Mounting JD No. 8 Sickle Mower to Farmall 400 - Questions

Hello,

I'm new to homesteading - bought my land in 2012 when the recession finally caught up to me.

I have a nice 1955 Farmall 400 (with aftermarket 3 pt hitch that allows Cat1 & Cat2), and also picked up a decent condition John Deere No. 8 Sickle Mower for nearly free.

Problems I'm having:
1.) Hyd. Cylinder is missing - I need to properly "size" one to purchase a suitable cylinder. I know the overall max length extended - it should be 27" long from base pin to ram pin. Other than that I'm not sure. [b:85dcfc0698]Any suggestions on how to properly size this cylinder?[/b:85dcfc0698]

2.) There is a large coil spring to assist in lifting up the sickle bar. I've seen some No. 8 Mower photos and videos online with this large coil spring REMOVED from the sickle mower frame (while using a hydraulic lift cylinder); Some videos & photos show it with the coil spring MOUNTED ON the frame - while also running a hydraulic cylinder. [b:85dcfc0698]Is this large coil spring required, or recommended, or would it be better to just remove it?[/b:85dcfc0698]

3.) As you know this John Deere No. 8 also uses the "Quick-Tatch" 2 point attachment system. I've purchased both a 1 3/4" diameter steel shaft as indicated on the following website:
http://www.retiredtractors.com/No5/No5Quiktatch.html

I have also purchased a 2" diameter steel shaft as well to mount it onto my aftermarket 3 point hitch. I will likely be welding some Cat 1 pins onto the end of this solid 2" diameter rod, and extend the PTO to allow for the longer distance from PTO to sickle mower.

Does anybody have any other suggestions / recommendations / advice?

Thank You!

Standard 8" cylinder and it will be correct lemgth. And as for the lift spring that would depend on how much pressure your tractor makes in the hydrolic system, Some are very low pressure so need a bigger diameter lift cylinder or the spring or a combination but yours should be good without the spring and a good 2" diameter cylinder but you could also use a 3" or even a 4" cylinder but the bigger the diameter of the cylinder the slower it will raise. I myself would go with a 2" diameter for quick lift in the 8" standard stroke cylinder.

The correct hitch adapter for farmalls was a plate that bolted to the draw bar that went in the fast hitch. The plate had the 2 lugs welded on it for the mower to hitch to. The float spring was an option on those mowers, it reduces ground pressure of the cutter bar and allows it to ride over uneven ground easier. The spring has nothing to do with lifting. I have 2 No8 mowers, they are good units.

I mounted a #8 on my SMTA a few years ago but I had a bracket like used on a JD 430U and fastened it to the tractor drawbar. If you have an operator's manual for the #8 I believe it shows different mounts for all kinds of tractors. If you can fashion something that hooks to your 3 point it may go off and on easier. You will want to have sway control on the 3 point arms and be sue they stay at a height where mower frame is about level. As I remember OP manual says to unhook that spring when taking the mower off the tractor and as I remember it is necessary. One end has a clip pin to disconnect easily

Thank you guys for your advice!

The JD #8 sickle mower came with the shredded tatters of an original owner's manual. I don't recall seeing a page with an adapter plate, but I will see if I can find the manual and read it again. Many pages were missing.

My tractor has a regular drawbar and hitch, plus an aftermarket 3 point similar to this:


My 3-point is yellow and has a hyd cylinder only on the left side though. It does have a removable pin to allow the sides to "float" up, and with the pin in place it holds the hitch steady with down force if I want.

I will try to update this post with progress / photos, and hopefully I can get this up and running well soon. The prairie grass here in North Dakota is getting pretty tall now.

The adapter I spoke of would bolt to your rigid draw bar frame. John Deere has on line parts catalogs. Go to JD parts home page and look up the No8 mower. You should be able to find a picture of the adapter.

Here are some photos of my setup...

The JD No. 8 sickle mower frame (disassembled the cutter bar)...

Also a photo of my 3-pt setup with leaky PTO that I top off every month or so...

My little monkey that likes climbing on the Farmall 400...

And the two velvet bucks that greeted me the other day when I was headed out the door to work in the morning.

Sorry. Apparently the photos didn't upload, and I'm not allowed to edit my posts.

Try this again...

Sickle Mower Frame (Partly Disassembled)


3Pt with Leaky PTO:


Smiley Monkey:


Monkey loves the Farmall:


2 Bucks in velvet passing the chicken coop / backyard: