Sickle Mower for 300 Utility

I have 56 IH 300U and found a belly mount sickle mower that came off a IH 240U (probably a 1958 or so) and am trying to make sure it will fit my tractor before I buy it. Does anyone know if it will fit without too many modifications? I am not sure of the model number on the mower but I am told it functioned on the 240U. Also, I noticed the 240 has a hydraulic port near the dash while my 300u hydraulic ports are to the right of the seat. Is that going to create problems? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
 
I am not familiar with the 240U or the midmount mower that fits it. I own a 300U without a mower. I have 3 IH mowers (balanced head, one midmount) and one midmount Cub mower. So that is the depth of my experience.

Judging by the number, I am assuming the 240U is a step in the evolution of the Farmall C. The 300 is a step in the evolution of the Farmall H. The cutoff between those two lines is relevant in that the one is built heavier than the other. On the mower side of the equation, mid mount mowers had a couple different mounting configurations. Some, like my 115 mower, attached primarily to one side of the tractor. The nice thing about that is that it would be easier to adapt. Well sort of easy, they are VERY heavy and cumbersome. If, on the other hand, the mower mounts to both sides of the tractor, then adapting a lighter mower to a heavier tractor is going to be difficult.

There are a lot of variables and even if you were to adapt the mower to hang under your tractor, that doesn't mean it would function as designed. Hydraulic ports are just plumbing so I wouldn't fret over those. Mounting and operation are your issues. Take a look at the two tractors. The 240 looks a lot lighter than the 300 to me. Take some measurements of the mounting holes and brackets and compare to your 300.

If it were me, though, I would leave the 240U mower for someone who has a 240U and find the correct mower for your tractor.
 
It's a pretty safe bet that the mower won't fit without HEAVY modifications.

The 240 and 300 Utilities are completely different tractors. Like Dave H says, the 240 is derived from the Super C and the 300 is derived from the larger H. Mounting locations are completely different. Distances are different.

I'm sure a belly mount sickle mower exists for the 300U, but unless you're a good fabricator you might want to hold off until you find one that came off a 300U or 350U.
 
Sales literature for the 350 does show a hydraulically operated side mount mower for these tractors powered by a front mounted hydraulic pump. Have to say that I have never seen such a thing but it was part of the line-up.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I was really hoping to make this one work because it is balanced and would like to be able to mow a slope. Looks like a fast hitch model without a pitman arm may be the easiest to find.

Tim
 
Fast hitch would be nice. If I could find one for my 300U I would definitely buy it. As an alternative there are balanced head mowers in semi mounted (120) and trailer (100). I have both and they are nice mowers. Not crazy about hookups on the semi mount. I haven't tried it yet, but there is such a thing as a FH drawbar and I want to bolt one to the 120 mower and see if it works as a FH mower then. I have a couple of these so I could just leave it on there. Good luck with your search. Classified ad here is a good way to find these type of things.
 
I would like to see it mounted up before I bought it,but I doubt it would fit easily.If you are a good fabricator you could possibly make it work, and, you would like using it better than a rear mount.
That being said, I modified a 100 balanced head rear mower for my 300,which I like real well.The original rear mower for the 300u would be rare/hard to find.It was special just for the 300 fast hitch,and used a top link that was made onto the mower.And it had a pitman arm,not the balanced head.Mark
 

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