Ford 501 Sickle Mower Rebuild [[New Rock Guards, Knife bar, and Hold Downs]]

My old Ford 501 sickle bar bower is long past due for some TLC. I got it years ago after my Great Grandfather passed away. Since then I haven’t used it a ton. The learning curve on hooking it up and makings it work properly has been a long one. Now that I have figured out how to hook it up in less than 30 minutes. It is on to making it cut correctly.
A few years ago I did a good amount of work on it. I replaced a few rock guards and all of the broken or dull knives. It did good for a while, but kept braking knives. I was kind of over it. Therefore it only came out of the shed once or twice last year.
Now that I have decided to make hay. I am back to trying to figure out the old mower. I have spent hours and hours researching how to properly adjust it. Doing so I realized I needed a lot of new parts. The rock guards were about trash and from what I understand. The process of replacing ledger plates is a pain. So I dropped about $300 on all new rock guards, bolts, wear plates, and hold down clips. Hopefully it will cut like a dream. Maybe even patching up our love hate relationship.
I am no expert on sickle mowers by any stretch of the imagination. This has been a very big learning experience for me. Hopefully someone can find something helpful from my struggles. If nothing else get a good laugh in. Thank you to all who have watched and subscribed!
www.cuttingcom...

[@tommartin8155]

Thanks for the great video. I'm rebuilding my 501 i just bought . Also got a complete rebuild kit from Webb. I was lost in a few areas, but after watching you I got it figured out. Thanks a bunch. Your friend Tom from Ny

[@jeffy1466]

I'm in the same boat as you. I just got one as well. Gonna need a little work to get it going again.

[@kennethperian4370]

Great job showing and telling,keep up the good work cutting fixing see ya next time see ya bye.

[@johnraynor5095]

78yr old farm kid. Brings back memories. Got me one of these retirement places, and just got an 8n. Have some Vergennes ground prepping to get hay into . Admire you restoring old equipment compared to those city boys with deep pockets and yard full of new stuff . Wish you were close to Idaho, we could get together on some stuff.

[@FishHuntCookTinker]

I am glad you enjoyed the videos. I like my old equipment. Made back when they made tractors and equipment to be worked on.

[@boydde]

Excellent video

[@ewardmello4255]

That was a very useful video terrific!

[@tractorboy31]

Suggestion for you. Make sure the breakaway works. I just found out mine dont as i turned late and snapped my sickle arm. I just about got it welded up as im an otr truck driver. I have my single rock guard at tip. Been that way. I need a new drive head on mine as it was wore down. Use mine on my JD 520. Getting my JD B going and i will try it without live pto soon.

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

A shop press works well for pressing out those rivets. I learned that the hard way in my conversion mainly out of desperation.

[@JohnWayman]

I have a pitman strap coming loose from the knife bar head. Is there a way to fix this issue. I replaced the strap with a eBay, took it to a metal repair shop, made the adjustment my self was a little better. I used hose clamps tighten on it that helped more with belt super loose. Tighten the belt some and back to the same problem.

[@makotanko2994]

I would buy a t-shirt that says, “It is what it is.” Haha awesome video. Can’t wait to see the next boat video if you make one.

[@FishHuntCookTinker]

Maybe one day I’ll make some! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mathiggins4264]

Where did you get all that at?

[@jt659]

Dang, for my 7ft 501 the guards are $240!

[@donwilliams3025]

Rivets work alot better you cam flatten them down and not as big head on bottom

[@robertlong7033]

You did about as good as anyone can do with a Ford 501. one of the worst sickle bar mower ever built . Second only to the New Holland 451, You ain't seen nothing until you try one of those.

[@FishHuntCookTinker]

I appreciate the feedback. I have never use a 451 so I will take you word for it and avoid them! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

Can you please explain why the 501 is one of the worst sickle bars ever made? I've never owned one, but am in the market for a used sickle bar mower and there are plenty of those around where I live and would like to know why you think that is the case.

[@robertlong7033]

@@HustleMuscleGhias

[@robertlong7033]

@@HustleMuscleGhias

[@robertlong7033]

@@HustleMuscleGhias A lot of different connections to hook up a real pain in the ass and so you have to be certain to park it on flat solid surface. We used ours on both a Ferguson TO-30 and a MF 150D. and used Forage Mixture 3 a combination of Red clover, alfalfa and timothy. Now it wasn't real tall but very thick, heavy and often damp/wet. No matter which tractor we used it on or ground speed or PTO speed or adjustments hay still piled up on the inner or outer shoe often both. Now if you found one that was compatible with your tractor and used in light applications like trim work it might be OK but in heavy stand high yield hay crops leave it where you found it because the Ford 501 and the NH 451 are totally overmatched in those conditions.