Specs Hub » New Holland » New Holland 488

New Holland 488 Haybine Mower-Conditioner Specifications

Complete factory specifications for the New Holland 488 Haybine side-pull mower-conditioner, transcribed from the specifications section of the New Holland 488 manual. The 488 was one of the longest-lived implements in New Holland's catalog — in production from mid-1977 until 2023, when it closed out the Haybine sickle mower-conditioner line New Holland had pioneered in 1964. With a 9 ft. 3 in. cutter bar, a 35 hp minimum tractor requirement, and 540 RPM PTO drive, it was the small-farm haymaking standard for over four decades, and a huge number are still cutting today. Specifications below cover dimensions, tractor requirements, cutting, reel, sickle drive, conditioner rolls, gearbox, wheels, and material discharge — including the factory New Holland part numbers for knife hardware.

Jump to: Measurements · Tractor Requirements · Cutting · Reel · Sickle Drive · Conditioner Rolls · Speed · Gearbox · Wheels · Material Discharge · Optional Equipment

Mower-Conditioner Measurements

Overall Width	3.71 m (12 ft. 2 in.)
Overall Length	4.06 m (13 ft. 4 in.)
Operating Reel Height	1.07 m (42 in.)
Transport Reel Height	1.70 m (67 in.)
Total Weight (approximate)	1,253 kg (2,763 lbs.)
Transport Ground Clearance — Guard	406 mm (16 in.)
Transport Ground Clearance — Frame Pipe	410 mm (16-1/4 in.)

Tractor Requirements

Horsepower	35 hp (26 kW)
Hitch	ASAE standard drawbar
Mower-Conditioner Drive	PTO (540 RPM)

Cutting

Cutting Height	32–108 mm (1-1/4 in. – 4-1/4 in.)
Cutter Bar Width	2.82 m (9 ft. 3 in.)
Swath Width	2.42 m (8 ft. 0 in.)1
Tread Width	2.79 m (9 ft. 2 in.)
Operating Ground Clearance — Frame Pipe	210 mm (8-1/4 in.)

Reel

Peripheral Speed	10.5–13.8 kph (6.5–8.5 mph)
Maximum Diameter	1.073 m (42-1/4 in.)
Bearings	Steel-backed bronze bushings
Tine Bar Bearings	Urethane (non-lube)

Sickle Drive

Speed	816 cycles (1,632 strokes) per minute
Stroke	76 mm (3 in.)
Knife Head Bolt	NH #88966
Knife Head Bolt Locknut	NH #88130
Knife Head Bushing	NH #254132
Knife Section Bolt Seating Tool	NH #KX711426DS

Conditioner Rolls

OD of Upper and Lower Roll	264 mm (10-3/8 in.)
Length (Crushing Area)	2.59 m (8 ft. 6 in.)

Speed

Operating Field Speed	Up to 12.8 kph (8 mph)
Maximum Transport Speed	32 kph (20 mph) maximum

Gearbox

Bearings	Tapered roller bearings
Lubricant	API-GL-5 80W-90 gear oil

Wheels

Wheel Type	15 in. drop center rim
Tire Type	27 x 9.50-15, 6 ply tubeless
Left Tire Pressure	138 kPa (20 psi)2
Right Tire Pressure	248 kPa (36 psi)2
Wheel Bearings	Tapered rollers

Material Discharge

Swath	Adjustable gate delivers fluffed crop
Windrow	Adjustable baffle delivers windrow for baling or silage

Optional Equipment

Hydraulic Lift Cylinder

SMV Emblem

Spare Knife Holder

Left Crop Divider

Pushbar Extensions

Notes:
1. Swath width is transcribed as printed in the factory manual. The metric and imperial figures differ slightly (2.42 m converts to approximately 7 ft. 11 in.; 8 ft. 0 in. converts to 2.44 m) — this minor inconsistency appears in the source document itself.
2. The left/right tire pressure difference is as specified by the factory — the two sides of a side-pull mower-conditioner carry different loads, and the pressures are intentionally unequal. Inflate each side to its own specification.