How do I repair the drive chain on an old sully rake

[megotatractor]

Hello,

I have an old old sully rake sitting on my acreage from a previous owner. It's either a new idea or Minneapolis Moline. It has the old square link drive chain which is broken. I have spare pieces of chain from which to borrow a link. Problem is how do I open the links and reclose them to make a new chain? Is there a tool? I tried heating but my soldering torch isn't hot enough. I cannot find the right size links at the farm store to replace the links. We had a wind storm which has left corn husks all over my yard 31/2 acres and it would be great to get this rake working to clean this mess up. thanks.

 

[Egon]

If my memory still works you bend two links together and then they hammer apart. No heat required.

 

[megotatractor]

OH DUH! When you said hammer the links apart it ocurred to me to try to knock them SIDEWAYS!!!!!! I was trying everything to bend and pry them open the HARD way. That was too easy. Got the rake working now, it just doesn't work very well yet until I get all the rusty adjustments loosened up. Thanks.

 

[Egon]

Sorry about that. I should have mentioned which way you hit them.

Spray oil on the chain when its running if that's possible and the rust soon disappears. For some strange reason I'd recommend chainsaw bar oil?

Didn't have that back when!

 

[trac]

Some of us would like to see a picture of that rake if that is possible. Thank you- Trac

 

[megotatractor]

Well, I long ago gave up using this thing to rake the lawn. Thought it was a good idea at the time but it's just too worn out. Now it is a creative garden bench.
Woud still like to identify it and hopefully find a photo to help paint it original colors. found some red paint on the gears if that helps. Any remaining paint on the wheels is inconclusively either red or yellow, not sure.
thanks

 

[megotatractor]

Bigger pic...

 

[MIKE R]

Chainsaw bar oil works because it stick on the chain and does mot fling off like lighter oils. Good luck.

 

[MIKE R]

Take a look on the hubs for any Identification casting marks or on the gears.

 

[megotatractor]

What am I looking for? There are stampings here and there on the gears and wheels that don't mean anything to me.

 

[MIKE R]

What am I looking for? There are stampings here and there on the gears and wheels that don't mean anything to me.

You should look for raised markings with letters. They would look like a company logo and they will be on most is not all cast parts. Here is an example of casting marks on my 1925 Massey Harris Mower. Take note of the <M-H> its there logo.

 

[flusher]

That old square link chain is called steel detachable chain. You can get info by googling. My old Minneapolis Moline P3-6 grain drill uses the smallest size SDC, which is #25. You can get replacement chain from AgriSupply.

Agri Supply - Search

It's pretty easy to open and close the links (hence the name). Here's I TBN thread I started a while ago that shows how to open the links. To close the links, you line up the sides of one of the links with the slot in the other link and use a pair of channel lock pliers to snap them together.

Good luck.

 

[flusher]

Oops, forgot the link

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/209793-antique-drive-chain-my-grain.html

 

[megotatractor]

You should look for raised markings with letters. They would look like a company logo and they will be on most is not all cast parts. Here is an example of casting marks on my 1925 Massey Harris Mower. Take note of the <M-H> its there logo.

I was sitting on my bench/rake tonight and spotted a logo of some sort on one of the yokes but too small and rusty to recognize, will have to go back up there later with a flashlight and my eyeglasses and try to make it out. Most all the parts are stamped with similar part numbers; H133 for example. Seems to be recurring theme on this rake, an alpha follwed by 3 digits, most if not all start with "H".

 

[MIKE R]

I was sitting on my bench/rake tonight and spotted a logo of some sort on one of the yokes but too small and rusty to recognize, will have to go back up there later with a flashlight and my eyeglasses and try to make it out. Most all the parts are stamped with similar part numbers; H133 for example. Seems to be recurring theme on this rake, an alpha follwed by 3 digits, most if not all start with "H".

You can take a wire brush to it or put some oil or any wet liquid on a rag a lighty skim over the tops of the logo to wetten them to make them readable.