MF sickle mower

[jlbash1]

Guys, I have a MF sickle bar mower that is a 7 footer. it has no tag or identifying marks that i can tell to determine the model #. I am needing to get some parts for this machine and I don't know what to order. Any help here? it is a belt drive mower BTW.

Also are there any good online places to order parts for sickle mowers? I am needing to replace the wear plates on the guards, hopefully that's what they are called. I may also need a few other things.

This is my first official year cutting hay and I'm kinda new at it and it's just about time to cut my timothy.

I may be able to post picture if that would help.

Thanks in advance.

Jarrod

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Is it belt driven? Or does it have a wooden "pitman arm"? Most common belt driven model was the #41 DynaBalance. They were built for Massey, by Vermeer during the mid 60's 'till late 80's if I recall correctly.

Any way to shoot us a picture?

 

[sweettractors]

MF or TSC should have wear parts for your beltdrive mower--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New First Choice Roto Tillers and Finish Mowers in Stock Today*

 

[jlbash1]

It is a belt drive mower.

I don't have a digital camera real handy, but i may be able to bum one.

I did call one MF dealer and they couldn't help me over the phone. They said they would need a model # or have me bring it in. They went out of business not too long after that. Don't have a massey dealer too close these days and don't have a TSC store either. It would be nice to just order these bad boys.

I'll try to at least get a picture of the guard if not the whole machine. It seems like the guards at rural king that are sold for Fords are the same as mine if that helps.

I didn't see any wear plates on the TSC web site or any other for that matter. Any suggestions of a good supplier online?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Try Valu-Bilt or Agri-Supply. Both carry everything you'll need. I'm not aware of any Massey belt-driven mowers that don'tt use the same "standard" guard and section. There'll probably only be one or 2 listed. Might figure it out by process of elimination.

 

[tude]

You can also try Webb's Sickle Service Inc. (sickleservice.com)

 

[jlbash1]

Thanks for the web sites guys, I didn't find what I'm looking for exactly. Looks like I'll have to make the trip to the dealer. Sure wish we had a MF dealer a little closer.

I don't have any pictures just yet, but I do have a mower that is just for parts that says it's a model 31. Mine is close but a little different so maybe that'll help a little.

 

[jlbash1]

WOW! Just got off the phone with the nearest dealer. They don't have any in stock, but they can have them there by wednesday. I was thinking they would come in packages of 10 or so for around $10. I was wrong.......way wrong. They are $3.77 each plus $8.00 for 1 pound of rivets. So for the 27 I need and a few extra I'm looking at nearly $130.

They don't have the right guards at rural King, but the for guards that are REAL similar cost about $4.99 each ready to roll.

I just called a TSC store to price their guards, they will call me back. Sure wasn't expecting it to cost this much for something I would think is a commonly replaced part on these mowers.

I'm cheap.

 

[HammerFour]

I think you need to take some pieces off the bar ( guards, etc ) around to a few farm supply stores and get them that way. I know the sickle knife sections I put on last year were more like $10 for a box of 10 then $3 each, I didn't need any guards so didn't price those.

I would bet the dealer will be the most expensive place to get those common parts anyhow.

Oh, and use sickle bolts instead of rivets, much easier to replace any broken or dull sections.

Here is the part listing from sickleservice.com for the MF parts:
http://www.sickleservice.com/modelList.php?company_id=16

It lists sickle sections for less than a dollar, with the OEM part number. So....get the part number from your dealer, cross reference it at sickleservice.com or wherever, and there you go.

The main thing is figure out what model number it is, look at ytmag.com at the implement photos, post a picture of it here and over there, once you have the model number, you will be set when it comes to finding parts you need without paying the dealers high prices.

 

[jlbash1]

So I found out by talking to the dealer that what I am calling wear plates are really called ledger plates. I did a Google search for ledger plates and came up with a website that had the parts for $1.87. Much better. Turns out that they are located in Glasgow, KY which isn't too far from me at all, but they don't have a store front.

The company is tractor parts inc.

I ordered one just to be on the safe side and if it's right I'll order the rest. I'll let you guys know how it comes out. I'll try to get a camera and take a picture of the mower too.

Thanks

 

[jlbash1]

The part came in the next day and it was exactly what i needed. I ordered 30 more on thursday afternoon and should have them today. I had to order rivets from the MF dealer at $8.00/lb so no biggie there. It'll be time to cut hay when i get this thing back together.

New question. While searching the internet I ran across some literature from the late 50's about MF sickle bar mowers. They showed them mowing below horizontal and above horizontal. How can I tell if my mower is capable of this? I believe it can mow above horizontal, but if it can go below I think I would at least have to do some adjusting to let the bar drop. Anybody know?

Thanks again

 

[jlbash1]

The part came in the next day and it was exactly what i needed. I ordered 30 more on thursday afternoon and should have them today. I had to order rivets from the MF dealer at $8.00/lb so no biggie there. It'll be time to cut hay when i get this thing back together.

New question. While searching the internet I ran across some literature from the late 50's about MF sickle bar mowers. They showed them mowing below horizontal and above horizontal. How can I tell if my mower is capable of this? I believe it can mow above horizontal, but if it can go below I think I would at least have to do some adjusting to let the bar drop. Anybody know?

Thanks again

 

[HammerFour]

Our IH sickle will cut below horizontal, there is a linkage that goes from a roller under one of the tractors 3ph arms to a pivot to the sickle bar that will raise the sickle bar when the 3ph arms raise.

As long as there is enough slack in that when the mower is lowered to its operating level ( main deck of the mower about a foot off the ground for us ) the bar will droop enought to cut ditches and pond banks. Ours will barely lift the bar at all when the 3ph is all the way up so with it down the bar can drop quite a ways.

I'm glad to hear you got the parts you need. One of the challenges to using older equipment is having sources for the parts needed to keep it working well.

 

[HammerFour]

Our IH sickle will cut below horizontal, there is a linkage that goes from a roller under one of the tractors 3ph arms to a pivot to the sickle bar that will raise the sickle bar when the 3ph arms raise.

As long as there is enough slack in that when the mower is lowered to its operating level ( main deck of the mower about a foot off the ground for us ) the bar will droop enought to cut ditches and pond banks. Ours will barely lift the bar at all when the 3ph is all the way up so with it down the bar can drop quite a ways.

I'm glad to hear you got the parts you need. One of the challenges to using older equipment is having sources for the parts needed to keep it working well.