Hay season stops when your Mower-Conditioner stops. This Ford New Holland 472, 477, 478, 479, 488 Service Manual (OEM #40047253) runs 24 pages and stays on one job: getting the machine cutting again. It walks the full wobble drive and gearbox rebuild sequences, reel shimming and tine bar bearing work, and conditioner roll removal on both the right and left sides. Exploded views show how each component stacks together, and torque tables tell you where to stop the wrench: knife head bolts at 85 ft. lbs. (115 N·m), reel drive chain deflection set to 1/4" (6.3 mm). These are the factory numbers, not forum guesses. Every section is bookmarked, so you can jump to wobble drive, gearbox, or conditioner rolls on a phone in the field or a laptop in the shop.
What's Inside This Ford New Holland 472–488 Series Manual
| System | Pages | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 2 | Manual Purpose, Determining Left and Right on Equipment, Manual Procedures, Keep Children Away at All Times |
| Safety | 4 | - |
| Wobble Drive | 5-9 | Assembly |
| Gear Box | 10-12 | Gearbox, Assembly |
| Reel | 13-16 | Reel Drive Disassembly, Reel Shimming, Tine Bar Bearings |
| Conditioner Rolls | 17-20 | Roll Removal (Right Side), Roll Removal (Left Side) |
| Optional Lift Cylinder | 21-22 | Assembly |
Every system also includes assembly.
Quick Reference Specifications
| Specification | Value | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Trunnion bearing hub rotational force (achieved by tightening bolts B and C, Figure 7) | 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) | p. 8 |
| Knife sections to ledger surface clearance | rest lightly | p. 9 |
| Knife head bolt torque | 85 ft. lbs. (115 N·m) | p. 9 |
| Knife sections position relative to guard points | midway between the guard points | p. 9 |
| Reel drive chain deflection | 1/4" (6.3 mm) | p. 14 |
| Knife sections to ledger surface of guards clearance | rest lightly | p. 9 |
| Wobble shaft bearings running fit torque | 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) | p. 8 |
| Trunnion bearing hub rotational force | 6-10 in. Ibs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) | p. 8 |
| Sickle drive belt deflection force | 15-lb. (67 N) | p. 20 |
| Sickle drive belt deflection range | 1/4" to 3/8" (6.3-9.5 mm) | p. 20 |
| Wobble Hub Bearing Running Fit | 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) | p. 7 |
| Trunnion Bearing Cap Rotation Force | 6-10 in. Ibs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) | p. 7 |
Ford New Holland 472–488 Series Common Problems This Manual Covers
New Holland haybine reel drive chain runs dry, noisy, or throws off the sprocket p. 14
Check reel drive chain deflection at the midpoint of the longest free span. Correct deflection is 1/4" (6.3 mm) per the reel drive specs on page 14. Inspect all oiling points and lubricate the chain on your regular maintenance schedule. If the chain is kinked, stretched beyond adjustment, or has stiff links, replace it.
Manual Section: ReelGearbox runs hot, makes grinding noise, or leaks oil around the input shaft p. 10
Confirm oil level with the head lowered to operating position; low or contaminated oil is the first suspect on any gearbox complaint. If noise persists after topping off, disassemble per page 10 and measure gear backlash; spec is 0.004" to 0.012" (page 12). Replace input shaft seals if oil weeps around the shaft.
Manual Section: Gear BoxCutterbar skips, plugs with hay, or leaves uncut strips across the swath p. 9
Inspect each knife section for dull edges, cracks, or missing tips; replace worn sections and bent guards together. Knife sections should rest lightly against the ledger surface and sit midway between the guard points. After installing new sections, torque the knife head bolt locknut to 85 ft. lbs. (115 N·m) as specified on page 9.
Manual Section: Wobble DriveWobble drive vibrates excessively or sickle stroke feels erratic at full PTO speed p. 5
Remove and disassemble the wobble drive per the service procedures starting on page 5. Inspect trunnion and hub bearings for pitting, roughness, or side play. Reassembled wobble hub bearings should rotate with a running fit of 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m). Add or remove shims as needed to achieve zero end play on the wobble shaft assembly.
Manual Section: Wobble DriveConditioning rolls bind, squeal, or leave uneven stem crimping across the cut width p. 17
Pull the conditioner rolls per page 17 and inspect surfaces for flat spots, scoring, or bearing roughness. Spin each roll by hand to confirm it turns freely with no end bearing binding. On reassembly, verify rolls are timed correctly per the assembly instructions. Also check sickle drive belt deflection: spec is 1/4" to 3/8" (6.3-9.5 mm) per page 20.
Manual Section: Conditioner RollsReel wobbles side to side or tine bars run rough after a season of heavy use p. 15
Measure reel end play by pushing the shaft side to side; shim per page 15 to no more than 1/32" (0.8 mm). Also verify reel sprocket and sheave end play does not exceed 1/16" (1.6 mm) per page 14. On models 472, 478, and 488, tine bar bearings are sealed units and require no lubrication.
Manual Section: ReelFrequently Asked Questions
What are the torque specs for the wobble box or cutter bar on a New Holland 472/477/478/479/488?
On the wobble shaft assembly, install the washer and hex nut and tighten until the bearings reach a running fit of 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m). Add or subtract shims under the bearing cups until it takes 6-10 in. lbs. (0.68-1.13 N·m) to rotate the hub. Tighten the knife head bolt locknut to 85 ft. lbs. (115 N·m).
How do you adjust the knife, ledger plate, or cutter bar on a New Holland 472/477/478/479/488?
Turn the drive sheave and position the knife so the knife head bolt can be installed. Adjust the knife head up or down on the bushing until the knife sections rest lightly on the ledger surface of the guards at D. Tighten the clamp bolt, C, with the knife sections mid-way between the guard points.
How do you service or rebuild the conditioner rolls on a New Holland 472/477/478/479/488?
When installing conditioner rolls, time and match them correctly so the roll lugs spiral material toward the center of the unit. If roll bearings come out or get replaced, pack the bearing shrouds with a bearing sealer-grease. Full removal and assembly steps run from page 17 to 20.
What format is this manual in?
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Document Quality
This is a scanned document, not a native digital PDF, as indicated by the "Reprinted" note and slight background variations. An OCR layer is present, allowing you to search and copy the full text of the manual. The text is crisp and clear throughout, making it easy to read. All diagrams and illustrations are raster images, but they are sufficiently clear with readable labels. The pages are clean with no significant scan artifacts, stains, or skewed content, and there are no notable blank pages.
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