Sickle Bar Mower on a '39 B

How close to the ledger plates and knives need to be? There is a bit of an angle to some of the guards (fixed points) so there is up to 1/8" gap between some of the knives (the part in motion). Some sit against each other. All knives and ledger plates are new and riveted on. Is this why there was some rusty shim stock under a few loose guards?

Is there supposed to be a spacer or something between the draw bar and the rear wheel housings? I can bolt up the draw bar but it's not as wide (like 3/8" narrower) than the drilled/tapped holes in the housing. I really don't want that play in there. I think that I could torque the hell out of the bolts and do nothing other than snap them off... I'm not going to open up the arc of the drawbar... I have to be doing something wrong... Some sort of spacer plate or sleeves?

Thanks
Chris Horn
Scappoose Oregon

I suppose if you want it to be really correct, you'd adjust like this:

However, many of mine look more like the "wrong" picture :o). It still works pretty well though.

No, there's not supposed to be any spacers between the drawbar and the wheel housings. It should be a rather snug fit. Perhaps yours has been sprung in the past for some unknown reason. In any event, I wouldn't try to spring it back by tightening the bolts harder, at least w/o a lot of heat somewhere in the middle of the curvature. Stripping the threads in the housing would not be good and it would not be easily corrected.

You really should have that drawbar clamped tight however when using the mower because of the vibration involved. In fact, you should also use the turnbuckle braces that go between the drawbar and the fender/seat support angle irons. If you don't have thosae braces, perhaps you could cobble together someting to accomplish the same thing. If you are not familiar with those braces, post back and I'll post a picture.

Rod

I once saw a set up like the braces in question. A photo or two might help me. Please post up if you have a chance...

Thanks

There are a couple of photos here but none are close up. Unless the unit has been cannabalized, the "loose" parts are as follows:

1. PTO drive pulley
2. Drive V-belt
3. Drawbar supports
4. Tapered spacers that go on drawbar
5. Large washers that go on top of tapered spacers - used to adjust belt tension
6. Lower driven pulley guard
7. Misc. attaching bolts, etc.

Many times these parts get lost in the shuffle, unfortunately. Numbers 1 thru 5 show in the picture I posted previously in this thread. Number 6 is not important as far as I am concerned. I have it but never use it. Number seven can be easily obtained - normal hardware items. Number 2 can also be obtained easily locally. Numbers 1, 3, 4 and 5 are the more important pieces that make it difficult if you don't have them. The functionality of those can be cobbled together if needed and wanted bad enough.

Here's a thumbnail of a diagram that may help. The B and C mowers are basically the same. The manual and hydraulic lift mechanisms are a bit different:

I don't have any pictures of it off the tractor. It is now on the tractor and will be for the indefinite future. If there is something more specific you'd like to see in a closer picture, let me know and I'll grab a photo or two for you.

Rod

• Close up Mower Photos