sicklebar mower question

[eddie48]

I have just finished restoring a 1948 Farmall Super A. An IH sicklebar mower (I don't know the model, and don't know how to tell what it is) came with it needing a lot of repair. I have it all together and it goes back and forth like it should, however it immediately plugs up when trying to cut high grass (hay). This seems to happen along the whole length of the cutter bar, not just at the end. Does anyone know how it is supposed to be "tuned up" to minimize this problem?

 

[Gordon Gould]

Don't know if these will help but they might at least be interesting.

ih sickle bar mower - Video Search Results

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ih sickle bar mower - Video Search Results


Maybe your gaps are to big and or your sections/knives are not sharp.

gg

 

[eddie48]

Thank you, Gordon. They were helpful. Now to go straighten it out.

 

[kydick]

Thank you, Gordon. They were helpful. Now to go straighten it out.

make sure that at each end of the stroke of the pittman rod that it stops in the center of the guards.. at least that the way it was on a dearborne mowing machine. we called that getting it into time. if you have no adjustments on your mower you can try a new pittman rod and measure it and fit it to the mountings so that it will stop at the right place everytime in the center of the guards.

 

[eddie48]

I'll check that, too. Thanks

 

[LouNY]

I did not check out the videos, but.
The knives have to be sharp and the ledger plates on the guards have to be sharp, with no gap between the knives and the guard shearing surfaces.
The newer serrated knives and guards will work much better then the old smooth edged ones.

 

[Smokeydog]

Blade hold down clamps have shims that can be removed to compensate for wear. We would douse the blades with used motor oil at the first and end of cutting season.