Sickle Bar fun.

[Stormin 9,981]

  A couple of years back, I acquired a 1962 Sickle Bar. Serial number A-40719. No mule drive with it and in my wisdom I thought I'll make one and fit it to my 1979 C-81.

  I refurbished the Sickle bar some time ago. Unfortunately, due to my computer giving up the ghost, I can't access any photo's and Photobucket won't let me access what I have in there. I had to change my e-mail address due to Freeserve/Orange discontinuing things.

  There is an topic on our sister forum www. My Old Machine of the earlier work done. Last week I decided it was about time I dug things out and got stuck in. So here we go.

  

   First thing I did was make a couple of pins to mount the frame at the rear. Save messing about with nuts and boltsI know only one is shown, but I did make two.

 

Here they are fitted.

 

  Next on the list was the mule drive. I got some plate, 22m bar, bearings and pulleys with taperlock bushes.

 

  Then measure up and fabricate the plates. 

 

 Then build up the whole assembly.

 

 Below all bolted on.

 

 

 

  The sickle bar was then fitted and a way of holding it vertical solved by a ratch through my bits and bobs.

 

 

 

 

 One problem here was the lift lever under the tractor. Where it curved down it fouled the belt guard and top pulley. Sorted this by disconnecting it and fastening it up out of the way. A shackle and two links of chain took care of the rest.

 

   On to a clutch to mule drive belt tensioner. My first attempt was unsuccessful. I had an Idea it would be. The belt kept running of the bearing shown.

 

 

 That was all I could find at  the time. Eventually I remembered a box of Husqvarna bits tucked away and found a suitable pulley for the idler.

 

 Here it is set up and all runs well.

 

  The next thing to do is give it a proper trial and all being well, strip down and paint. I still need to make a handle to lift up the cutter bar when down. The original fouls the footplate as it was meant for a machine that didn't have footplates.

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2017 by Stormin

[Bert 760]

Nice work, and that's a good looking  

you have there   

[Achto 27,909]

Awesome job!!! Can't wait to see pictures of it in use.

[Racinbob 11,300]

Excellent!!

[ACman 7,624]

Sweet Norm  !  Your attention to detail is over the top . Can't wait to see it in action.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,358]

I am always amazed at what you Chaps across the pond can make out of bits and pieces.

[ztnoo 2,298]

Exquisite!
Outstanding workmanship and engineering!

What we need next are operational videos of it running.
They are forthcoming, correct???

[Popasmurf 17]

Mighty fine job!

[Chris G 3,296]

Nice job

[Stormin 9,981]

  Stripped it down this morning and did a bit of painting.

 

 

  Put it all back together tonight and found the blade was sticking. Paint had found its way on to the slide. Removed the blade, cleaned it up, replaced and left it running for 15 minutes with a light application of thin oil.

  Maybe try it on some grass tomorrow all being well. It cuts paper.

 

 

[Stormin 9,981]

 All set and ready to go. Unfortunately it'll have to wait. Weather has improved so it's back to silaging at my mates farm.

 

[ztnoo 2,298]

It looks SUPER!!!

Can't wait for a performance report.

Great piece of work and great execution!

Edited July 1, 2017 by ztnoo

[Tuneup 1,433]

Excellent job - innovative!

[Stormin 9,981]

 Finally got round to trying out the sickle bar this afternoon. To say I'm pleased with it is a bit of an understatement. Tried it on the overgrown bridleway past my home. Thick, heavy, long wet grass. Did two passes. One down and one up. 1st gear low box and lowish revs. Result below.

 

 

 

[AMC RULES 37,141]

  Indeed, they are some of the most incredibly fun  attachments to work.  

[Thegearhead0324 1,256]

Yes indeeeedyy. And sickle bars make our tractors look "mean" going down the street while people stare, not that I look for trouble or anything lol.

[Lane Ranger 11,028]

 

My 50 inch Sickle Bar Mower i rebuilt and placed on my 1964  Wheel Horse 854 tractor.

 

Yes this plastic red guard is  sold by  HCminnis (red suaure name   D.J. Harrison from Coatsville, Indiana)

 

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by Lane Ranger

[ztnoo 2,298]

Lane,

Didn't you have one on a 1054 at one time???

 

[WHX?? 49,486]

I missed the whole thread till now Norm ...my bad ....someone come get my sickle I don't deserve it!

 

Looks like Lane is impressed with your work too ... Lane you get to keep yours!  BTW where did you get or how did you make that guard?

 

[Lane Ranger 11,028]

 

 

 

D.J. Harrison sells the sickle bar mower guards.   He is HCMINNINS on red square send him a pm.  They are great and not expensive, Jim!

 

We do still have the 50 inch Wheel Horse Sickle Bar Mower made for the 953/1054 and GT 14 tractors Steve!

 

Here are pics of that tractor and sickle mower.

 

 

[ztnoo 2,298]

Lane,

Well, I'm glad my memory hasn't totally gone to hell......yet.

But, I'd like to clarify something.......

What you have are WH sickle bars (of actual unknown manufacture), correct?

 

DJ told me Haban is the Cadillac of WH sickle bar mowers.

I know of two at the moment, I could possibly secure.

Both 414s.....which as I understand, were specifically for the GT 14.

 

I don't currently have a free GT 14 to mount one to, but I'd like to see these jewels preserved, and serviceable.

 

Sickle bar mowers are very specific to certain chores and applications which other implements don't quite fit the role.

 

[Stormin 9,981]

Lane Ranger, I like the guard.  Now all I have to do is find some sheet metal.

[ztnoo 2,298]

Its a plastic guard, as I understand things.

Communicate with Lane about availability.

[hcminis 1,557]

Yes, I have the plastic guards.  They are $15.00 plus $12.00 shipping 

 

Both of my 701 tractos with sickle bars have the guard 

Edited October 12, 2017 by hcminis

[AMC RULES 37,141]

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