Ford 501 sickle question...

[jjmarotz]

I have an old Ford 501 sickle mower that I got up and running last yr, works great. Now my question is this.... can a hydraulic ram be added to this to raise and lower the cutter bar? The bar can be a royal pain to hold up and install the locking rod, and vise versa to lower it. Now that I have a tractor with a 3rd scv I am really thinking this would be a real "back saver"

If so, how long and what size ram would be needed? Any pics of anything similar would help too. Thanks.

 

[sweettractors]

I have an old Ford 501 sickle mower that I got up and running last yr, works great. Now my question is this.... can a hydraulic ram be added to this to raise and lower the cutter bar? The bar can be a royal pain to hold up and install the locking rod, and vise versa to lower it. Now that I have a tractor with a 3rd scv I am really thinking this would be a real "back saver"

If so, how long and what size ram would be needed? Any pics of anything similar would help too. Thanks.

I will also be interested in anyone who has tackled this project and been successful. Off hand I do think some sort of flex linkage between the end of the cyl shaft and the cutterbar attachment would be necessary to let the mower go below horizontal and come vertical as it floats with the approx 35 degree mowing range of up and down cutting angle? Ken Sweet

 

[jjmarotz]

Hmmmmm..... either this is a bad idea or nobody has attempted this mod Thought for sure that someone had done this to a similar mower....

 

[rankrank1]

I doubt anyone has tried adding a cylinder to this particular mower since it is pitman arm driven. Pitman type drive sytems will only work a few degrees either way from pure horizontal or else you break the pitman. Adding a cylinder would only add a whole lot of complexity for very little real benefit. Best bet might be to try to improve on the existing rod system to make it easier to use somehow. I have seen several old mowers use a chain instead of the rod.
That said, I can see where a cylinder would be beneficial on a wobble box driven or dyna balance driven mower as these type of drive systems can continue cutting at darn near vertical or well below vertical. Having a cyclinder on these would allow adjustment while cutting.

 

[sweettractors]

The bar can be a royal pain to hold up and install the locking rod, and vise versa to lower it. "

It helps on these older mowers when going into transport mode, to try to find a place where the blade is up hill before you try to lift it into transport. Let gravity help you. Ken Sweet

 

[Farmerford]

jjmarotz:

How does the tire work on the end of the cutterbar? I considered one for my mower but wondered if it would drag too much as the mower moves sideways when the tractor turns tight?

 

[jjmarotz]

The tire was an experiment last yr to see if the end of the mower would follow the contours of the ground better and not "gouge" into the ground. I have to say that it works great!!!! The tire is just a Harbor Freight cheapo $5.00 deal from a previous project. The bearing in it is shot now, but what do you expect for that price now that I know how well it works I am going to upgrade to a better tire this yr.

I don't use the mower for hay cutting and such, just for the roadside weeds and late fall trimming of the pastures.

 

[forester2]

I put a lift cylinder on mine. Still a work in progress- current cylinder stroke too short. Think 16" will be about right. Used piece of chain on end of cylinder to attach to bar for 'flop around' factor. Would show picture but sickle bar is buried a back barn right now.