finger bar mower

[Brian Cox]

can anybody advise me how to use my mower, it keeps clogging up with grass. Yes the blades are sharp everything lubricated as well

[fenhayman]

Brian is the mower new to you or has it suddenly gone wrong? Make and model will help.
Where does the clogging occur and is the grass cut properly before it clogs.
A properly set finger bar mower leaves an even short stubble, the rotary things chew it off and you can see the result once the hay has been bailed.
I'd love to come and help but you're a bit too far away.

[Brian Cox]

it's an international and i've had it a few years,cuts ok , clogs up after cut so I thought it was down to speed of tractor or pto revs not high enough what do you think?

[fenhayman]

Brian some suggestions

Is the cutterbar pointing forwards. The far end should be an inch or so in front of the 90 degree angle from the frame.
Try altering the fore and aft angle of the cutterbar by tilting it with the top link. Shouldn't be pointing down too much.
Don't be afraid of going a bit faster.
Does it clog at one point or all way along and is the stubble left even.
Good luck

[Brian Cox]

thanks fenhayman, will try your ideas tomorrow if dry(see the stormy weather] will let you know

[Brian]

Couple of things to try,

1. Is the knife held down on the ledger plates on the fingers by the knife keeps or can it lift off the ledger plates on each finger?
2. Are the ledger plates on the fingers sharp or are they rounded? You may have to run an angle grinder down either side of the finger.
3. Is there too much "fore and aft" movement on the knife? Usually adjusted by a plate under the knife keeps which has slotted holes and can be pushed forward to limit the "fore and aft" .
4. If the crop has dead flag leak right at the bottom and this is forming "mouse nests" on the fingers it might help to cut a bit higher.

[Brian Cox]

thanks for your tips Brian, wet today again,will see what tomorrow brings. By the way a message to all my friends on the forum, tomorrow 26th July I reach the grand age of 65 years, where has it all gone?

[Jerry Coles]

I'm not an expert but IMHO you should look carefully at the cut ends of the stalks. If they are cut clean through then your problem may be in the attitude of the bar relative to the ground.
If the cut ends are more crushed than cut then they are being pulled into the fingers and jamming. It's like a loose pair of scissors, the material will fold and jam between the blades rather than being cut clean and falling away. Sharp edges and close gaps give you a fine cut.
My pennyworth!
Jerry

[Brian Cox]

too wet yet but I can tell you cut grass clogs under cutting blade

[Brian Cox]

sorry still wet

[fenhayman]

Praying that you have a dry week - the tension is killing me!

[Brian Cox]

thursday now, sorry still wet but after all this is Scotland where it's either raining, been raining or going to rain. Maybe try tomorrow but Saturday is out, taking my baby to the Perth Agricultural show, hopefully dry for that.

[Brian Cox]

Hooray! at last dry. Cut fine for a little while then started clogging up again. Blade is sharp,also used angle grinder on the bars just below the cutters as Brian said to but still clogging up under cutters