grass cut on the last pass is falling to close to the uncut grass on the next pass around the field?
Also noticed that the guards near the pitman end of the bar seem to have more space between them and the knife. Could that also cause tearing rather than a clean cut? If so, I am not sure how to adjust that? Just by shimming? Probably do not want to try to bend the guards with a hammer?
Thanks,
Craig