These are great mowers IF they are properly adjusted and the knife sections, guards and hold down tabs are sharp, not worn and adjusted properly. The inner shoe should have 40-80 lb. ground pressure; outer shoe 25-40. With an 8" block under the inner shoe the cutter bar balance spring should be adjusted so the outer shoe just starts coming off the ground. Ebay sells Ford 501 owner's manuals which provides all the adjustments. Recommend anyone having a 501 get the the manual - $16.
I just bought a 501 7' mower Seems to be in good shape I tried turning it by hand and it won't move. Is it froze up or stuck or something? 2:23 I wasn't quite sure what you were meaning about the shaft not turning. where it shouldn't move or something like that? Could you elaborate more on that part
Thanks for sharing this. I just got a Ford 501 and am trying to make it work with a John Deere 2305 Sub-compact. My lift arms are too short to accommodate either stabilizer. Is it possible to adjust the long bolt underneath without attaching the left stabilizer?
gorlux You can try it that way. It'll partially work. The bar will never come up right. If you adjust the bolt enough to raise the bar up, then it will be off the ground when you let the mower down. Adjust it to a point, the bar toward the tractor will come up pretty good, it'll travel at an angle. The outside shoe will clear the ground some. And that'll probably be about as good as it gets. I hope this helps you. I see pics of them on ebay frequently running them like that, and folks seem to be happy with them. We would have answered sooner, but just saw your comment today.
Cynthia Metcalfe Thanks for the reply. I ended up removing both stabilizers and the push rod with the left stabilizer. Then I attached a chain from where the push bar attaches to the left lift arm of the tractor. I then tightened the linkage through to the inner foot area. This allowed the outer foot area to come off the ground when the inner foot is lifted, and I think reduced the ground pressure on the outer foot. Was able to cut 4 acres of light alfalfa in this configuration.
Cynthia I love the meta-commentary. Excellent mower, excellent play-by-play.
Outstanding video! I just bought a 501 and this is just what i needed to see.
I really enjoyed this video. Obviously a couple of folks that know what they're talking about. Thanks.
Have a FORD 501 sickle bar mower, does a good job but jams up with tall grass.
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing!
These are great mowers IF they are properly adjusted and the knife sections, guards and hold down tabs are sharp, not worn and adjusted properly. The inner shoe should have 40-80 lb. ground pressure; outer shoe 25-40. With an 8" block under the inner shoe the cutter bar balance spring should be adjusted so the outer shoe just starts coming off the ground. Ebay sells Ford 501 owner's manuals which provides all the adjustments. Recommend anyone having a 501 get the the manual - $16.
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I just bought a 501 7' mower
Seems to be in good shape
I tried turning it by hand and it won't move. Is it froze up or stuck or something?
2:23 I wasn't quite sure what you were meaning about the shaft not turning. where it shouldn't move or something like that? Could you elaborate more on that part
Hi - Thanks for the info on this video - What's the ball park cost of a sickle mower like this? thanks, jack..
Thanks for sharing this. I just got a Ford 501 and am trying to make it work with a John Deere 2305 Sub-compact. My lift arms are too short to accommodate either stabilizer. Is it possible to adjust the long bolt underneath without attaching the left stabilizer?
gorlux You can try it that way. It'll partially work. The bar will never come up right. If you adjust the bolt enough to raise the bar up, then it will be off the ground when you let the mower down. Adjust it to a point, the bar toward the tractor will come up pretty good, it'll travel at an angle. The outside shoe will clear the ground some. And that'll probably be about as good as it gets. I hope this helps you. I see pics of them on ebay frequently running them like that, and folks seem to be happy with them. We would have answered sooner, but just saw your comment today.
Cynthia Metcalfe Thanks for the reply. I ended up removing both stabilizers and the push rod with the left stabilizer. Then I attached a chain from where the push bar attaches to the left lift arm of the tractor. I then tightened the linkage through to the inner foot area. This allowed the outer foot area to come off the ground when the inner foot is lifted, and I think reduced the ground pressure on the outer foot. Was able to cut 4 acres of light alfalfa in this configuration.