1400 Series Sickle Mower Conditioners 9'3" to 16'

The Model 1459 uses a single sickle for a 9-foot cut and the Models 1474 and 1476 both feature dual sickles to achieve 14-and 16-foot cuts respectively.

The sickle drives are simple and reliable, the sway bar reduces the side to side or up and down movement of the sickle that occurs with wobble box designs.

Decreasing the unwanted movement reduces maintenance and repair costs as well as increases the life of the sickle.

All three mowers feature an adjustable lean-bar. Adjusting the bar to 1/3 crop height starts butt-first feeding which helps keep leaves on the stem as well as promotes more uniform and thorough conditioning.

The reel is belt driven on all models, using belt slippage to protect the reel drive is a simple and effective system that eliminates the need for a slip clutch reducing maintenance costs. Reel speed is easily adjustable by the use of shims which allows the operator to match reel speed with crop and field conditions. Tine release is cam track controlled and can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of crop conditions. The reel bulkheads are bolted on so a fifth bat can be added to the Model 1459 and a sixth bat can be added to all three mowers to accommodate very heavy crops.

The dual, counter rotating, augers evenly feed crop to the conditioners.  Dual augers provide two live feeding surfaces (the augers) as opposed to one live (auger) and one stationary surface (header pan) in a single auger header. Dual augers do a better job of maintaining butt first orientation which promotes more even, consistent and thorough conditioning, while keeping more leaves on the stem. The dual augers are fixed with a center carrier.  The center support helps reduce flexing and wear on the auger.

Both augers are also slip cultch protected to minimize damage in the event an obstruction is encountered in the field. Many competitors use a single floating auger that tends to feed crop in bunches while in heavy conditions and does not maintain the butt first orientation.

The over-the-top, box frame design carries the header much like a self-propelled machine for better ground-hugging flotation and higher windrow clearance.

1. Mounting the header to the frame in this manner allows the header to be pushed rather than pulled through the field.  This design allows the header to closely follow ground contours with less chance of the head digging into the ground, reducing chances of header damage. 
2. By using multiple flotation springs the header has both vertical and radial flotation for maximum response to changing field conditions.
3. With the use of forming shields and swath board adjustments, various windrow widths – 40- to 110-inches can be achieved to meet harvesting and drying requirements.
4. Hesston introduced the first center pivot windrower in 1974.  The innovation now continues with the Massey Ferguson center pivot design which increases productivity by allowing the mower to be pulled on either side of the tractor.  The operator can mow up and back on the same end of the field instead of driving around the field like the L-frame design requires.