Help with sickle bar.

   / Help with sickle bar. #1  

Birch Hill Farm

Bronze Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2011
Messages
98
Location
Kentucky
Tractor
International 444
I recently purchased a old MF sickle bar and it is in great shape, but I am having one problem. The wooden bar that connects the flywheel to the blade keeps popping off at the blade. There is a ball and socket type joint that clamps down by flipping a spring loaded lever causing it to clamp onto the ball mounted to blade. The lever keeps flipping causing it to pop off before I can mow more then a few feet. Could the joint just be weak? Can I clamp it down some how or am I doing something else wrong here? Any help appreciated
Thanks Jon.
 
   / Help with sickle bar. #2  
Is this a case for Duct Tape to keep the lever in place?:)

Wooden Bar = Pitman arm
 
   / Help with sickle bar. #4  
Back when we'd have used Binder twine or Baling wire.:D
 
   / Help with sickle bar.
  • Thread Starter
#5  
It worked! It's mowing just fine now, guess I need to order a new part. So how strong is a wooden pitman arm? Why not use something steel.
 
   / Help with sickle bar. #6  
Good show.:)

Wooden Pitman Arms have been in use for a long time. How strong they are I surely do not know.:)
 
   / Help with sickle bar. #7  
Stay with wood....there's a reason it's made of wood.

You want it to snap if it gets under too much stress, in lieu of something else breaking that will cost a lot more to repair.....
 
 
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