Sickle Bar NH 47 sickle mower question

[shsentyr]

This is my first post to the site. I am trying to keep my 40 ac horse farm running after my husband left. I did not learn much about our implements because he always used/maintained them.

He left me an old tow-behind NH 47 model 7' sickle mower, in pieces in my shop. I bought a new knife assembly and rock guards, and am trying to reassemble it. I think I have the pitman arm/spring attached correctly (I looked for wear patterns on the parts and where they matched, figure I have it together correctly).

I sure would appreciate someone verifying this for me by viewing the attached photo . . .

I'm not sure if something attaches to the "lever" with the hole in it near the spring - am guessing that's the breakaway, but having never run this implement before, I don't know how it should work.

Thanks much.

 

[zzvyb6]

You should buy a manual for the mower asap. Get if from eBay. Also, you can find the parts list and diagrams on the www.newholland.com. Go to parts etc. and then type in your 47 model number. Scroll down until you find your deal and look through it. Good luck. BTW: Where are you located? I'm certain that there are a few TBNers who would be able to help you get up and running. If you are in Michigan, or NE Ohio, PM me. I've made a few road trips to help others. Is the mower to be used to trim fields, start a hay operation or sell?

 

[funny farmer]

looks about right to me. ive tried to use a mower like this the first year i cut hay. I broke the piece you are asking about right away. so I took it over to the nieghbor guy whom I never met before and he could have welded it but he just happened to have one that fit my mower. wouldn't take money for it so off i was to put it back togather. I don't think I made it 1 round and I broke that wood thing they call a pittmen arm. replaced that bout 5 times, and broke something else. fixed that and broke somthing else. Don't know what it was about that mower, mybe my tractor was to big or i was going to fast finally got done cutting what i was going to cut and fixed it agian, just to break it without going 10 feet trying to cut weeds in my pature, so i just backed it into the woods and left it. pissed me off cause i had a new hydraulic clinder, new tires, and a new sickle bar. spent about 400 bucks on it and there it sits. The next year i bought a new holland 479 haybine for 900 bucks, did some work on that and it works like a charm, plus it cuts 9 feet at a time and i can cut with it in 5th gear. Just kind of a funny story, hope you have better luck than I did when I started out. And maybe You can have the chance to meet some of your nieghbors and fond out there are alot of nice people out there. When ever i'm in trouble with something he's the first one I run to, I just hope that some day I can have a chance to return the favors ive gotten from him over the years.

 

[builder2]

This is my first post to the site. I am trying to keep my 40 ac horse farm running after my husband left. I did not learn much about our implements because he always used/maintained them.

He left me an old tow-behind NH 47 model 7' sickle mower, in pieces in my shop. I bought a new knife assembly and rock guards, and am trying to reassemble it. I think I have the pitman arm/spring attached correctly (I looked for wear patterns on the parts and where they matched, figure I have it together correctly).

I sure would appreciate someone verifying this for me by viewing the attached photo . . .

I'm not sure if something attaches to the "lever" with the hole in it near the spring - am guessing that's the breakaway, but having never run this implement before, I don't know how it should work.

Thanks much.

I would say yes, you have the bar attached properly.
While I do not have experience with that particular machine, the lever you are describing locks on to the ball on the sickle much like the old New Idea sickle bars. The hole in the lever could possibly have have had a spring attached to keep it in the closed position around the ball. Look for a spring attachment point on the pitman arm behind the lever. A manual for the mower would be a good thing or visit a dealer as they often have info on old equiptment on microfiche (probably on computer now).
One thing we used to do to the sickle bar was to take it out in the gravel driveway and pour some used motor oil on the sickle and guards while it was running after it had been stored (be careful). This would knock rust off and get it operating pretty smoothly.
Good luck,

Paul

 

[ToadHill]

I have the exact same mower and you do have everything pictured hooked up correctly. Just make sure you grease all fittings every day, those old machines need to be maintained every day they are used.

 

[Roger2561]

This is my first post to the site. I am trying to keep my 40 ac horse farm running after my husband left. I did not learn much about our implements because he always used/maintained them.

He left me an old tow-behind NH 47 model 7' sickle mower, in pieces in my shop. I bought a new knife assembly and rock guards, and am trying to reassemble it. I think I have the pitman arm/spring attached correctly (I looked for wear patterns on the parts and where they matched, figure I have it together correctly).

I sure would appreciate someone verifying this for me by viewing the attached photo . . .

I'm not sure if something attaches to the "lever" with the hole in it near the spring - am guessing that's the breakaway, but having never run this implement before, I don't know how it should work.

Thanks much.

Hi there! Welcome to TBN! Having been raised around farm machinery, especially the sickle bar mowers, it looks about right to me. That hole you see, if you need to remove the knife assembly we used to put a steel rod or anything that would fit in that hole to aid bringing it forward. That spring to which it is attached is quite beefy and sometimes you need a bit assistance to bring it forward. And, a little grease will go a long way on these old machines. Check it everyday before you use it to be sure every bolt and nut is tight and that everything that's supposed to run freely, does just that. Be sure there is no binding anywhere. I know it's a pain in the back side and a little time consuming but, it's a lot cheaper throwing a bit grease at it everyday than having to buy parts. Good luck. Roger

 

[gf5205]

The clamp looks too loose on the ball. It may cause chattering, especially in tough mowing of fine grasses. Chattering will lead to a short life for the pitmann or break the ball off of the knife. Would it be tighter if you reversed the piece that closes the clamp? I mowed my hay with a Ford 501 mower that has a similar setup for too many years. Good Luck!
Greg

 

[shsentyr]

Wow! Thanks, all! I've been feeling like I'm running to stand still - every step forward has led to 2-3 back

I'm heeding your advice- was finally able to track down an old service manual, noticed where an old spring used to be attached to the "hole" in the center of the lever, have taken everything apart to clean and grease, and noticed, too that the ball joint seemed loose.

On that note: I ordered a new sickle section because the one on the mower was original and only takes riveted knives and my riveting skills are not great (nor are my getting those old knives off the rivets). The ball IS slightly smaller than the original section.

So how to retrofit/adjust? I could shave down a little of the pitman arm so the metal ball joint arms fit more tightly around ball . . . I could try and work the old ball joint off the old knife section and rivet it on the new.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

PS - I might next have a question about the Farmall 504 gas I fixed up over the winter - is running great (was all I could find/afford) but rear hydraulic pump lever is seized

 

[fonman_4859]

That lever is used to spread the two sections of the ball cup and the hole is so you can use a screw driver or punch to get some extra leverage to open the two halfs so you can remove the cutting bar from the mower. My John Deere #5 mower has the same type of attachment on its cutter bar.