JD 350 Sickle Mower & Massey Ferguson 235 Tractor

In the Dirt · Dec 29, 2014

I tried this past summer to connect and use a John Deere 350 sickle bar mower behind a MF 235 tractor. Getting it connected and operating correctly was difficult. Is there an adapter bar I can purchase that will allow me to tension it (keep off the ground) properly? It worked ok but I've really just got it "rigged" up. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

rick1 · Dec 29, 2014

i had one hooked to a mf 165 diesel a few years
back.seemed to work alright i cant remember having
to many issues with it.belonged to neighbor up the
road.
RICK

In the Dirt · Dec 30, 2014

I must not have the right bar that connects to the tractor hitch that holds tension on spring.

Bob · Dec 30, 2014

Do you have an operator's manual?

IMHO, that mower should hitch to most standard CAT 1 or CAT 2 tractor 3-points with no extra parts needed, and I don't recall the parts catalog showing any.

A photo or two of your setup would be helpful.
You can view the parts catalog at THIS link:

Dan in North Houston · Jan 1, 2015

The special do-hicky hitch that connects the arm to the drawbar didn't come with mine, but a short piece of chain and a clevis has worked fine for me. Unlike many other mowers of this vintage (such as the MF dyna-balance or Ford 501), this mower needs to have a chain running from the lift arm to the tractor's drawbar.
It is difficult to determine your problem from what you wrote, but are you having problems with the arm being in the way of the PTO shaft or your drawbar? You do know that there is a narrow setting and a wide setting for the mower, where you flip the arm over and move the whole mower in or out? When I got my mower, it was on the narrow setting and would not work with my JD 630. It takes several hours to switch it over if you've never done it before.
The operator's manual helps, but I found it to be a little lacking in clarity on the whole process. Do a search for James Howell's posts about this mower, he has posted several detailed explanations that you will find helpful.

In the Dirt · Jan 2, 2015

Correctly connecting and balancing the mower to the drawbar has been the issue. I didn't have the appropriate bar and the one I used bent slightly under the weight. I may try the chain and clevis idea. I see no reason that wont work.

Dan in North Houston · Jan 2, 2015

I'll try to get some photos this weekend. I use a large clevis (or screw pin shackle) in the end of the drawbar, and bolted a piece of chain to the lift arm. Loop the chain through the shackle and affix with a rapid link. It works fine.

In the Dirt · Jan 2, 2015

That would be much appreciated. I have searched the internet several times trying to find a photo of how it could be connected to the MF tractor.

Dan in North Houston · Jan 3, 2015

The attached photos show the side view and top view of how I rigged my mower. Small shackle on lift arm, large shackle on the drawbar. About 8" of chain between them, and it works fine.
The newer green paint is the category 2 frame, that I assume you don't have (or need) with a MF 235. That should not make any difference for what you are trying to do.

Bob · Jan 4, 2015

What "bar" did you bend? Key # 10A or 10B is supposed to be pinned into the hitch pin hole in your existing tractor drawbar. (YanDeeres use Key # 30.)

Does your Massey have a drawbar?

<img src = "http://jdpc.deere.com/pimages/EP69/EP6909_________UN01JAN94.gif">

In the Dirt · Jan 5, 2015

Thanks for the pics! That helps explain a lot. I tried something similar but this is much cleaner.

In the Dirt · Jan 5, 2015

I bent the tow / hitch bar that hooks to the tractor. It was one I already had, I guess it wasn't thick enough. I assume I can get a thicker bar at any tractor place?

JD 350 Sickle Mower & Massey Ferguson 235 Tractor

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