JD # 9 sickle mower

[foxrun]

I am try to put a new pitman stick on the ball of the sickle bar. I can’t compress it with the stick on the brackets. Is there any trick to do this? Thanks

 

[old]

I am try to put a new pitman stick on the ball of the sickle bar. I can’t compress it with the stick on the brackets. Is there any trick to do this? Thanks

Do you have the correct stick and is it turned the correct way?

 

[DanielW]

There's a 'tool' (more like a bent piece of metal in a bit of a wacky shape) you use on the #9's (and other JD mowers of that era). It has a hole in it, as does the pitman about 4" up from the ball. You drop a 1/4" bolt through the tool and pitman to hold the tool in-place, and the tool has a slot that works as a pry-notch for the fork. It also has an end that's shaped to wedge between the ball clamp brackets to hold it open while you service the knife.

 

[wore out]

I am try to put a new pitman stick on the ball of the sickle bar. I can’t compress it with the stick on the brackets. Is there any trick to do this? Thanks

Do you have all the parts and have it assembled correctly, including the metal strap over the top where a punch can be inserted to compress the spring that operates the latch mechanism?

Are you attempting to install it on the sickle head "ball" as shown in the Operator's Manual?

 

[wore out]

There's a 'tool' (more like a bent piece of metal in a bit of a wacky shape) you use on the #9's (and other JD mowers of that era). It has a hole in it, as does the pitman about 4" up from the ball. You drop a 1/4" bolt through the tool and pitman to hold the tool in-place, and the tool has a slot that works as a pry-notch for the fork. It also has an end that's shaped to wedge between the ball clamp brackets to hold it open while you service the knife.

That's not a loose "tool", it is an attached (with a rivet or bolt) part of the pitman assembly, as shown in the Operator's Manual info I posted

 

[foxrun]

Yes I have all the parts including that slot “tool” I guess I’ll have to use a little bit more of strength to get it on. You guys are great for answering so quickly. I’ll let you know how I make out. Thanks alot

 

[DanielW]

WoreOut is correct: That 'tool is supposed to attach permanently to the pitman. We always kept ours loose in the tractor toolbox and dropped a bolt in when using it, however. We broke a lot of pitmans on our rocky fields, and they'd often break at the hole in the pitman where it's supposed to bolt on. We kept the tool separate so we didn't lose it when it broke there.