42" sickle question - and belt cover

[mikef18 43]

I'm cleaning up a 42" sickle that I recently acquired and need the belt cover if anyone happens to have one?

Also a question on filling the wobble box with oil, do you fill it up to the fill hole with the sickle in it's down position and fill hole would be on the side (see pic) which would only fill the box about 1/3? 

[Ed Kennell 38,165]

@Lane Ranger    Any help Lane?

[Racinbob 11,074]

They aren't specific what position the wobble box should be when they state 'to the level of the fill hole' but I believe they mean when it's on the side as it would be with the bar lowered. I just check mine with the bar vertical and keep it about halfway. The mechanics of it tells you that will work fine.

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

 

Not sure what belt cover you are needing as there is one metal sheet under the tractor that covers the 90 degree turn frame in front.   That cover was added later by Wheel Hors as the first sickles did not have it and they accumulated debris.

 

As to the oil if you wobble box is tight and has new bearings, brass bushings and oil seals the flat metal side with sheet metal screws will need a gasket.   I used cork gasket material on the ones I redid in the past.  They sometimes leak and I never used  any kind of extra caulk/permetex etc.     You  really can/t overload the wobble box with oil.  I think originally they did recommend 30 Weight oil and it worked fine.  There is a lot of activity going on in that wobble box.

 

I had to have a machine shop make a pin that wore or broke that sets in the middle of the wobble box on the yoke and eccentric .  It has e clips on each end.   I never had a wobble box get very very hot but you can imagine the heat if you are using one for an hour or so.  

 

I had some heavy duty stainless steel sickle bar pins made several years ago as one of the main parts to protect and care for is the pin that runs the blade and connects to the wobble box.   I know Racinbob  bought one and I sold about 20 others.   You can't get them from Toro.

 

 

The wobble box will very often have leaks after rebuilds.  You want to leak to be as little as possible but not unusual to have drips and oil around the box.

 

The blades and sickle bar need to be greased , oiled etc at each use and in between to avoid getting rust.

 

 

The part # 5598 belt cover is a simple piece of sheet metal.  The original went inside the metal frame and was secured by four sheet metal screws.  I would prefer the cover to go around the top and bottoms of the frame and be secured by sheet metal screws as it would be easier to service and remove/install when the sickle is off your tractor.  The pulleys in this 90 degree area need to be very good ones! 
 

 

Edited September 9 by Lane Ranger

[mikef18 43]

Hi Lane,

Thanks for all the good info. The box was actually only leaking from the top bearing when I flipped it to take apart and there seems to be no seal there so not sure if they were relying on the bearing to seal it? the other seals were good with no leaks but all getting replaced. Overall it's in very good original condition. Yes that is the cover I need, will most likely be making one, there are holes in the frame for it but they don't look like they were ever used.

[mikef18 43]

Got it all cleaned up & back together with new seals. Made a belt cover, embellished a little over the original design. 

[peter lena 8,622]

@mikef18 looks good, just curious , what are you using for lubricants on that ? those idler pulleys look original ?  sickle bar itself  lube?  never done one , would like too . pete

[mikef18 43]

2 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@mikef18 looks good, just curious , what are you using for lubricants on that ? those idler pulleys look original ?  sickle bar itself  lube?  never done one , would like too . pete

I regreased the bearings with waterproof wheel bearing grease as well as the bar and blades. the idler pulleys are original and felt good so I will see if they last.