Ford 501 sickle mower question

Rodeo man · Jul 19, 2014

I recently bought an 8n ford. After some hunting, I finally found a 501 sickle mower to go with it. The mower is in great shape. A couple of new bearings, new belt, new pitman rod. I've had it about a month, but finally got time to hook it up. It has a clamp for each arm. That was simple enough. It came with its own toplink, with a large spring attached to it. I got everything hooked up, and the PTO shaft was too long. It "possibly" could have been hooked first, then the arms, and toplink. I feel certain that it would still be too tight. It would be easy enough to cut the PTO shaft down. I'm just pretty sure that would be a mistake. The PTO shaft looks original to the mower. The PTO shaft coming out of my tractor appears to be covered by another PTO shaft. Could that be the issue? I'm confused.

Zachary Hoyt · Jul 19, 2014

Sounds like you may have an overrunning clutch (ORC) on your PTO.
If so it is held in place with a roll pin which can be driven out. You
want the ORC for a rotary mower but a sicklebar does not need it.
Zach

stevob671 · Jul 19, 2014

Without seeing what you have, many N's have the small pto shaft and an adapter is then put over to enlarge to standard pto size. Could also be a ORC, OverRunning Clutch which is very helpful for running brush mowers or heavy flywheeled equipment.
Both of these devices add length to the shaft. They used to make an adapter that slipped over the small shaft that did not extend past the end of the tractor shaft, and then the equipment shaft was slipped over the adapter. This may be what you need.

DeltaRed · Jul 19, 2014

Your tractor has either an OrC,or an 'adapter' to convert from the old 1 1/8" the newer 1 3/8 shaft.Find out what you have. The pto shaft is the correct length for the original aplication/shaft size.The adapter adds length that is interfering with correct operation/'fit'.It is ok to cut the shaft (both halves) to a length that will work for your tractor.Or,you could replace the 1 3/8 female end with a 1 1/8 female yoke.No big deal/no issue.The prior owner just had the mower on a newer tractor with a 1 3/8" shaft.My suggestion to you:Remove the adapter/OrC,remove the 'old' emale yoke(1 3/8 spline),Replace it with a female yoke that has a 1 1/8" spline.Then everything will fit as its supposed to.

paul · Jul 20, 2014

I have a 960 Ford with my 501, as well as putting it on a 1720
NH.

The pto needs to go on when the mower is lowered, it does
get pretty close to bottoming out. Need to use the right top link
hole.

Anyhow, as others have said it sounds like you have an over
running coupler and/or an adaptor to size-up the pto shaft of
your tractor. That will need the pto shafts to be shortened. I
believe there is a replacement shaft for your tractor that is the
newer, bigger size, but you would not get the ORC with that.
The ORC is not needed for this mower, but it is real important
for a rotary mower and other flywheel- type pto loads on your
tractor.

Paul

BobH in NH · Jul 23, 2014

I had the same problem when I switched from my Oliver 351 mower to the Ford 501 on my 52 8N. The sleeve pto shaft adapter is the shortest, but it won't stand up to mower or baler use. (I was running my Ford 250 PTO baler with the 8N). And the heavier adapters extend the tractor PTO shaft too far.

Solution- I went to my local Ford (at the time) Tractor Dealer and bought the larger 1-3/8" diameter pto shaft and did an in-field swap. Just have tractor front end lower than rear to keep fluid from running out. The new shaft comes complete with the bearing and rear mounting plate and if I remember correctly, is a 4-bolt operation.

Ford 501 sickle mower question

Rodeo man

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Zachary Hoyt

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stevob671

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DeltaRed

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paul

Well-known Member

BobH in NH

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