Alamo 5, 6 CUTTERBAR ADJUSTMENTS, CUTTERBAR ALIGNMENT, GUARD ADJUSTMENT

MAINTENANCE

SB5/6 03/09 Maintenance Section 4-4

MAINTENANCE

CUTTERBAR ADJUSTMENTS

Lead: The lead angle of the cutter bar is preset at the factory at 3/16" per foot. The lead may be changed, if

desired. To reduce the lead, mo ve the washers fro m the outside of the cutter ba r support pla te in between the

rubber strike pad and plate. See Image MntP-0002

Pitch: The pitch of the cutter bar can be infinitely adjusted ± 15° by loosening the three carriage plate

attach ment bolts and moving the two bottom bolts in the curved slots.

All cutting is done by the knife section passing over the ledger plate in the guard. It is vital that these sections

are parallel with ledger plates and in contact with them. See Image MntP-0003

The knife should move smoothly in the cutter bar guides and every kn ife section should rest on the led ger plate

to make a shear cut. This means the guards, ledger plates, wear plates, clip and knife head caps must be in

good condition and correctly set. If these parts become loose or worn, the knife will flop around in the cutter

bar, chewing and tearing instead of cutting.

1. To align the guards, the only method provided to accomplish this very important adjustment is to bend

the guards into alignment with a hammer. No easier method has been found to adjust heavy duty

guards which will stand up in rocky conditions.

NOTE: Guards are cast from alloy steel. If they are worked too much, they will work harden and cannot be

bent. In this case remove the guard from the bar and remove the ledger plate. Heat the guard to a cherry red

and cool. This process will anneal the guard enough that it can be bent.

2. Raise the bar to about 45 degrees. Make sure the knife is at the full retracted position of the stroke so

the flywheel doesn't suddenly turn and catch your fingers in the knife. Shut off the engine and set

parking brake.