THE MOWING MACHINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 December 1926, Page 14

THE MOWING MACHINE.

KEEPING IT FIT. One sometimes wonders that mowing machines run as well as th.cv do. when one considers how little attention is given to them in many cases, from the time they finish the cutting until they are again required tor u?e. But if any little necessary repairs are attended to. the knives and cutter bar greased, and a general cleaning given as soon as cutting is finished, then the machine can be taken out of the shed the following season and work started right away. Yoking the Horses. In working a mowing machine, the horses should be so yoked that they have full povrer over it; the breast pole should be fastened to the horses' collar without any undue play, and at a correct height to allow the cutter bar to be perfectly level on the ground; while care must be taken that the trace chains are the proper length, so that they do not allow the breast pole to strike the breasts of the horses, but at the same time are not so short that the horees cannot get their collars fairly on to their shoulders. The most important parts of the mower are the cutter bar and knives. The cutter bar should always be kept in perfect alignment with the machine, preferably a little forward at the outer shoe, and it should be perfectly level on the ground. The alignment can easily be tested by passing a piece of string across the face of the two travelling wheels and the whole length of the bar, holding i: horizontally, then standing behind it and glancing over the strinz to that part of the bar where the knife back fits. If the outer end is back, it may cause a broken knife or connecting rods, besides putting .heavier draught on the horses. The right course in such a case is to send the mower to a repairer who understands his job. Sharp Knives and Oiling. The next thing is to see that the cutting mechanism is in good order, and the importance of this cannot be too strongly emphasised, for many troubles arise through failure to attend to it. First of all. it should be seen that the sections in the fingers have a cutting edge; these should occasionally be sharpened with a file. It is also most important that the knives should be kept well sharpened, a good knife stand being a great help in thi3 work. Lastly, there is the question of oiling, I and this perhaps applies more to a new machine than to one that has been at work for some years. In the case of a new machine, it should be remembered J that all the bearings are tight, and that it takes time for the oil to work through. Therefore it is very essential to stop and oil frequently when first starting the season, particularly the fast running bearings. Cheap oil is very dear in the long run, and only the best should be used.