Sickle Bar Section Rivets vs Bolts

[sjbrunk0]

I'm replacing all the sections on my sickle bar, and went to find rivets for it... the rivets I can find at the farm store down the street seem to be too small in diameter.

The ones I removed were really snug, had to grind off the tops and beat them out. The ones I've been able to find are quite loose and don't seem right.

They also have bolts & nuts which apparently are designed for use with sections. I'm a little skeptical, are there pros / cons for bolts versus rivets?

I'd sure like to get my sickle bar back together in the next couple of days, the John Deere store spent a week and a half trying to transfer rivets from a different store and then still didn't have them... and the store down the street is way cheaper.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

 

[beenthere]

Use the Deere rivets or the bolts (wouldn't have them if they didn't work, I wouldn't think). Keep the pressure on the Dealer, or go to an ag dealer for the parts. The right ones shouldn't be so hard to come by.

But remember the rivets you removed are swelled in diam from hammering them home. So comparing the diam's won't be the same to new.

 

[js5020]

I wouldnt waste my time with rivets, bolts are the only way to go,, once ya use em you'll never go back.

 

[MMagis]

We always used rivets back in our sickle bar days, but I can't see any reason not to use the bolts. Sure seems like it would be a lot easier and faster.

 

[AKfish]

I don't have a good idea of what the bolts you're considering look like or how they fit the sickle sections and the cutter bar.

However, one consideration I would have regarding the bolts is the tendency that they might pull and hold the hay onto the cutter bar and clog/plug the guards.

Sickle mowers are "plug prone" to begin with and anything that might make that situation worse would be a concern - IMO.

That said, if the bolts are very low profile with a rounded head; like a carriage bolt - then, it's not likely gonna be a problem and you would have a much easier job of changing out sections, etc.

AKfish

 

[Mace Canute]

I wouldnt waste my time with rivets, bolts are the only way to go,, once ya use em you'll never go back.

X 2! :thumbsup:

 

[flusher]

I'm replacing all the sections on my sickle bar, and went to find rivets for it... the rivets I can find at the farm store down the street seem to be too small in diameter.

The ones I removed were really snug, had to grind off the tops and beat them out. The ones I've been able to find are quite loose and don't seem right.

They also have bolts & nuts which apparently are designed for use with sections. I'm a little skeptical, are there pros / cons for bolts versus rivets?

I'd sure like to get my sickle bar back together in the next couple of days, the John Deere store spent a week and a half trying to transfer rivets from a different store and then still didn't have them... and the store down the street is way cheaper.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share.

I replaced the rivets on my old 7-ft MF31 sicklebar with nuts and bolts.

First I had to replace the steel bar that carries the sections (and drill about 60 holes) since the original bar was bent and twisted



Nuts and bolts installed




Hope this helps.
Good luck.

 

[ctlguy]

bolts work fine for these the only thing you need to check is sometimes older style original hold down clips do not have a high enough arch to allow for the extra room needed for the bolts so new style hold down clips may be in order.

 

[Barry Bowen]

Bolts are clearly the way to go as long as they are the right type for a sickle blade. Watch clearance on the hold downs. Forget the rivets unless you like doing lots of extra work.

 

[beenthere]

flusher
Your third pic shows extra length on the bolts used to hold the sections, whereas the last pic shows the bolts flush with the nuts (that appear to be lock nuts). Did you change bolts along the way?

Looks like you replaced a number of parts, and have a good rebuilt mower now.