Sickle Bar angle

I just bought an International McCormick 120 balanced head sickle bar at auction. Got it hooked up, etc, etc without problems. My question is, are the hydrolics supposed to raise the bar angle from flat to various angles up to 90 degrees, or are the hydrolics supposed to simply lift the cutting bar horizontally off the ground a foot or so? I really want to be able to control the angle of the bar from the tractor seat via hydrolics so that I might cut right up to an obstacle, then lift the bar to 90 degrees, drive past, then drop the bar again.

Is this a reasonable thing to ask for?
Please help - thanks!

Pete in PA

The hydraulic cylinder with lift the bar about 18"-20" off the ground. You would need to add some other mechanism to get the bar to raise to 90 deg. to go past some obstacle. The mower in theory would be able to handle the change in bar angle, but it doesn't have the capability from the factory. IH did make a rod for road transport that would keep the bar verticle. You could use the mower like that to cut bushes or light brush, like you might have along a fence row.

Is yours a semi-mounted type?

Thanks for all your replies! This is a pitmanless mower - 100% belt drive, so it will cut at any angle, and if I start towards a hill, the mower blade wil ride up the incline, and cut at near 90 degree angles w/no problem. What I"m trying to get it to do, is mow flat for a while, then lift just the arm up to 90 degrees to pass trees, etc. Also, I want to use it to hedgerow, as was mentioned below. I"d rather not modify the 120 too much, but I"m willing to if necessary. It"s a semi-mount on the drawbar, currently being pulled by my 1940 H. Winch idea might work, although the tractor is still the original 6V and I"d hoped not to have to modify the tractor.

hmmm...
Thanks
Pete

Even if you could rig up a second cylinder to tilt the bar, it may not work well because of the way the cutter bar is driven. You'd have to shut the PTO off every time you lift and lower, which is a PITA if you're running an old tractor like an H or an M. Trying to tilt the bar while it's running will cause the mechanism to beat itself to a quick and painful death.

Went to Sams Club and got a winch kit with everything you need to lift that bar 90 degrees and then some. Works great on my MM UM-5, but I have all the heavy tubing to support it.

Good luck

Kari