Sickle mower setup

[David M]

How close should a sickle mower hold down keep the section to the ledger plate? It seems if I bend the hold down to hold the section right on the ledger there's going to be a lot of drag and noise. I have about .030" clearance now how much closer should I try to get?

 

[Bob]

Didn't see the previous answer, or didn't like it????
CLOSE!

 

[old]

They have to be tight real tight. If you can slip a piece of paper between them its to loose for most hay. Yes they make a lot of noise thats just how they work and have worked for 50 plus years
Hobby farm

 

[Anonymous-0]

Care and repair of farm machinery by John Deere says
"SNUG" yes thats the term they use. If they are to
tight, your gonna wind up with something broken.
I would say that if you can slip a piece of paper
under them, its about right, a matchbook cover to
loose.