IHC sickle bar mower

[AL Moyer in Pa.]

Hey all, went to look at a 50H, tractor is junk, but had this mower on back, looks to be a McCormick-Deering 27V ? Just wondering what are they worth ? Parts available ? Kinda remember my uncle have one, but remember mowing off hay with a IH trailer mower. Seems when you have this mounted that's all you can use it for, ties up the tractor, hopefully I can attach pics. Boy, I gotta stay away from craigs list, my wife keeps telling me she's going to "Hide the Mouse" (might be a good idea) Thanks for any insight, AL


 

[farmallboy15]

probably worth about $150. It looks to be in pretty good shape. Parts: I'm sure you can find the blades, shields, belts and pitman but other than that you will be on a long hunt.
 

[DeltaRed]

My inlaws had (wore out)2-3 of them.seemed to be pretty good machines.If they can survive hi-altitude grass,they can cut anything.They were IHs answer to the JD#5/8.
 

[Janicholson]

I have mowed more than a thousand acres with one of those. (never broke a pitman rod!!) they are pretty bullet proof. Nice square corners are easy (requiring spinning the wheel and using the right brake) wear parts are easy to find. Jim
 

[Janicholson]

Oh! they take only 15 to 20 minutes to mount. Jim
 

[AL Moyer in Pa.]

I can remember as a kid, if my uncle broke the pitman arm, Dad was a carpenter by trade, so he just made up a new one for his youngest brother!
 

[Dave H (MI)]

IH answer to the JD #5 mower. The JD was heavier built. Jim is right, if you jam on the inside brake and spin the wheel fast enough you will cut a geometrically square corner without leaving a tuft. Catch a little resistance doing it and you might just break a draw bar strut...BTDT. JD supplies parts for their mowers but I can't say on that one. Mostly if you use one of these old mowers you keep a couple spares for parts. Fun as it was to start, I would give up cutting hay before I would go back to that style of mower. Seemed like it was just one thing after another.
 

[Chas Weller]

Well I for one need a little more info(Please) last fall I bought two(one is parts mower, still has steel wheel) at a farm sale(paid $450) came with two extra sickle bar blades and a box of new individual knives and rivets plus extra wood ends(do not know correct name for wood guides at end of mower) and extra wood pitman rod. The mower works but I am attempting to attach to IH 350 rowcrop and from your pictures it looks like I need the brackets from the drawbar to to mower. I found a manual on ebay but do not have a good visual of the brackets? If anyone can supply a good image of the brackets - maybe I can have them made? Many Thanks, Chas
 

[Janicholson]

The wooden board for the tip is called a Swath board or parting board and lays the hay in what might be called a ""part"" like on your hair.
The mower has a pair of plates that go under the draw bar of each (tractor and mower) they are about 3 inches wide each and 1/2 inch thick. (mild steel is fine) they are made by putting the mower up to the drawbar on jacks or blocks (a bit cumbersome) so that it is parallel and at the same level. Make a template from cardboard for the holes, two holes in each plate for the mower, and one hole each for the drawbar. This provides all the needed mounting. Have the plates plasma cut from 1/2, or 5/8 plate and bolt it to the drawbar. Be sure to have enough PTO drive shaft compression length so the mower can follow terrain. (probably at least 6 inches of compression and extension) Jim