HELP WITH SICKLEBAR ATTACHMENT

Gordon Gould · Apr 15, 2007

I got a sicklebar mower about four years ago which I use mostly for road side mowing. The machine hangs off of a yoke or squareish inverted "U" which mounts to the 3PH. One lift arm on each side at the bottom of the inverted "U" and the top link at the center of the top of the "U". There is also a chain that runs from one lift arm mounting point up over the top link, where it fits into a slot, and then down to the other lift arm mounting point. The instructions said to adjust this chain to give consistency in the lowered position of the mower. The geometry is such that when the lift arms are lowered the chain tightens over the top link.
The first time I set it up I adjusted the chain, and then moved on to adjust the cam and levers for rotating the bar upward when the mower is lifted. In adjusting this I didnt pay any attention to what was going on with the chain and ended up with a severly bent top link because I lowered the mower more than I had before and the chain tightened to much over the top link.
Since then, every year I leave the chain fairly loose and admit to my self that I really dont Know what that chain is supposed to do and I certainly dont known how to adjust it or if it is at all important.
Can anyone help? Thanks.

Farmwithjunk · Apr 15, 2007

Gordon Gould said:
I got a sicklebar mower about four years ago which I use mostly for road side mowing. The machine hangs off of a yoke or squareish inverted "U" which mounts to the 3PH. One lift arm on each side at the bottom of the inverted "U" and the top link at the center of the top of the "U". There is also a chain that runs from one lift arm mounting point up over the top link, where it fits into a slot, and then down to the other lift arm mounting point. The instructions said to adjust this chain to give consistency in the lowered position of the mower. The geometry is such that when the lift arms are lowered the chain tightens over the top link.
The first time I set it up I adjusted the chain, and then moved on to adjust the cam and levers for rotating the bar upward when the mower is lifted. In adjusting this I didnt pay any attention to what was going on with the chain and ended up with a severly bent top link because I lowered the mower more than I had before and the chain tightened to much over the top link.
Since then, every year I leave the chain fairly loose and admit to my self that I really dont Know what that chain is supposed to do and I certainly dont known how to adjust it or if it is at all important.
Can anyone help? Thanks.

Any clue as to the brand or model?