Help with sickle bar.

[Birch Hill Farm]

I recently purchased a old MF sickle bar and it is in great shape, but I am having one problem. The wooden bar that connects the flywheel to the blade keeps popping off at the blade. There is a ball and socket type joint that clamps down by flipping a spring loaded lever causing it to clamp onto the ball mounted to blade. The lever keeps flipping causing it to pop off before I can mow more then a few feet. Could the joint just be weak? Can I clamp it down some how or am I doing something else wrong here? Any help appreciated
Thanks Jon.

 

[Egon]

Is this a case for Duct Tape to keep the lever in place?

Wooden Bar = Pitman arm

 

[Birch Hill Farm]

Great idea!

 

[Egon]

Back when we'd have used Binder twine or Baling wire.

 

[Birch Hill Farm]

It worked! It's mowing just fine now, guess I need to order a new part. So how strong is a wooden pitman arm? Why not use something steel.

 

[Egon]

Good show.

Wooden Pitman Arms have been in use for a long time. How strong they are I surely do not know.

 

[lambs]

Stay with wood....there's a reason it's made of wood.

You want it to snap if it gets under too much stress, in lieu of something else breaking that will cost a lot more to repair.....