Using the MF732 Fingerbar Mower and Ferguson TED20. Tractor seat view.

This is a bunch of clips showing me using the MF732 mower while trying to rid a 14 acre field of ragwort. I'll add more and edit it properly next time. Smashed my knee against something sharp and metal while looking through viewfinder and couldn't operate clutch later!

[@Mftw767]

Greetings from southern Ireland.....thank you for taking time to filim...45 years ago my dad had a mowing machine just like yours.he cut 20 acers of hay each summer with it . when hay making was over he would topped pastures with it.brings back lovely memories.thank you again for posting.

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Top Tip:- Keep the Finger Guard in place till you have lowered the Finger Bar assembly, no chance of getting your fingers removed, and always have a properly maintained PTO guard fitted

[@kennethperian4370]

Great job showing and telling,sickle mower man keep up the good work and well see ya next time see ya bye.

[@lukemannion2988]

There is a top link with notches on it that the chains hang on I have one somewhere I will get a photo of it good video, brings back a lot of memories.

[@alfbittner6489]

The engineering of these old implements is so well done and built to last. Your coil could be letting you down wit the idle, I was running a 9 volt coil when my alternator was 12 volt, when I put the 12 volt coil on I got it running well. Another mistake I made was slashing in a clockwise motion instead of anti.

[@potatoesweetpea9243]

Brilliant vid, thanks

[@jimdyett9705]

I have one of these which I use with my fergie ted but mine has a wooden pitman bar and a different knife connector, I've always thought it is too big for my tractor and was designed for a 35

[@polychloros]

This is a very informative little film - thanks for loading (and for your other film of you sprinting off into the distance..! ) I'm interested in how the MF732 compared to other mounted 'finger mowers' of the time (International Harvester, Ransomes etc.) in terms of robustness and durability. I guess that models such as the 732 were the last of the finger mowers before they were superseded by disc and drum mowers. I am aware of the MF 'Dynabalance' 41 finger mower, which I assume was a later design, but I don't know if it is considered a better model.

[@colinmeatyard9093]

Mowed hundreds of acres with one on 35x should drive out on corners and come back in square great mower back in 60s

[@davidsample9130]

Yes your hay lay over your track, if your a mind to you can adjust right front axle to line up with mower shoe. Hence making it easier to line up your swath. Simply by keeping front tire just adjacent to standing hay.

[@ctiley2212]

Less yap, more cut = less injuries.

[@eamongalligan4726]

Tie a bag across under driveshaft to stop grass wrapping around driveshaft

[@Redhackle]

Very good video. Thank you. I have never tried laying over a field like that to be left. I usually use a rotary mower. Does it kill the new under growth leaving it like that ? I would like to try it as it is a lot faster cutting . All the best.

[@myharris]

Just bought one of these, for use with my 35x. Very useful video, thanks. Don't suppose you know offhand what pulley belts it takes? Mine only came with one and the lettering's worn off!

[@stephenballantine6359]

Would the cutting bar be able to cut rushes ? Thanks

[@truethought369]

Thanks for your show of the finger-mower, & the problems of the old T20s lack of hydraulics. Not until the later MF35 was made, did we overcome the height problems for any equipment on the 3-point linkage. But I like your chain supports! One thing I would like to point out is, you are cutting that "Yellow Ragwort" which can bepoisonous to animals. I think it was banned in England in the 1980s? Best check that out.

[@Hastings_Farm]

I have one that I am trying to get going. Something that does concern me is an exposed PTO. What are your thoughts about it. Great video and most helpful - thank you.

[@seannoone6711]

What a tractor

[@vaskopandev2167]

What speed did tractor goes

[@patrickmurphy6847]

You need to pick that ragwort

[@maureenphillip7128]

These mowers had a nasty habit of the blade moving on the way down out of transport so watch where you put your fingers.

[@dangarrity7449]

Recently purchased the 51 t20 with the sickle bar plus numerous otherI think I would like to try the sickle bar but not too sure of myself right yet. Being a city boy. Retired. living in the country

[@geofflangley1674]

you should have two flat bars which attaches around top link down to the arms holding mower and that is a swath board, the bars are straight one end the other end is 45%

[@rogerstephenson5876]

With age most TE 20 hydraulics sag and maintaining a fixed height is difficult, Ferguson recognized this early on and produced a top link made up of two flat bars with multiple holes and two flat plates with large teeth cut out which faced upwards and forwards, also supplied was a double chain with a large D ring, the ends of the chains had a flat bar attached with a cat one hole in them. The top link was set to the correct length including the two plates and bolted together, the D link was fed over the top link, the lower links were attached to the cat one pins including the flat plates, the mower was then raised above its operating height, the D link hooked over the teeth and lowered, by trial and error one would find the position of the D link that set the mower at its working height. with this novel arrangement, the driver could lower his mower to its correct height, and at the end of the cut lift the mower, turn, drop the mower without even looking back.

[@allanhughes7859]

How much fun the old folk must have had cutting their 50 acers for hay much better than the cycle cicle corcle oh well however you speel it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rogerstephenson5876]

Looking down at the knife sections reminded me of an embarrassing episode in my teens. My father dropped me off at our local machinery dealer to get new knife sections and rivets, there were already customers at the long counter as I asked for six new sections and twelve rivets. A storeman came back with my order and placed it on the counter, "Sorry I said but our sections are smaller and have a pointed end not squared off as these" The storeman looked at me over his glasses with a pained look. "Obviously, your father believes in getting his monies worth out of these blades because these square ones as you call them are how they look when they are new, a chuckle went down the counter, I was mortified.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

You said the mower had a lot of grease fittings for grease to be applied so why do II not see any grease at the joints and fittings ? You really need to apply the grease to these ware points if you intend to keep it going. Other than that . Good overview of the machine.

[@alanreid3063]

Christina Moneyhan It did look very clean however over greasing is the biggest cause of bearing failure and you should also clean off the excess as dirt just sticks to it and can work into the bush/bearing.

[@seannoone6711]

The Ferguson 20 is loud!!!

[@davidbarnes9132]

You have no sway bar you can a replacement owner manual on line

[@robertschmidtke9322]

Mm

[@disturbedcarrot]

Waste engine oil is highly corrosive, try getting your hands on used hydraulic or transmission oil.

[@davidbarnes9132]

Plus you missing the near tire to push grass away to stop plugging

[@milespostlethwaite1154]

You should have made it into hay. The ragwort is harmless in hay as when it is dried out nothing will eat it. On our farm we had a small field behind the buildings that would grow thick with ragwort. I used to make it into hay and feed it to the kid’s Shetland pony all winter. Every day I would lift out a nest of uneaten ragwort from the rack as the pony would only eat the grass around it. Different matter with ragwort in silage though, that is lethal just like freshly wilted ragwort.

[@t.alanblain6313]

I don't know where you got your information but you are 100% wrong. Dried ragwort doesn't smell or taste of ragwort and WILL be eaten with drastic consequences. I suggest that you have been very lucky. NEVER make hay with ragwort in it!

[@milespostlethwaite1154]

@@t.alanblain6313 When I fed the ragwort-infested hay I was not lucky - I knew what I was doing! Wilted ragwort is palatable and therefore dangerous. However, DRIED ragwort is not palatable and stock will not eat it. Including cows.

[@chrismarshall7220]

Don't ever put your fingers in there ! As he puts his fingers in there

[@allanhughes7859]

as a last comment not wishing to boar the ass off all concerned I wonder how many fingers have been lost with these cutters ????????????????

[@allanhughes7859]

That tractor needs a little tunning Jesus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think the turbo is not working ?????????????????? or the dump valve or the air conditioning might be the problem ?????????

[@tomr3074]

Are you in road gear? Too fast man .....

[@giovannigiorgio3727]

Great use for old engine oil - polluting the land 🤦‍♂️

[@alanmitchell7322]

BULL SHIT

[@paddymickiemickie8221]

KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THAT KNIFE Too easy to loose a finger and I don’t mean a mower finger Your a bit of a danger mouse