John Deere 38 sickle mower cutter bar problem

Mjsnickers

New User
We got the belt replaced on the sickle and mowed one whole field. Stopped for the night and
when we went to use it the next day it acted like it was jammed. Found a bent bar and loose knife.
Fixed that and now the far end of the bar won't lift. The end close to the tractor lifts fine, but the far
end will not lift at all. Any ideas?
 
Check your float spring. On the 450 there is a chain hooked to both ends of that spring it runs through 2 pulleys one down by the cutter bar and the other by the belt pulley . I'm not sure exactly what your mower is like but most are similar. I don't know when they started it but if your mower doesn't need a rod to hold it up there is a little dog down by the cutter bar that has to be flipped on the 350 I'm not sure if it's on the 38
 
NOT sure what you mean by a "bent bar"? Guard, perhaps?

<img src = "http://i.imgur.com/EpnGz4L.jpg">

Linkage parts key numbers 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and adjusting screw #13 determine the lift of the outer end of the cutterbar. Has something been lost, damaged, or bent in that area?

<img src = "http://i.imgur.com/PmN2GVB.jpg">

Also "standard", Key #17 must be intact, and not bent, and attached to the linkage discussed above.
 
Thank you for the diagram. Because of its age, it appears that it's had some repairs/welds. When I said the bar was bent I meant the piece that the blades rivet to. The very end was bent forward and the blade section that was attached was broken loose. Fixed that and then that end of the cutter bar just hangs When the near end is lifted. I will check the diagram and see if something has come loose.
 
Thank you. Funny you mentioned the nh 450. We have one of those also that was having a different issue. They are not alike at all. I'm going to check the diagram and see if something came loose.
 
Forgot my dad had a 5 then got a 38 straight out of the box it was a good machine cut a lot of hay with that. I think my dad sold out in 1978 and might have bought it in 1975 the dealer was glad to get rid of it nobody was buying sickle mowers than. I found a john deere 350 on Craigslist for 750 dollars and it still has the paint and stickers on it. When you said belt I was thinking it was newer.
 

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