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I have one �working� #5 sickle mower and another older one being �spruced up� to be a working mower. When I bought my 52A it had a #5 mower attached. Took the mower off and used the 52A for other purposes. When I bought my 43B it had �quik tach� mower brackets, so I mounted the #5 mower on the 43B. When the second mower is �spruced up� it will go on my 40B. The �working� #5 sickle mower is great for mowing around trees with low hanging branches, close to fences, down in ditches, along terraces, and briars along tree lines. It is also good for hay fields if you are not in a hurry. Once you get the �hang� of using it, other types of mowers are not as challenging or fun. The first suggestion is to buy an operator�s manual. There are at least two versions/editions, but OM-H10-351 is a good start. Read the topics on the cutter bar, aligning the cutter bar, tilt and adjustment, adjustable subsoles, knives, pitman, and registering the knife. Most of the hardware ( guards, wearing plates, knife holders, ledger plates, pitman, sections, and knife ) can be found at Tractor Supply Co. The lubrication chart is probably the most important page. It recommends greasing the box bushing on the pitman every 2 hours of operation. Grease this bushing if nothing else on the mower. Be sure to lubricate the knife and knife head. This �grease� is also available at TSC. Remove the filler plugs on the bottom of the housing and drain the water, oil, and whatever else might fall out. Refill with the recommended 140 weight oil that is also available at TSC. Adjust the tension on the latch spring so the cutter bar will break away if it hits an immobile object ( tree stump ). Do not get it so tight that you cannot �snap� the bar back in place. Keep the pivot bolt tight that holds the drawbar to the main frame. If it gets loose, the cutter bar breaks away too easy. It also makes it harder to �snap� the cutter bar back in place. Do not back the tractor in reverse to �snap� the cutter bar in place. As I found out the hard way, you can break the yoke. Put a 2x4 pine wedge secured by a small bungy between the knife and knife guard before raising the cutter bar. As I found out the hard way, the knife will �bottom out� on the bar and the bar will not lower. Avoiding some of the Three Stooges methods of operation mentioned above, you should get good service from your #5 mower. Hope this helps and good luck with your mower.
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