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Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:21 pm
by Dan England
There have been lots of posts on sickle mowers recently. If your use of a sickle mower is a new experience, pay attention to the following posts.

Dan England wrote:Ronny: The sickle mower is a very dangerous implement if one doesn't practice proper safety precautions. Before you handle the mower do a search for posts on "sickle mower safety". It is very important that you do this. Dan


Barnyard wrote:Ronny, Ditto to what Dan says. If you move that mower keep your hands away from those knives. When moved the knives can move also. Fingers tend to disappear before you even know it.

The Cub 22 unit is an excellent implement for mowing pond banks, along ditches and under the canopy of trees. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS IMPLEMENT IF NOT USED PROPERLY. Dan

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:53 pm
by Bigdog
That's an excellent point Dan. Many older implements would make OSHA inspectors tremble today. You should not operate any old implement without understanding the safety issues. Especiall important with sickle bar mowers is not operating them when children and pets are present.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:08 pm
by Lurker Carl
Speaking of fingers, children and unsuspecting adults - fashion a guard or cage to keep curious hands out of the knives when the mower is not in operation. Something simple, like two planks bolted to cover both sides of the cutting edge or a stiff wire mesh with openings too small for fingers to penetrate or even a length of PVC pipe with a slot along the length. Anything to stop fingers from getting lopped off.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:14 pm
by Bigdog
A length of 4 square per inch hardware cloth makes a dandy sickle bar shield too. And it's relatively inexpensive.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:13 pm
by Mr E
Do I remember Barnyard having a submission to the Cub BOK on Sickle Mower Safety?

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:23 pm
by ajhaig
I'm glad to read this, I've been thinking about getting a sickle bar mower, but with two young children... I think I'll replace the blades on my Motts flail mower instead.

AJ

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:26 pm
by Lurker Carl
I remember someone at the Cub Tug getting molested by a sickle mower right before dragging the sled down the track. The pointed guards can inflict as painful an injury as those cutting edges.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:48 pm
by Dan England
Yes, Roy, Barnyard will have an article ready soon. Safety is always an important topic but more so on this type mower than on most Cub implements. Dan

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:52 pm
by Barnyard
Lurker Carl wrote:I remember someone at the Cub Tug getting molested by a sickle mower right before dragging the sled down the track. The pointed guards can inflict as painful an injury as those cutting edges.

Gee, I wonder how many Cubs had sickle mowers on at the Tug. The back side of the blade hurts too. :lol:

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:49 pm
by beaconlight
Phew when I read the subject I was afraid to open the thread.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:45 pm
by Buzzard Wing
Any mower can be very dangerous. I have cut the top off of granite with my C-2. :oops:

When a 4 year old girl was venturing into my garage I said it's dangerous. She said 'what is dangerous?' and I said everything may be dangerous so try and be aware of your surroundings.... she managed to navigate the mess with great dexterity. Hopefully I taught her something that will keep her safer. Any other youngster I would just say 'don't go in there'.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:09 am
by JGtools
I Worked part time as a emt-I / Ambulance for about 8 years. The calls we did not like were those to farm accidents. We always new that farm accidents are not good. I have seen with my own eyes what a PTO shaft can do. Ill never forget one call to a farm, the young child was riding on the fender of Dads tractor with dad driving..child fell off tractor and dad ran child over,child died few days later. on another call to a farm accident, a young man was filling tractor gas tank, while tractor was running and hot, gas ignited, and young man was burned 2nd and 3rd degree about 40% of his body , mostly to the hands/face/neck/ chest. I hope and pray that everyone who operates equipment puts safety # 1 . Thanks for posting this safety message. Jim G.

Re: Sickle Mower Safety

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:44 am
by Dan England
Thank you, Jim. We need to always practice good safety procedures and also remind others from time to time of the importance of being safety conscious. Your post contains a clear message of what can happen when we fail to use care. Jeff Silvey does a great job in this area also. Dan