Why would a sickle mower push cut hay like a plow?
I was trying to cut a friend's hay field for him today. I was using my 1958 International tractor with a Model 1300 balanced sickle bar mower.
As I was cutting the hay (running about 1800 rpms in first gear) the hay was building up and accumulating on the last 3 to 4 feet of the sickle bar. Sometimes, after moving 10 feet forward, I could partially clear the build-up by backing up, at other times, I had to climb off the tractor to manually clear the sickle bar! This does not seem right!
What can I do to have the hay fall back and over the sickle bar, so I can cut more than 1 to 2 acres a day?
Any and all advice would be appreciated!
these might help. Have the bar angled slightly down with the guards pointed down slightly. If they are tipped back, it can ball up. Completely level is best, but if you can't get it level, down is better than up. Travel at a faster speed, higher gear. As you cut the hay, it will fall back off the mower. I mow in 3rd gear on the ford tractor I have, at about the same rpms you were going. Use a sharp knife. Hope this helps you.
