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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Sickle Mower

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J

03-22-2004 14:24:37




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i bought a Case sickle mower with a 7' cut and Im wondering if it is possible to make your own pitman arms out of wood. If so, what is a good type of wood to use. The mower is a semi mount trail type and Im quite sure how to lift the bar off the ground. Thanks.




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Ryan

03-23-2004 18:59:46




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
I just made one for an oliver pull behind last year. We used red elm. Has a nice tight grain and is really stringy so it holds together well.



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RZ(Wa)

03-23-2004 15:26:07




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
Until I found a local source for wood pitman arms, I have made them from oak, ash and hickory even plywood when I was really hard-up for one. Ash and hickory seem to last the longest, forget using plywood, way too much flex and definately not worth the time spent. Look for a nice tight and straight grain in the hardwoods. Whatever wood you use, be absolutely certain there is no knots or even a trace of a knot. For what it is worth, buying a 'ready-made' doesn't cost much more than making one from stock. Drill your holes a skosh under size dead-on-center and make the center cut the same thickness as the plate, any slop and it won't last very long.

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Ultradog MN

03-23-2004 08:23:46




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
As others have said it's tough to beat TSC's prices on pitman arms. But I still build my own.
We always used white oak. The last time I had to make one I made three of them at the same time.
Of course after you've broken a couple of them you learn to be a little more cautious what you stick your mower into and don't break them as often.



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Buck Hanson

03-23-2004 06:08:40




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
We took a old car jack stand (used on cars from the 50"s) and used it to make a pitman.
It worked good for years, never had another problem with it.
The main thing is get it cut to the right length
and bolt it together.

Buck



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TractorMike

03-22-2004 20:44:01




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
It is possible to make your own pitman arms. I have an old ford 501 sickle mower and broke 2 pitman arms before I got smart and made one. What I did was I went to lowes and got a piece of 1x4 8ft and cut it to length then I took 2 pieces of 3/16 steel and bolted one on each side of the wood then drilled the holes and voila, You have a pretty strong pitman arm. The width of the 1x4 and 3/16 steel workes out to the same or about the same as the orignal. TractorMike

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Dave H (MI)

03-22-2004 19:49:47




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
Before you do, check TSC. They carry a few old pitmans. I still buy mine. They aren't expensive enough to merit the time making one.



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old

03-22-2004 18:17:01




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
Back when I used them I made a lot of them, I even made a few form tree limbs just to get by, I always used oak, and believe it or not the tree limb ones lasted longer the the square stick one did.



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Davidj

03-24-2004 06:15:14




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 Re: Re: Sickle Mower in reply to old, 03-22-2004 18:17:01  
A trick I was shown was to split a piece out of a round chunk of wood. The old-timer said that the wood is stronger when you follow the grain. He then squared it up. I don't know how long they'd last but it sounds reasonable.



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rustyfarmall

03-22-2004 15:31:08




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 Re: Sickle Mower in reply to J, 03-22-2004 14:24:37  
If you have the old pitman stick to use as a pattern then it would be relatively easy to make a new one. It needs to be made of a good knot-free, hardwood, preferably oak or maybe hickory.



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