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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

wooden pitman arm on sickle mower

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RalphWD45

03-18-2008 12:04:29

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I bought a JD, 3pt sickle mower, and the man threw in a bunch of sickles, and repair parts, sickle sections,guard points,and a new-old- wooden pitman arm. The arm looks unweathered, but is bowed from being stored in a shed for years. I could straighten it by steaming it, and clamping it straight till it dries, and probably will end up doing just that. My question, is how come pitman arms have historically been made of wood, which rots out, eventually? Is there some engineering reason for this? or is it just economy, on the part of the manufacturer. Would a solid aluminum arm work ok also? Thanks Ralph in Roy Wa.

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Fred T. Hart Jr.

04-05-2008 14:35:28

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

I guess i do not buy the weak link theory, I broke one once by backing the mower over a small dirt pile pitman hit dirt and broke.

I have broken blades, housings, knifes and other parts of the old MF 32 mower, however, I have never broken a pitman in the normal line of duty.

But always keep one in barn, well oiled and ready for service.

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soundguy

03-19-2008 08:31:30

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

TSC sells some wood pittman blanks.

Soundguy

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RalphWD45

03-19-2008 01:13:02

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

THANKS A LOT GUYS; I apperciate the input.It is great to have you guys to fall back on when I need to know something. I also appreciate the sorces advanced here to get mower parts. Have a great spring. Ralph in Roy Wa.

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gitrib

03-18-2008 20:23:46

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

Sold many mowers with wood pitman stick. You must have the right one for your mower. It musst be the right length and be drilled with proper hole spacings. If they are not right it will throw the sickle knives out of time. Never try and replace a wood stick with steel. I am sure a dealer can get the proper stick or find one to match. gitrib

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Lee in Iowa

03-18-2008 19:42:18

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

Well I do buy the weak link arguement. I've broken my share of them and seen others break them. It's a pita when they break but it's no fun when a wobble box goes out either. Lee

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Sid

03-18-2008 18:47:53

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

For what it is worth I don't agree with the "weak link" reasoning. I have been told by the old timers that it was the stress factors that others have mentioned.

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beau5278

03-18-2008 18:36:11

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

I tend to agree with Tom H,a pitman arm made of metal would increase the reciprocating weight,increasing the wear on the ends and causing more vibration or breaking because of the vibration.Wood takes the shock better,and is a bit lighter.If you made one of metal,it would have to be aluminum and I'm sure that would cost more than a wood one.

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TomH in PA

03-18-2008 16:33:37

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

I don't buy the "weak link" argument. I've seen plenty of broken mower knives, torn up connectors, etc., but never broke a pitman arm that was in decent condition.

I think advantage wood has is that it's flexible enough to take the reciprocating motion without breaking from fatigue the way metal would. A steel pitman would have to be pretty strong (i.e. heavy and expensive) to hold up.

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Leroy

03-18-2008 16:07:51

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

It is because they were easier to make back in the 1800's that any other way and worked OK and so there was no reason to change, altho some manufactures did use steel pipe as a pitman. The same knife head straps on your mower will fit the mowers made in 1900 so no change in manufacturing was nessary. And am 64 and farmed all my life using the mowers and NEVER had a pitman break, something else is wrong if that pitman breaks and if they rot then the mower has not had proper care

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HAS

03-18-2008 16:03:40

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

I agree withthe others - a weak point to fail to save the expensive parts. i bought one last year at TSC and was surprised it was less than 10 bucks.

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larryh

03-18-2008 15:52:40

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

we have piles of parts for jd mowers we use to run 5 but have gone to disc mowers email with what you need i will make you a deal

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GI FARMER

03-24-2008 09:08:08

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to larryh, 03-18-2008 15:52:40

Larry
I have a JD 350 9foot bar do you have any books or parts and where are you located?

mark

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Goose

03-18-2008 15:02:37

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

Most farm stores, TSC, Oerscheln's, etc. usually have them.

And I agree. The reason they're wood is so they break instead of something more expensive if you hit the sickle on something solid.

I've gone through a few on my JD #5.

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NBAllen

03-18-2008 15:01:37

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

This site also has pittman arms. Look to the left side of the page and up near the top.

Sickleservice dot com stocks most sickle wear items at a reasonable price as well.

Nathaniel

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Bob

03-18-2008 13:01:35

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

MOST LIKELY, Deere still has the pitman sticks for your mower. What's the model number of the mower?

I'm sure they've gone up, like everything else, but I bought a couple for a #8 just last year, and they were cheap enough that it wouldn't pay to mess around cobbling something up.

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Ken Crisman

03-18-2008 12:11:15

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

I'm guessing , but I think the wood helps absorb the shock that occurs when the sickle hits hard stuff . I think metal would cause breakage somewhere unpleasant . HTH ! God bless, Ken

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Solid Junk

03-18-2008 12:10:50

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

The wood is there as a safety to prevent damaging more expensive parts of the mower should you get the sickle in a bind.

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old

03-18-2008 12:10:17

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Re: wooden pitman arm on sickle mower in reply to RalphWD45, 03-18-2008 12:04:29

The reason there made of wood is to be a weak link in the system to keep from braking other parts. Believe me when I say DON'T replace a pitman with metal or you will sooner or later end up with a sickle mow that is scrap iron. BTDT and found out a pitman is a whole lot cheaper then new guards and sections

Hobby farm

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