Haban Sickle Bar

[Racinbob 11,045]

@Lane Ranger  is a go-to man on sickle bar mowers and I was going to PM him but I figured I'd tag him so the rest of you could get in on the conversation.

 

I need a sickle bar mower pretty bad and have been looking with no luck. I'd prefer a Wheel Horse branded unit so I could dedicate my 854 to it. I've seen a couple but they were just too far away. I have seen a couple of Habans close enough but they were off other brands and both the attaching method as well as the drive looked nothing like what would work on a Wheel Horse. I'm sure something could be fabricated but a fabrikater I aint.  

 

Lane, I know you have mounted Habans so I was hoping you could enlighten me. Did you fabricate or did Haban make specific units for a Wheel Horse? If anybody else can beat some knowledge in to this aging gray matter I'd appreciate it. Better yet, if anybody can put me on to a unit that will mount up I'd appreciate it. It need to be a reasonable drive from northern Indiana. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

I  don't know if Haban had more than one WH model

 

[WHX?? 48,799]

Yep agreed Lane be the authority on bars. I would think a bar score in your area Bob would be a no brainer given your at the WH mecca of the world, those boys in PA not withstanding.  Did  you happen to check with a Mr Harrison. @hcminis I know he had a couple on 701's for sale that were to die for.   

[Racinbob 11,045]

30 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Yep agreed Lane be the authority on bars. I would think a bar score in your area Bob would be a no brainer given your at the WH mecca of the world, those boys in PA not withstanding.  Did  you happen to check with a Mr Harrison. @hcminis I know he had a couple on 701's for sale that were to die for.   

 

Surprisingly there's very little around here. Prior to the Florida move in 2000 I would see quite a bit as I drove around. Even now I'm always rubbernecking it looking for red but it just isn't there. Thanks for the tag to Mr Harrison. I'll give it a few days and if I don't hear from him I'll send him a message. 

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

The 414 Haban was made specifically for Wheel Horse tractor application. I had one one summer on a B-100 8 speed.  Worked very nice.  I would say much better than the Wheel Horse sickles Bob.  The unit was made for Wheel Horse and no fabrication needed by me.  I did change a pulley or two and new belts.   I liked the Haban cutter bar much better than the Wheel Horse version.  Just a stronger knife blade setup. 

 

   I sold mine to DJ Harrison.   He sold to a guy in South Dakota!

 

There was a bargain at the Wheel Horse Big Show this year!   I walked around this thing three times wanting to buy but no way to haul!  Had an original  guard on it too. Tractor and Haban $800!  Haban was worth $800 in my opinion.

 

There is also another rare sickle that was made for Wheel Horse, the Didier which has hydraulics on it .  I have only seen two or three of these .  
 

see pics at. 

 

 

A good 42 inch Wheel Horse sickle mower on a 854 tractor will do the job ok and and no fabricating needed!

 

Those Wheel Horse sickles are still hiding in barns in northern Indiana.  A friend just traded a Farmall full size tractor for an 854 with a Wheel Horse sickle with an extra knife blade in Plymouth. 

 

I am still working on rebuilding a 42 inch one for a friend.  There has to be almost five hundred parts in a Wheel Horse sickle! 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by Lane Ranger

[Racinbob 11,045]

That's the info I was looking for Lane. I believe the Haban I ran across was for a Cub. Now I know not to buy any Haban but if I come across one for a Wheel Horse I would. I would prefer a Wheel Horse if for no other reason I'm familiar with the. I had one before we moved to Florida and worked the snot out of it. I dedicated a tractor to it. I don't remember the year but it was a real early 60's (flat steering wheel and older style front axle). I had transplanted a K181 on it and with a large wheel weight on the left rear it did a great job. Just another thing I regret selling because of the move. The Habans look heavier and stick out further to the right. Do you have any issue with keeping the left rear planted? Most of my work was with the bar at about a 45° angle and without the wheel weight I would find it pretty light on the left side. 

[953 nut 55,112]

5 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

The Habans look heavier and stick out further to the right. Do you have any issue with keeping the left rear planted? Most of my work was with the bar at about a 45° angle and without the wheel weight I would find it pretty light on the left side.

                            Perhaps a liquid filled left tire would do the trick.

[Racinbob 11,045]

8 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

                            Perhaps a liquid filled left tire would do the trick.

Absolutely. The weight I put on it was a chunk of steel about 3" thick and filled the perimeter of the rim so it was about 12" in diameter. I don't remember what it weighted but it was a bunch. 

[WHX?? 48,799]

Come to think of it Tom @Shynon had one on the 867 he sold to me. Didn't go with the tractor but could have if I'd ponied up. He might still have it  I'll ask him later today. He's at the Portage show with us. 

Edited July 8, 2021 by WHX24

[Racinbob 11,045]

10 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

Come to think of it Tom @Shynon had one on the 867 he sold to me. Didn't go with the tractor but could have if I'd ponied up. He might still have it  I'll ask him later today. He's at the Portage show with us. 

 

 Cool! I believe the 867 is a short WB so it would mount right up to my 854. I could still see a problem with the distance though. 

[WHX?? 48,799]

35 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

could still see a problem with the distance though. 

Naw that's just geography. We get it to you somehow, Kev @pullstart is quite the traveler ya know! 

Yes 867 is a shorty so fit right up. I shoulda got it when offered but I already have a lady in waiting I ever get around to finish it. 

[Racinbob 11,045]

2 hours ago, WHX24 said:

Naw that's just geography. We get it to you somehow, Kev @pullstart is quite the traveler ya know! 

Yes 867 is a shorty so fit right up. I shoulda got it when offered but I already have a lady in waiting I ever get around to finish it. 

 

 

If something could be worked out it would be great but I don't want to put anybody out. If I'm thinking right I think Kevin is a pretty easy drive. I'd like to see all his toys anyways. 

[hcminis 1,555]

On 7/7/2021 at 12:45 PM, Racinbob said:

 

Surprisingly there's very little around here. Prior to the Florida move in 2000 I would see quite a bit as I drove around. Even now I'm always rubbernecking it looking for red but it just isn't there. Thanks for the tag to Mr Harrison. I'll give it a few days and if I don't hear from him I'll send him a message. 

 

Sorry, I do not have any sickle bars anymore.  Down sized my collection and got rid of them all along with my 701 tractors

[Racinbob 11,045]

Thanks for the comeback. The search continues 

[WHX?? 48,799]

Yah I looked at the show fer ya Bob and talked to DJ but apparently he went to the dark side and was running around on a rat rod! 

[Pullstart 62,807]

There was one at the auction, not exactly for a Wheel Horse but I’m sure adaptable.., it went for something like the $200 mark.  I wanted to bid so bad, but was already afraid for room.  
 

Come to find out, I could have made it fit!  

[Daron1965 644]

With your skill of packing, you have lots of room.