Ford 501 Sickle Bar

[Joshb-92]

I had bought a Ford 501 sickle bar mower a while back and was doing a little work on it today trying to get it ready for use. Had to replace the pitman arm and belt and with the belt off I grabbed ahold of the drive pulley that attaches to the pto shaft and tried to turn it by hand and it wouldn?t. My question is if that is normal or not? It started pouring rain so I quit for the day but will continue tomorrow. I?m just trying to identify if something is locked up or if it takes substantially more power than just turning by hand to spin it. Thanks.

 

[stevob671]

If the belt is off, and your PTO dis-engaged, it should turn fairly easy. At that point is like 2 bearings in front of the pulley and the shaft and your tractor shaft. Does your tractor have a pto brake? Even with the belt on and turning both shafts and the cycle, it should still turn by hand. Again, PTO out of gear and no PTO brake.

 

[Joshb-92]

Ok. I don?t even have it hooked up to the tractor at all. So I guess I?ve got a bearing locked up? This thing had been setting out for a while before I bought it. The guy I bought it from is someone I know well and he said it had been cutting well when put out of use. They just let it set because they bought a disk mower.

 

[stevob671]

Here is the breakdown of that shaft...bearings are #7, bearing cups are #2.

 

[Joshb-92]

Thank you. It looks like I?ll be ordering them and tearing it down.

 

[Joshb-92]

I?ve actually greased enough and put a pipe wrench on the pulley and worked it back and forth until the pulley has freed up. It still feels slightly rough but turns pretty free. Do you think it?ll ever hold together enough to cut about 2 acres of hay with?

 

[Dave O'Brien]

Depending on just how long it sat, It MIGHT be fine after getting run in about 2 acres' worth. Then again, you might be ahead to open it up and check it out.