501 sicklebar pitarm clamp trouble

k1hb · Jul 4, 2015

i have this pitman arm clamp that goes to the hookup clamps to the bar, spreads the two clamps

trouble is i dont know how to put in the spring Inside the wooden arm? to hold the lever and make it hold there, bummer

can anyone tell me help me?

Bob · Jul 4, 2015

<img src = "http://cnh-b2b.ptcmanaged.com/index.php/sbsimage/NH/default/1152746.png">
Install spring, #28, into the hole in the pitman stick, then "lever" #27.

Lastly, install the side straps, #23 and #24, and bolt them in place. You will have to force the side straps towards the "stick" a bit so the bolt holes will line up.

Tom in TN · Jul 4, 2015

Bob has it exactly right, and the parts diagram is really helpful. The only thing I would add is that it is pretty difficult to compress the spring far enough to get any of the four bolts into the holes in the pitman arm and the holes in the clamp that bolts onto the arm. I have had a fair bit of success by putting the spring into the end of the pitman arm, setting the clamp in place without compressing the spring with the clamp slightly out of alignment with the pitman arm, inserting one bolt in the hole that is farthest from the end of the pitman arm, and then rotating the clamp into position so that it is aligned with the pitman arm. By rotating it into place, you will naturally compress the spring. Then you can install the other three bolts and tighten all of the nuts securely.

I also re-tighten the nuts periodically so that there is never any slop between the clamp and the pitman. They seem to lossen slightly from use (or from the wood on the pitman being compressed from use, I'm not sure which is the cause), in any event re-tighten the nuts periodically.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

k1hb · Jul 5, 2015

thanks a lot for the advice and the diagram

so no way to shove the pitman clamp do-hickey lever back into the hole in the pitman wood/spring without unboltening the 4 screws right?

one more q:
the bar is attached with three huge bolts (nrs 31-34) to the "frame" separated by what looks like three gaskets....they show some space and i suspect are somewhat loose. who sells those gaskets and whats their part number? steiner tractors?

thank you guys!

fred

k1hb · Jul 5, 2015

i suppose the lever" on the clamp is there to disconnect in case you accidentally lift the bar too high or to facilitate transport with the bar up.
i clamped the two side straps together for a fixed setup....temporary fix to get going while parts are coming in.

how can i prevent the spring from popping out and getting lost when the bar disconnects with the "lever"??

Tom in TN · Jul 5, 2015

k1hb,

The two "wings" on part #27 go through the two openings on parts #23. When you put the bolts through parts #23 and the pitman arm, part #27 is then captive. It is holding the spring in the pitman arm, so the the spring cannot come out of the pitman arm.

The lever that you mention, part #27, can be rotated up and down. When it is rotated up (and over center), it spreads the two clamps (parts #23) so that the clamps can be pushed down onto the ball that is on the end section of the sickle bar. Them the lever is rotated back forward that the clamps shut around the ball providing for the movement of the sickle bar by the pitman arm.

The only time that you release the clamps from the ball on the sickle bar is when you want to remove the bar from the mower.

When you get the parts in hand, you'll be able to see how they all go together.

Tom in TN

501 sicklebar pitarm clamp trouble

k1hb

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Bob

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Tom in TN

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k1hb

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k1hb

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Tom in TN

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