3600 leveling box

TimPa

Member
been using the ford 501 sickle bar on my '78 3600. after mowing a while, i notice the right side has dropped. so i raise it back up, and it repeats. i think the threads in the leveling box have stripped. it is a heavy mower, and i am mowing rough terrain.

i see replacements assemblies as cheap as $60, but see ford/nh replacement threaded male and female parts $100 each alone. any recommendations?
 
If you can weld a little, cut about 1" off the end of the lower part and weld a grade 8 nut onto it. A little welding, grind and paint and it'll work and look like new again.
 

501 isn't all that heavy, tie the crank handle to keep it from turning and see what happens, I've had mine crank themselves out on rough ground.
 
great info. not the worlds best welder, but i think i can make it work. awesome tip.
i was wondering about thread length. will look for a coupling nut in hi grade.

anyone know the thread size for those oem?
 
Experience from brand new to 30+ years old machines, all 5 of them would unwind from load and vibration. It looks like it should be an Acme thread (designed not to reverse under load) but somehow they all do. Someone already suggested the standard solution - a piece of 1/4" nylon rope to tie the handle in place, or as I saw at a recent equipment auction - one of those Velcro cord straps on the end of the handle that you can set & release with two fingers and from the driver's seat a bit more easily than tie/retie & knotting while sitting upfront...
 
just thought i would give feedback. the way it was acting, there was no way i thought the thing could crank down as fast as it was dropping and how far. i tied it down with a wire and sure enough, stayed put. thanks for the input!
 

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