Sickle Bar Sickle mower 101 questions

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Can anyone help identify this mower? I think it is a 9 foot JD 350. The serial #is 247149E. It doesn't have a model number stamped on the badge.

I know very little about this thing (I just bought it from a guy who bought it and never used it). No manuals yet.

Are these junk or decent as far as sickle mowers go?

I plan on repairing it to decent status so I can use it to trim my around my pond. I know it is missing a few parts to properly hook it up. I'll take these pic's to my JD dealer and let them help me figure it out. I got an extra new bar with new blades riveted in place but very rusty. I am looking online at JD's parts website for parts but I want a service or owner's manual before I tear into it and order parts.

Kyle

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

pic #2

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

#3

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

#4
Any help will be appreciated!
PS..those are not my feet!!!

 

[RonR]

Kyle,

The colors look JD to me.

I used to have a 50's vintage JD mower and the design looks similar.

Some grease, etc, and it should be good as new. They have a "break away" function, so if you hook a tree or something, the bar swings back, loosens the belt, and protects it. Backing up resets it. Pic #4, you can see the latch deal (IIRC). I'd try to loosen this up to insure it works as designed. You don't want to hook something and NOT have it break away.

If you are buying parts for the cutter bar (guard, sickle sections, etc), I'd hit a farm supply store, like TSC or Atwoods or????. They will be a lot cheaper than JD.

If it were mine, I'd try to buy or make PTO shield to cover those exposed shafts. If nothing else, get two sizes of PVC and attach one size to each end so they can overlap in the middle.

That kind of mower won't cut grass well, if you want it to look like lawn, but it does a number on weeds, etc.

 

[oldforestor]

I cant ID it but I can say that when researching mowers, I was told the JD 350 was THE one to buy

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks guys!

 

[sweettractors]

It is a JD 350--If the drive head is good and no major breaks or welds, the machine is worth around $600-$800---Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New Hay Tedders, Disc Mowers and Sickle Mowers in Stock*

 

[nomad]

Nothing can be as good as old implements. They are usually heavier and made of stronger materials. Remove the rust, paint it and enjoy your new sickle mower.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks Ken, You were right, it is a JD 350. Not sure what year though yet. Apparently, they made these up until around 2001. Mine is much older I believe per the serial #'s.

Well, I've ordered an Owner's Manual for $30 and a service technician's manual for $45. They'll take 2 weeks to arrive.
I'm waiting to see for sure what everything is suppossed to do before I go wild ordering parts. I've already ordered a few linkage parts that I know I'll need and a new belt. I think it needs a few new guards and the previous owner gave me a very rusty but "new" aftermarket 1 piece cutter bar (complete with knives) with it. I may try it but the bearing cup is very rusted. I guess I'll try it. If I need a new one they are about $140 complete.