Dearborn 14-15 mower repair

[Schneider]

I have a 14-15 i would like to fix up and I have a few question the manual hasn?t answered for me.

The ledger plates are all dull so I am replacing the guards. I just bought one guard at TSC and put it on to insure it was the right type and i noticed it appeared to point down 3/4 inch lower than all the rest. Holding a piece of steel to it i found the the new one was parallel to the bar and all the rest were tipped up. Maybe that is why it has stacks of shims under the wear plates and hold downs. Are the guards supposed to be parallel with the cutter bar?

On the inside most part of the cutter bar, where slides in and out of the inner shoe it appears there should be a ledger plate. I don?t see one in the manual.

On the outer shoe there is a one sided ledger plate, I haven?t been able to find one like that for sale, does it come with the ledger plate kit from new holland?

 

[jCarroll]

Ledger plates should be parallel to the surface of the cutter bar, and about 1/16" higher to allow a wear plate
to set on the bar, and hold a section parallel to the surface of the bar and resting "flat" on both the wear plate and the ledger plate.

Both inner and outer shoes have 1/2 ledger plates which are specific for the shoe casting - think mower manufacturer.
But, whatever fits, works.

You will be time and satisfaction ahead to strip the bar, put on the wear plates, and then fit the guards.
Then add the hold down clips - shim as required to hold the knife down, but not to make it drag.

Start with a straight knife - probably a new one.
This is 100 year old technology .................

Got an air or electric impact wrench?

 

[Schneider]

I replace all the knives on the bar last year and that’s when I noticed the gaps in between the ledger plates and cutters.

The bar seems straight within an 1/8 of an inch when I lay it on the concrete.

I do have an impact now an other than the noise it sure is nice.

I will call new holland today and see if the ledger plate kit comes with the end plates. I see one goes on the inner shoe, the bar was so shimmed up on that side it was 3/4 inch from flush with that spot and I thought a piece was missing.

So, 23 guards, ledger plates for shoes, wear plates and maybe replace a few of the hold downs. Oh, and the pto shaft came apart where some one had welded it up so I’ll get a piece of 3/4 inch bar to replace it. Might as well get a belt too.

Still cheaper than new if it works.

 

[Leroy]

I know some Ford mowers used to take a different guard than any other make. Use to TSC had a universal guard for most mowers and then a different guard marked for just Ford. I have some of the old Ford mowers laying in parts I never got set up for shows and never did compair guards to see the difference. I know 20 years ago Ford tractor dealer, old time dealer, knew nothing about that mower. I now have more books on that mower than dealer ever had. They were made by Detroit Harvestor and some old Ferguson are same as one of the models of the ford mower. Don't remember off the top of my head what models. Also one model of Case mower was built by Detroit Harvestor. I don't think you will find any new guards made to fit your mower. What makes the difference is how the front and rear hold downs in the iner head set acording to the bar. You have to find where that angle is and then find guards that equal that angle and you cannot adjust new guards to come out right against the fit of the knife head into the head hold downs. Do you still have the pitman with the ball on it and clamp on the knife or has someone tried to modify it with the clamp on pitman and ball on knife head? Those parts were not avaible 20 years ago. In my pile I have 4 of the Ford , actually Dearborn Mowers that I paid from $7.50 to $75 for years ago. That mower would have been made sometime between 1948 and 1954.

 

[Schneider]

The universal guards i bought at tsc seem identical to what is on there. 8 dollars at tsc. 23 dollars each from New Holland. Just need to find the right belt size now. new Hollands website shows a couple of different sizes.

 

[Schneider]

New holland wants 61.50 for the inner ledger plate. $28 for the rivet...............might be looking into options......