1209 moco breaking cutterbars

[willyz]

My 1209 is breaking cutting bars right next to the head, anyone have an idea of the cause?

 

[Ron in AR]

Several things to check..... Is your pin worn? Is the swing arm worn where the pin goes through? Are you getting the pin clamp on the swing arm tightened properly? These are the only things that have caused the same problem on my 1219. If that pin "wobbles" in the swing arm, it will cause the end of the cutter bar to flex up and dowm on each stroke and break it. Just like bending a peice of metal back and forth till it breaks.

 

[MSJ from MN]

We had the same problem. Swing arm and pin seemed like they were tight. Replaced them anyways and we stopped breaking sickles.

 

[Errin OH]

I agree with the others its flexing somwhere. Beyond the pin it could be;

Missing hold down on the bar,
Bad bearing in the wobble box, or
Busted wobble box mount.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Make sure you have the correct guards at the knife head end. If you have ones with the wear bars it can cause the breakage. First few guards do not use wear bars. see the OM.

 

[johns48jdb]

ease to check turn it through by hand (pipe wrench) and see if its in time. ie. the ends of the sections have to end up dead center of the points on the quards. if not then either you have to much slop as other suggeested or you need to adjust you head so that it is in time,