Midmount sickle bar mower on 8N?

[BossofBBQ]

Hi folks,
I just bought another 8N, non running. It has this weird bracketry on both sides of the transmission. I've never seen anything like it. I've attached some photos below....

I don't think this was a dealer option, as it hinders movement of the clutch pedal, stopping downward travel 2" or so before the footboard. I'm assuming it was for a midmount sickle bar mower, but I've never seen an N equipped with one of those.

This mount is coming off, but I was curious if anyone had seen a similar setup. Thanks y'all!

 

[John0829]

I believe those may be parts of the frame assembly that was for a front mounted dozer blade. One that was operated by cable connected to the 3 point lift arms. But I could be wrong.

 

[EdGooding]

Hi folks,
I just bought another 8N, non running. It has this weird bracketry on both sides of the transmission. I've never seen anything like it. I've attached some photos below....

I don't think this was a dealer option, as it hinders movement of the clutch pedal, stopping downward travel 2" or so before the footboard. I'm assuming it was for a midmount sickle bar mower, but I've never seen an N equipped with one of those.

This mount is coming off, but I was curious if anyone had seen a similar setup. Thanks y'all!

Dearborn did make a mid-mount (aka "belly") mower for the 8N. As John suggested, they also offered a front dozer blade, front snow blade, and a V-snowplow blade that attached to a universal frame and were cable operated. Here's a parts book view of the universal frames that were offered:

 

[EdGooding]

I don't see the frame part in your pic going all the way back. I think it is a Dearborn 14-3 or 14-4 belly mower. Here's a pic from the owner's manual:

 

[EdGooding]

You can download a free copy of the owner's manual and reverse the installation procedure to get it all removed. You may luck out and find someone who needs these parts to install or repair their mower.

https://www.ntractorclub.com/manuals/implements/mowers/Dearborn%2014-3%20&%2014-4%20Side%20Mounted%20Mower%20-%20Assembly%20&%20Operating%20Instructions.pdf

 

[John0829]

I do believe Ed nailed it.

 

[BossofBBQ]

Yep, that's the exact one. I never knew a belly mount sickle bar existed for these tractors, that's neat.
Thanks for the insight, John and Ed. I now have the owners manual downloaded, printed and in my service records. I'll take the mount off and put it up for sale locally.
This is a '51, and I'm in the process of restoring it. It seems like a decent little tractor. It has heavy 1 piece front wheel weights on the inside of each rim which is another thing I hadn't seen before. Was this a factory option? It's a pretty neat idea, doesn't really strain the N kingpin and general front end as badly as bumper-mounted weights.

 

[EdGooding]

Not a factory option but available from dealers and 3rd parties. The Ford Vari-Weight setup offered the inner front wheel weights in two halves that allowed you to mount/dismount without removing the wheel. I have seen one-piece inner front weights but they are attached more to the inside of the weight platter than yours. The Ford weights added about a hundred pounds to each wheel.

 

[BossofBBQ]

These must have been made by a 3rd party manufacturer. Today I removed them, to paint and install on my other 8N. Because of how they're cast, I had to remove the front wheel hubs in order for the weight to slide off. In the 2nd picture, Ed, I can see the casting on that weight has space for the wheel hub and lugnuts, which my set lack.

Those front spindles/wheel bearings were pretty dry, so I repacked them with fresh grease while I was there.

These weights feel about 100 lbs/each, and should keep the front end firmly on the ground while using my heavy Ford disc or 5' Rhino rotary cutter. No more wheelies!

 

[EdGooding]

These must have been made by a 3rd party manufacturer. Today I removed them, to paint and install on my other 8N. Because of how they're cast, I had to remove the front wheel hubs in order for the weight to slide off. In the 2nd picture, Ed, I can see the casting on that weight has space for the wheel hub and lugnuts, which my set lack.

I am curious about what your weights are attached to. Does the outer side of the front wheel look like this:

 

[BossofBBQ]

The outer side of my front wheels don't look quite like that. I've attached some photos of the mounting situation. There are 4 bolts going through the weight, and out through the 4 little gaps in the wheel. The casting on the weights is rough in some areas, and there's no stamping on them for identification. I painted them up, they're drying now. For reference both of my tractors have 4x19 fronts.

 

[EdGooding]

That explains why the inner fasteners were so far outward than others I have seen. Looks like a previous owner adapted weights from another tractor type to his 8N. Front weights for the 8N would use the square holes like in the wheel I showed above.

 

[BossofBBQ]

I figured this set wasn't OEM, as soon as I figured out the wheel hub had to come off to remove them. At any rate, they fit, and keep the front end down without straining the kingpin. Thanks for the info Ed!

 

[John0829]

Those weights look more like the ones I remember seeing on an old "A" Farmall.

 

[boatmoter]

Hi folks,
I just bought another 8N, non running. It has this weird bracketry on both sides of the transmission. I've never seen anything like it. I've attached some photos below....

I don't think this was a dealer option, as it hinders movement of the clutch pedal, stopping downward travel 2" or so before the footboard. I'm assuming it was for a midmount sickle bar mower, but I've never seen an N equipped with one of those.

This mount is coming off, but I was curious if anyone had seen a similar setup. Thanks y'all!

just a guess, but with a mid mount bar seems like it would be running a belt off the front of the engine due to the 8N not having a live PTO

 

[wrenchit]

Hi folks,
I just bought another 8N, non running. It has this weird bracketry on both sides of the transmission. I've never seen anything like it. I've attached some photos below....

I don't think this was a dealer option, as it hinders movement of the clutch pedal, stopping downward travel 2" or so before the footboard. I'm assuming it was for a midmount sickle bar mower, but I've never seen an N equipped with one of those.

This mount is coming off, but I was curious if anyone had seen a similar setup. Thanks y'all!

Yes, it's a sickle bar mount. I worked for many years mowing with one of three belly mowers my boss had, one being a 42, a 46, and a 1952. All three had belly mower side mount sickle bars. We did field cutting all summer long for various customers, and some when the swampy areas were frozen enough to support the weight of the tractor that was otherwise a swamp in the summertime. On a side note, I once got stuck almost to the oil pan. I was walking up his driveway to get his backhoe to pull it out when he drove in and told me I didn't need it. He drove down there, got on the tractor, put it in second gear, stood on both brakes, and drove it right out of the muddy hole. After learning that trick, I never got stuck again. And I will never live down the statement he made to me after showing up my teenage know-it-all attitude when I said he wouldn't get it unstuck.
After he drove it right out, He looked at me and said "Stop trying to teach your father how to make kids".
I kept all 5 of his old Fords running (one with a Ford "Digger, backhoe as they are called today, and one for using rear attachments). (I was his mechanic) for the 18 years that I worked for him until he passed away., Ironically, while on a tractor, he had a heart attack and died in the seat, while backed up against a tree in the shade on a blistering hot day.
I learned a lot of 9n, 2n, and 8n tricks from "Old Joe," as he was known, like changing bent or broken knives out in the field.
At 70, I still use some with my 1958 601 Workmaster.
And when the young ones try to show me how to do something, and it doesn't work out, after I show them the way that works quickly and effortlessly, I say the same thing.
"Dont try to teach your father how to make kids."
Like me, when they in their 30s or 40s, that statement will finally make some sense.
LOL.

 

[EdGooding]

These will probably look familiar to you:

 

[BossofBBQ]

I just got the mounts pulled off. I'll probably put them on Craigslist in the Denver area.
Before I do, is there a better place that might get more interest? Seems like a long shot that someone would be shopping for them 74+ years later, but it'd be nice to see these used rather than scrapped. I'm guessing the actual mower that went on my tractor was scrapped long ago, and they just never bothered to remove the mounts.

 

[EdGooding]

I'm guessing the actual mower that went on my tractor was scrapped long ago, and they just never bothered to remove the mounts.

I've seen that a lot, even with the rear-mount sickle mowers. Owners pull everything off except for some of the most important pieces that they leave on the tractor. Someone comes along and buys the mower, but then either cannot install it or wonders why it won't cut right. The Marketplace on this site, Craigslist, Facebook Market, and the N Tractor Club Ads section are good places to start.

 

[BossofBBQ]

I've seen that a lot, even with the rear-mount sickle mowers. Owners pull everything off except for some of the most important pieces that they leave on the tractor. Someone comes along and buys the mower, but then either cannot install it or wonders why it won't cut right. The Marketplace on this site, Craigslist, Facebook Market, and the N Tractor Club Ads section are good places to start.

Ads are up. Posted on Craigslist in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas, as well as the Marketplace on this forum and over at N Tractor Club as well, if anyone's interested. Thanks Ed!