Finding Sms425 parts

[Brady.Murphy 2]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum. I've recently bought a wheel horse with the sms425 sickle bar attachment. After using it to mow the yard the shaft in the wobble box sheared a clip and broke the yoke. A friend of mine fixed the shaft and welded the yoke but it broke again today. Anyone know where to find the shaft and a yoke?

[roadapples 6,983]

Don`t know much about a sickle bar except they are very hard to find, and you start out with one..   and   

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,032]

Hope you are not running it too fast. They will literally shake themselves apart. Mine is not Wheel Horse but I run it at idle speed.

 

Garry

[Brady.Murphy 2]

I don't believe it's running too fast because at idle speed it barely cuts and clogs up. It works like a charm when it's not broke. I bought it from someone who was a collector and he must not have restored many. I think I lost at least 10 misc. parts on the first run. I think the parts are original which is probably why they're breaking now. Anyone know of anyone that makes these parts? Thanks for the welcome btw.

[wheelhorseman 3,211]

What parts are you looking for besides the yoke and pin?

Edited May 10, 2017 by wheelhorseman1000

[Brady.Murphy 2]

The yoke and pin are the only parts I need for the sickle bar. Some parts are missing off the tractor but most that fell off were found. I know for sure I'm missing the shifter knob and and a little boot that covers the spindle nut. I can find most of the missing parts locally but I can't seem to find the yoke. Does anyone know if a machine shop could make them?

[MalMac 1,331]

Your up against a sizable problem. Your using a implement that has not been made in years. Finding a sickle bar can be a feat in itself, let alone find parts. You are going to have to find another sickle bar for parts which is really not easy to do. Your best bet is going to be a machine shop that  specializes power transmission/driveline repair. They will ether be able to make or know of another source to buy what you need. A lot of times other equipment use the same thing. In ether case the cost will be a big factor. You could probably go and find another means to cutting whatever it is your trying to cut more economically then fixing that sickle bar. It's unfortunate, but the sickle bar has become a obsolete implement. It's moved into more of a collector display type of thing. With the advent of the Bush Hog and the fact that I am sure the Sickle Bar caused legal dept's to have nightmares, the sickle had gone by the way of a threshing machine.

[pfrederi 17,663]

Almost gone

Edited May 10, 2017 by pfrederi

[pfrederi 17,663]

Using a sickle bar is differnet than a more modern a discbine or the like.  You do not go as fast and they do not like damp/wet grass.  I have  a753 with a sickle bar.  I switched out the tranny to make it an 8 speed.  That way i can get the ground speed correct as to fast will create clogging and jamming.  Like Gary I do not run it at full throttle.  On my DC3 above I run it in 1st or second gear at about half throttle.