NH 488 sections?

[JBMac]

My new to me 488 doesnt seem to cut as well as it should. The guy I bought it from said it had fairly new sections on it. When I took a closer look, they are all the same type, but alternate between right-side up and upside down. They are serrated. Are they supposed to be this way? I can"t locate my manual I just paid $30 for presently.

 

[karl f]

New sections are almost pointless if the guards, hold downs, and other wear parts are worn out. Liken it to a scissors with the rivet loose. Do you mean the sections are identical and upside down compared to each other? or do you mean some sections are under serrated and some are over serrated? Either way, there are many farmer designed ways to deal with difficult to cut crops--however with new guards the alternating method may not have been needed.

karl f

 

[JBMac76]

Yes, I guess that"s the term, the are alternating over and under serrated. But, the under serrated ones have a gap, they don"t come together like scissors. I suppose that either I make all of them over serrated or bend half the guard to meet the section correctly? I"ll keep researching the archives as well.

 

[karl f]

sorry if I confused you or readers with the scissors comment--the knives don't overlap with each other, they just slide back and forth in the guard. The knife to guard clearance is where the scissors reference comes in.
knives and guards should polish each other sharp until they wear each other out. That said i've been thinking alternating styles of knives might cause contradictory wear in a guard, lessening the effectiveness of the cutting parts. I might be wrong about that, however. Pictures are worth a thousand words, but i have none. hopefully more people will post and provide some illustrations that will help you figure this out.

karl f

 

[JBMac76]

Thanks, Karl. Thats actually what I meant, the under serrated sections have a gap where they meet the guard. The over serrated sections are seat nicely on the guard and feel razor sharp. I'll try to get some pictures.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Check the rubber sickle bushing and drive belt tension. As for the sections either one will work.

 

[JDseller]

Just go and get new sections that all match. They are only a buck each. You will never get it to mow right the way it is. I use over serrated on mower conditioners.

 

[RickB]

Half the knife sections are installed upside down. Remove them and install correctly. There is no end to what some idiot will do to "make it work better'.

 

[GordoSD]

I just posted about this yesterday. Get the bar that bends guards. bend them so you have about 010 gap on bottom and what ever on top. I get rid of those under serrated sections. I am assuming your guards have flat non serrated ledgers?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Iwonder if you could get an SCH cutting setup for a 488? They run every other section upside down. I have both over and under serrated sickles for my 488 and they both cut fine.

 

[hd6gtom]

Be sure and use chrome sections in your 488. I made the mistake of buying regular sections. They break and bend.

 

[GordoSD]

I'd ratherr replace a one dollar non chrome section than a 9 dollar broken guard.