Sickle Bar mowers - New Holland 451 - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

SilverZuk · 05-28-2010, 07:50 AM

Anyone know much about them?
I know they hold their value pretty well and are the preferred sickle bar mower for hay.

I might be trading some cattle for one this weekend.

Any comments or experience?

85f150dsel · 05-28-2010, 08:05 AM

check out the Attachments forum at TractorByNet. Seem to be alot of happy people.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/s...archid=3543366

I've just dinked with old POS's and a walk behind sickle, it's somewhat surprising how well for tall grass they work with their little motors.

Juztyn00 · 05-28-2010, 08:06 AM

Most are pretty simple, check the teeth for wear and see if there are any broken blades, and if the bearings are tight. Most of that is easy to repair though. I would say most farm equipment holds it value if kept up and kept indoors out of the weather. Sickles are sort of being phased out in favor of hay conditioners around here. My grandpa mostly only uses his to mow ditches and slopes anymore since he can uses the big tractor with A/C with his conditioner instead..

'80Toad · 05-28-2010, 08:21 AM

Make yourself a lever/pry bar to bend the guides back into alignment. Over time they'll get bumped up from hitting the ground/rocks. It'll run way smoother and better if the guides are all nicely lined up.

paragon · 05-28-2010, 08:34 AM

not fond of sickle bar mowers, personally. for the price of used NH 451s, I would try to find a Kuhn or similar rotary cutter.

you can't cut hay early in the morning, here, with sickle bars because of the moisture. also, ant beds are a PITA

sickle bars are easy to repair in the field as you really only carry spare blades and rivets... maybe a belt.

N_Rod · 05-28-2010, 06:24 PM

I have had a couple of them, I sold the last one for $800 bucks. I always liked running sickle bars however there is a lot of learning needed to keep them from plugging when cutting heavy hay.

They are great for trimming along side of roads and creeks because they have no pitman arm and the cutter bar follows the contour of the bank . I have even mowed my grass with one a time or two, did a lot nicer job than my rotary mower.

They need very little horse power to run so they are easy on fuel compared to a haybine or disc mower. and you can run one with a smaller tractor.

As mentioned you can carry spare cutters and rivets so you can repair them in the field. One good whack with a hammer on the end of the cutter shears the rivets, put your new cutter and new rivets, peen them down untill the cutter is tight and you are on your way.

Great mowers

SilverZuk · 05-28-2010, 07:05 PM

We were too far apart on price. So cows are still for sale.
The mower he had was a good used mower, not a 1500 dollar mower.
He wanted me to throw in a couple hundred boot. I told him "I was thinking the same thing - you need to give me a couple hundred boot.
I told him "you'd be better off to sell it and come talk to me with cash."
He was just a pen hooker looking to turn a quick buck with a few lies.

PONY_DRIVER · 05-28-2010, 07:12 PM

Mom had one on an old Farmall and all I can remember (aside from thinking it was cool) was her cussing it because it broke the wooden drive shaft thingy all the time.

It looked like a 2x2 or 3"x3" piece about 3' long.

N_Rod · 05-28-2010, 07:24 PM

The wooden drive shaft thingy is called a pitman arm. I had a Ford 501 mower that used pitman arms. The 451 mower doesn't use pitman arms.

N_Rod · 05-28-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverZuk

We were too far apart on price. So cows are still for sale.
The mower he had was a good used mower, not a 1500 dollar mower.
He wanted me to throw in a couple hundred boot. I told him "I was thinking the same thing - you need to give me a couple hundred boot.
I told him "you'd be better off to sell it and come talk to me with cash."
He was just a pen hooker looking to turn a quick buck with a few lies.

$1500 is too much. You can pick up ones in pretty good shape for 800 to 1000 bucks

SilverZuk · 05-28-2010, 07:38 PM

I've already found several with only one exceeding 1500 and that was at an equipment sales place.
It better be near new for that price.

PONY_DRIVER · 05-28-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N_Rod

The wooden drive shaft thingy is called a pitman arm. I had a Ford 501 mower that used pitman arms. The 451 mower doesn't use pitman arms.

Aha! I never knew that!

SilverZuk · 05-28-2010, 07:41 PM

If you run across a NH 451 or other good belt drive sickle bar let me know.
I'll run up and get it. I've had people offer to give me worn out 501s and other pitman arm mowers.
I had a gut offer to give a worn out superior the other day.

PONY_DRIVER · 05-28-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverZuk

If you run across a NH 451 or other good belt drive sickle bar let me know.
I'll run up and get it. I've had people offer to give me worn out 501s and other pitman arm mowers.
I had a gut offer to give a worn out superior the other day.

These guys ship

http://www.sweettractors.com/used_equip_pg1.html#

N_Rod · 05-28-2010, 10:03 PM

I run across sickle bars on ocassion, If I find something I'll give you a shout.
I would avoid the pitman arm mowers, Most if not all wont you mow hill sides.

05-28-2010, 07:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
SilverZuk Hillbilly Houndsman Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13420 Location: Kenna, West Virginia Posts: 6,868	Sickle Bar mowers - New Holland 451 Anyone know much about them? I know they hold their value pretty well and are the preferred sickle bar mower for hay. I might be trading some cattle for one this weekend. Any comments or experience? __________________ The penalty for punching someone in the mouth is way too high in our society. www.MountaineerOffroad.com

05-28-2010, 08:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
85f150dsel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Member # 43079 Location: The Mitten...bible thumping heartland Posts: 977	check out the Attachments forum at TractorByNet. Seem to be alot of happy people. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/s...archid=3543366 I've just dinked with old POS's and a walk behind sickle, it's somewhat surprising how well for tall grass they work with their little motors. __________________ smileysarmory.com Last edited by 85f150dsel; 05-28-2010 at 08:07 AM.

05-28-2010, 08:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
'80Toad Wheeler Join Date: Jan 2001 Member # 2758 Location: Ft st John, BC, Canada Posts: 133	Make yourself a lever/pry bar to bend the guides back into alignment. Over time they'll get bumped up from hitting the ground/rocks. It'll run way smoother and better if the guides are all nicely lined up. __________________ Death, the gift the keeps on giving.

05-28-2010, 08:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
paragon Rock God Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 40266 Location: Jackson, MS USA Posts: 1,943	not fond of sickle bar mowers, personally. for the price of used NH 451s, I would try to find a Kuhn or similar rotary cutter. you can't cut hay early in the morning, here, with sickle bars because of the moisture. also, ant beds are a PITA sickle bars are easy to repair in the field as you really only carry spare blades and rivets... maybe a belt. __________________ . ... "For God and country, Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo"

05-28-2010, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
N_Rod Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 75135 Location: Land of Plenty Posts: 622	I have had a couple of them, I sold the last one for $800 bucks. I always liked running sickle bars however there is a lot of learning needed to keep them from plugging when cutting heavy hay. They are great for trimming along side of roads and creeks because they have no pitman arm and the cutter bar follows the contour of the bank . I have even mowed my grass with one a time or two, did a lot nicer job than my rotary mower. They need very little horse power to run so they are easy on fuel compared to a haybine or disc mower. and you can run one with a smaller tractor. As mentioned you can carry spare cutters and rivets so you can repair them in the field. One good whack with a hammer on the end of the cutter shears the rivets, put your new cutter and new rivets, peen them down untill the cutter is tight and you are on your way. Great mowers __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

05-28-2010, 08:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Juztyn00 Squirrel! Join Date: Aug 2005 Member # 52569 Location: Mt. Vernon, IL Posts: 502	Most are pretty simple, check the teeth for wear and see if there are any broken blades, and if the bearings are tight. Most of that is easy to repair though. I would say most farm equipment holds it value if kept up and kept indoors out of the weather. Sickles are sort of being phased out in favor of hay conditioners around here. My grandpa mostly only uses his to mow ditches and slopes anymore since he can uses the big tractor with A/C with his conditioner instead..

05-28-2010, 07:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
SilverZuk Hillbilly Houndsman Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13420 Location: Kenna, West Virginia Posts: 6,868	We were too far apart on price. So cows are still for sale. The mower he had was a good used mower, not a 1500 dollar mower. He wanted me to throw in a couple hundred boot. I told him "I was thinking the same thing - you need to give me a couple hundred boot. I told him "you'd be better off to sell it and come talk to me with cash." He was just a pen hooker looking to turn a quick buck with a few lies.

05-28-2010, 07:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
PONY_DRIVER Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44662 Location: In a house! Posts: 3,986	Mom had one on an old Farmall and all I can remember (aside from thinking it was cool) was her cussing it because it broke the wooden drive shaft thingy all the time. It looked like a 2x2 or 3"x3" piece about 3' long. __________________ "I'm strangely comfortable with it."

05-28-2010, 07:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
N_Rod Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 75135 Location: Land of Plenty Posts: 622	The wooden drive shaft thingy is called a pitman arm. I had a Ford 501 mower that used pitman arms. The 451 mower doesn't use pitman arms. __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

05-28-2010, 07:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
SilverZuk Hillbilly Houndsman Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13420 Location: Kenna, West Virginia Posts: 6,868	I've already found several with only one exceeding 1500 and that was at an equipment sales place. It better be near new for that price.

05-28-2010, 07:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
SilverZuk Hillbilly Houndsman Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13420 Location: Kenna, West Virginia Posts: 6,868	If you run across a NH 451 or other good belt drive sickle bar let me know. I'll run up and get it. I've had people offer to give me worn out 501s and other pitman arm mowers. I had a gut offer to give a worn out superior the other day.

05-28-2010, 10:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
N_Rod Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Member # 75135 Location: Land of Plenty Posts: 622	I run across sickle bars on ocassion, If I find something I'll give you a shout. I would avoid the pitman arm mowers, Most if not all wont you mow hill sides. __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

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