IH 340 Utility tractor 1963 with IH pitman mower

Dakota BH

New User
I have been trying to find info or posts on how to hook up the mower to the tractor. I can find Farmall tractors with a similar mower but so far not a Utility. My issue is how to raise the mower and the sickle.
The left hand lever on the mower needs either a chain or probably a hydraulic cylinder to the tractor, but where?
I have read many descriptions of similar mowers but still not sure what model it is to order a manual. My guess is C21. Note the mower pulleys are on top of one another, not angled. That probably means it is meant for a Farmall but the mower does work fine on the 340 except the inside shoe digs into the ground and we cannot raise the sickle.
I do have the rod to fasten the right side of the mower to the tractor axle and the fast hitch works great.
Thanks, Dave
 
Pictures that should have been with previous post!
Sorry for the confusion,
Dave

IH 340 Utility tractor 1963 with IH pitman mower
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That sickle bar mower looks like the one I have on my BA. Half B half A. Looks like some one added the 2 point arms to a 16A I think it is called. In your case you just lift the hitch to lift the mower. The bar does not lift up as such other then by hand to transport. The one I have on my BA is a hand lift by the way but it looks just like that one
 

As was said above, the cutterbar is lifted by hand into a transport position. On the IH mowers I have had there is a rod attached to the mower frame that goes into a hole in the cutter bar to lock it into place. The rod is threaded on the end and has a nut with a small crank handle on it to hold it in place. The important thing to remember when raising the cutterbar by hand is to keep you fingers out from the space between the guards, because when the bar is raised horizontal the blade can drop down, cutting the fingers.

You said, I believe, that the inside skid digs into the ground? There is an adjustment somewhere on the mower to angle the cutterbar up or down. The cutterbar does not have to be horizontal to cut well, in fact it cuts better if the tips of the guards are pointed up slightly. On the big casting that the cutterbar is fastened to I see a big nut and bolt that appears to ride in a slot which should angle the cutterbar. If that was a 3ph hitch mower you could angle the cutterbar by adjusting the top link, but on that 2 point hitch you will have to adjust angles on the mower somewhere. Interesting to see that on that tractor there is a bracket on it for the top link.

KEH
 
There is a chain on the right side it hooks to the tractor up high with the hitch raised some there should be one on the left that hooks down under the lift cyl.for the 2pt. that lifts the bar when you raise the two pt.I can send a pic.of mine by phone if you give me ph.#
 
We had a 340u that we mowed with since Dad and my uncle bought in 1962.The belt pulleys were offset instead of above each other like yours,but I think I see all the pieces to make it work on yours.On the right side fast hitch arm you have welded on bracket-it is for holding the mower at the proper height when you lower it down.Takes a chain from there to the big hole on the right of the right lift arm.Use a large pin there-1 inch diameter maybe.Adjust the chain so when you lower the mower,the pto shaft is level.To raise the sickle arm there is cross shaft arm on the left of the pto on the mower-it takes a chain form that arm to the bottom of the lift cylinder,where there is smaller hole,closet to the rear,is a cast iron bracket,about 3/8s maybe.Make sure there is NO down pressure pin in the larger hole in that bracket!That chain needs 2 parallel links about 4-6 inches long to straddle the 3/8 hole which you stick a pin thru.The links fit against the cast iron bracket.As you raise the mower the lift cylinder will lower down to its rest(because of the height stop on the right side) and the the fast hitch arms will raise,the chain will pull against the the cross shaft on the mower,and the mower body will raise,and the sickle arm will lift up too.The outer end should tilt up slightly from parallel to the ground.You will have to experiment with the length of that chain;start off too long,and shorten til the sickle arm raises simultaneously.Use good quality chain for this-it has a lot of pressure on it.
Secondly -you need the spacers that go into the fast hitch receivers: your mower has the small points,but a 340u takes the large points.Your mower could come unhooked if you don't use them.
Good luck-let us know how it turns out,or any more questions.Mark
 
Thanks so much old, keh, Herb and Mark. You all gave me more info on that mower.
Mark, with your 340u experience and ability to explain in detail how that mower connects you put together one of the best of many forum posts I have ever seen. You nailed it.
I had the RH chain working but nothing on the left side to the mower. I have a bracket that came with the mower thats cracked and I was going to have welded that does make that left side connection without a chain. As you can see its adjustable so I might try that also.
On the LH chain to the cylinder I am still unclear on how to connect the chain. There is no bracket on the rear bottom of the cylinder but there is one in the middle bottom that is in use. If you can clear up that connection and the down pressure pin I would really appreciate it.
I did have some trouble with the LH side pulling off the hitch so I put a sheet metal plate in there to tighten it up. I thought it was just wear, now I know its a different style.
I also include a picture of an attachment for that tractor that I have no idea how to use it. Maybe you know of that too.
Thanks all,
Dave
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Yes I do have the transport bar and am using it.
The mower needs to be connected in such a way that the bar does not drag on the ground. It digs in now. I will try to get that connection to the rear tractor hydraulic cylinder and we should be set to mow.
This tractor is a 3 point with the fast hitch option. It has removable lower 3 point connections or you can use the hitch without the lower 3 point arms to use the fast hitch which is what you see in the pics.
Thanks, Dave
 
BH,your mower was not specifically made for the 340u,and neither was ours.Ours originally was made for our 300u,which has a different version of fast hitch.Yours,I suspect,was made for C or something similar.So there may need to be a few "adaptions" made.The pieces you have your hand on and laying on the boards,may need to swapped for chains,or adapted a bit.I can't see by the pics the hole under the lift cylinder where you attach the chain that will raise the cutter bar,but it should be there.And I can't see the down pressure pin either,or its hole.To see if there is a down pressure pin,raise the hitch all the way,put something under it,and then lower the hitch.If it tries to raise the rear of the tractor,it has a down pressure pin installed and you need to remove it.
If you have more questions,maybe we can talk on the phone-I really type slow,and can explain better by voice.Mark
The last picture shows the anti side to side sway linkage.It attaches to the right receiver.This style of fast hitch has a lot of slop in all the linkages,but you do need that put on.
 
A couple years ago I have to make the plate that goes on the flywheel end of the pitman stick. IH no longer services that part and the part I did find for the one I have was not the correct part. Part #MB22199 the bear hole and all was to small But I was able to use it as a pattern sort of to make one so I could mow hay with it
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IH 340 Utility mower hookup
Thanks to all who gave me advice, especially Mark who spent time on this and was a key help in getting it figured out.
The mower works great now with the chains to both the left and right drawbar, the hitch set to float and the hitch swing control straps installed.
Now I have hydraulic leaks and bad threads in the rockshaft side plate support connection to frame to fix.
Thanks, Dave
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