John Deere 851 Rake problem

[JRSutton]

So I took all four bars off a new-to-me jd 851.

I just went to reinstall them - and I got three on, but for the life of me, I can't get the fourth one one. It's about 2" too long.

I tried removing them all and shuffling things around several times - but no matter what combination I try - I keep coming up with one that will not fit.

Both of the star carriers (no idea what they're really called) at each end have apparently had one arm broken off and welded back on.

AND one of the bars originally had a nasty bend in it before I straightened it. Another had a more minor bend that I straightened.

I measured all the bars - they match exactly.

I measured the point to point distances of all 4 mounting points from one star to the other. hard to be accurate, but they seemed close enough.

I also measured the distance of each mounting point from the center of each star - again - looks close enough...

I'm about to do something that's potentially foolish - I'm thinking that I just can't measure it accurately enough, and the repaired sections are too far off. I'm thinking the previous owner, in frustration, probably bent the bar forcing it back on, and that's why it "fit".

Sooo - I'm thinking of cutting one of the bars down and re-welding the end at the proper length...

before I take that step - AM I MISSING SOMETHING???

this is so frustrating. Is there some kind of trick to mounting these things???

I can't imagine it's supposed to be this hard - and I HAVE to shorten one (OR try to fix the star wheels which seems like a MUCH bigger job.
 

[JDseller]

I have never had one go back together easily. The bars hold the bracket in a cylinder shape. When you have them out the you have to realign things to get it back together. Plus add in 50+ years of use/abuse so you have a fun time.

Here is how I have been doing them for years. Install all the tooth bars into the back spider reel. Then loosen the front spider reel spindle mounting bolts. The ones that hold the whole bracket to the bracket frame. The trouble is usually the basket frame is sprung a little bit so the reels are not parallel any more. With the mounting bolts loose then install the tooth bars into the front spider reel.(Put the stub shafts in the spider first then put the washers, spacers, bearing and bar on then the nut. If you try to just get them in far enough to get the snap ring on then they usually will not go together) Only have the nuts on a few threads on each one until you get them all in the spider. Then tighten them up. Then tighten the spindle mounting bolts. You may have to install all four at the same time to get them in the frame. You can usually get them in by yourself with the mount loose.

Email me if you have any more trouble.
 

[4020deereboy]

I ran into that on my new holland took a big pry bar and little persuasion and it went right in
 

[JRSutton]

Thanks JD -

All along I kept thinking that it WAS working - so it should go right back together - but that's not true at all.

One of the bars had broken the stud/bearing assembly at one bar end (probably BECAUSE the wheels aren't aligned) so I've never actually seen all four bars mounted.

I was only assuming it had been working (previous owner said it was - but you know how that goes).

Plus one bar, still mounted, was very bent - so there's no way that could have fit if everything was right (again,probably bent BECAUSE of the star wheels being off).

I'll loosen one end as you suggest and try again.

WAS going to try that originally but the nuts and bolts are really nasty looking. Just didn't have the energy for that fight last night.

I'll hit it again today.

thanks again.
 

[JRSutton]

this one's well beyond persuasion! one bar is a full 2" too long (and that's WITH a lot of pushing and forcing).

As I said in my reply to jd - this is a new-to-me rake - and one of the studs had been broken off at one bar end - I'm now realizing that probably happened because the two star wheels got out of alignment.

I'll loosen one end and see what happens.

Thanks
 

[GordoSD]

You have to have the entire bearing cage assembly off the wheel. Attach the bar to one end wheel, then with the bearing assembly attached to the bar, line up one of the holes in that assembly to the correct hole on the wheel, insert a bolt, then rotate the wheel and insert the next bolt. The wheel rotation supplies the correct spacing and leverage.