Gt14 with a sickle bar

[Sammy 89]

Well fellas I’m curious if this has ever been done before. I have a SML-506 sickle bar mower made for more of the 1277 style of tractor and right now we have it on a bronco 14 because it fit and worked but it has a nasty issue with the engine we need to get figured out. So until we get that taken care of we also have a 1969 gt14, 1-7441. I’m curious to know if there is a way to make this fit onto a gt14 without butchering it all up?

[ebinmaine 67,328]

@Oldskool

Thoughts...? 

[953 nut 55,120]

The GT-14 frame is wider than the Bronco so a spacer should be fabricated to make up the difference.

[cafoose 3,354]

If I'm not mistaken the C series has a different frame plate that the transmission mounts to and that side of the sickle bar needs to be modified for the GT-14. The C series has two holes at the bottom of the frame plate to accommodate the back mounting bracket on the sickle bar. The GT-14 does not have those holes. If I'm not mistaken the 953/1054 sickle will mount up to the GT-14. Wheel horse didn't make a sickle for the GT-14, it was made by Haban for Wheel Horse and sold by Wheel Horse dealers. I think @wheelhorseman and @Lane Ranger may be able to add some info.

[Oldskool 6,640]

I think it may be more work then it would be to fix the engine on your other tractor.

[Sammy 89]

1 hour ago, cafoose said:

If I'm not mistaken the C series has a different frame plate that the transmission mounts to and that side of the sickle bar needs to be modified for the GT-14. The C series has two holes at the bottom of the frame plate to accommodate the back mounting bracket on the sickle bar. The GT-14 does not have those holes. If I'm not mistaken the 953/1054 sickle will mount up to the GT-14. Wheel horse didn't make a sickle for the GT-14, it was made by Haban for Wheel Horse and sold by Wheel Horse dealers. I think @wheelhorseman and @Lane Ranger may be able to add some info.

Thank you for all of that Information, I believe you are right with the information on the holes and the gt14 not having them but I wonder if I could make something up. And we want a gt14 with a sickle and have been unable to find a 953/1054 or a haben sickle. 

[Oldskool 6,640]

Anything is possible. 

I have a Haban from a Bolens on my GT14. I had to build all the mounting brackets for it.

There is a build thread on it here somewhere.

[Lane Ranger 10,947]

Edited July 26, 2022 by Lane Ranger
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[Lane Ranger 10,947]

9 hours ago, cafoose said:

If I'm not mistaken the C series has a different frame plate that the transmission mounts to and that side of the sickle bar needs to be modified for the GT-14. The C series has two holes at the bottom of the frame plate to accommodate the back mounting bracket on the sickle bar. The GT-14 does not have those holes. If I'm not mistaken the 953/1054 sickle will mount up to the GT-14. Wheel horse didn't make a sickle for the GT-14, it was made by Haban for Wheel Horse and sold by Wheel Horse dealers. I think @wheelhorseman and @Lane Ranger may be able to add some info.

We own  a 1966 1054 with a 50 inch cut sickle bar made for the 1054.  We bought in Michigan from one of the original members that formed Red Square. The 1054 frame is one inch wider than the other period Wheel Horse tractors (854, 1055, etc).  
 

The original 953/1054 sickle bar mower attachment did not use the two bolt holes on the back plate of the 1054 where the transmission bolts to the frame.  
 

The original 953/1054 sickle manual. (SMS-50) shows a flat plate attached to the rear transmission bolts as the rear sickle support.  The 1054 had the two side bolt holes on the frame but only the second version of the 1054 sickle had the U shaped link that used 3/4 inch bolts to secure the rear of the sickle frame to the tractor. 

 

I believe the GT-14 frame is also one inch wider than the 854 type frames.  Our 1966 1054 ( we call it the Canadian as it was purchased  in Canada). 
 

I have also owned a Haban sickle that was in a B-100 and I do think the Haban is a superior attachment to the Wheel Horse sickle.  More flexible and heavier duty design.  
 

I know there are many Wheel Horse hydro owners that use tillers and sickles on their hydros but I prefer the four or eight speed transmissions for use with these attachments.  
 

 

CasualObserver posted the drawing of the 953 rear sickle link which I have posted here.  You can see the rear plate for the link is flat with no “wings” to bolt up.  
 

The bolts in the transmission (may need longer)  hold the plate to the frame.  In the later model sickle withe the u shape link it is a round rod in a tube/pipe with a collar to hold the link in place.  That may be a better way to make a new frame link with a flat plate but flexible rod to adjust the link as needed. 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2022 by Lane Ranger

[ztnoo 2,298]

Here's the link to @Oldskool's build thread if anyone needs a reference.