McCormick 25V sickle mower parts

[montidale]

I have an old international, McCormick‘s sickle mower, which I believe is the 25V. Trying to track down a new Pitman arm and bearing. Does everybody know a good source for the parts. I think I can find the Pitman arm, but the bearing is little bit harder to find. When I enter the bearing part number on the Internet, I don’t seem to find the correct bearing. The bearing is a new departure 3206 b29. I would figure someone out there still has parts for this sickle. it looks like if I can find the bearing, I will have to drill out some rivets and replace them with bolts.

 

[560Dennis]

Well I had success plugging those numbers into eBay search . Also Bearing Distributors inc.
sometimes you can just replace the bearing and use the old pillow block, my thoughts.
also plug the number into tractor house search too ! I’m convinced you will find that bearing and be back into the field with your mower.
also Webb cutting mfg.

 

[montidale]

Well I had success plugging those numbers into eBay search . Also Bearing Distributors inc.
sometimes you can just replace the bearing and use the old pillow block, my thoughts.
also plug the number into tractor house search too ! I’m convinced you will find that bearing and be back into the field with your mower.
also Webb cutting mfg.

The 3206 part of the bearing number comes up but the – B 29 it’s hard to find. The width of the bearing is 2 inches wide. All the 3206 bearings are about an inch wide.

 

[Janicholson]

The 3206 part of the bearing number comes up but the – B 29 it’s hard to find. The width of the bearing is 2 inches wide. All the 3206 bearings are about an inch wide.

Use 1/2 inch spacer rings to fill the gap if none found. Jim

 

[Moonlite37]

Well I had success plugging those numbers into eBay search . Also Bearing Distributors inc.
sometimes you can just replace the bearing and use the old pillow block, my thoughts.
also plug the number into tractor house search too ! I’m convinced you will find that bearing and be back into the field with your mower.
also Webb cutting mfg.

That part is the same for all tractor mowers of that era.. You may find used one if new is not available

 

[wore out]

I have an old international, McCormick‘s sickle mower, which I believe is the 25V. Trying to track down a new Pitman arm and bearing. Does everybody know a good source for the parts. I think I can find the Pitman arm, but the bearing is little bit harder to find. When I enter the bearing part number on the Internet, I don’t seem to find the correct bearing. The bearing is a new departure 3206 b29. I would figure someone out there still has parts for this sickle. it looks like if I can find the bearing, I will have to drill out some rivets and replace them with bolts.View attachment 85390

https://www.macknair.com/mowerparts.htm

Previous post on the subject. Scroll WAY down on the linked page. DISCLAIMER, I have no personal knowledge or experience with that company.

 

[DanielW]

I was just replying to another poster about something similar with their C28 (same pitman). Places like Macknair (mentioned above) and Cottage Craft Works offer those plates and complete pitmans with the holes changed to accept standard flange bearings, available anywhere. I did the same thing for mine: I had a few plates laser-cut to take a three-bolt flange bearing. I got lucky as we had some high-yield (100 ksi) sheet the right thickness being cut on our plasma table at work, so I was able to have mine done for a very reasonable price out of an extra-strong material. I'd definitely advocate for going with a newer/standard flange bearing, rather than that stupid custom bearing IH used. Even if the flange bearing wears out a little faster, I'm much happier buying a $15 bearing every few years at Napa/TSC, than I would be having to find one of those wacky IH bearings that are no longer being made, even if the IH ones do last a little longer.

If you have a fab shop with a plasma/laser table nearby, I can send you the CAD file for the template and you can send it to them to have made (though it's probably not going to be much cheaper than the one from Macknair). The 1-1/8" three bolt flange bearings are available in both a 205 and 206 size of flange. I went with the 206 to be a little larger/stronger, and I used an eccentric lock collar style of bearing rather than the set-screw (though either would work just fine).

 

[montidale]

I was just replying to another poster about something similar with their C28 (same pitman). Places like Macknair (mentioned above) and Cottage Craft Works offer those plates and complete pitmans with the holes changed to accept standard flange bearings, available anywhere. I did the same thing for mine: I had a few plates laser-cut to take a three-bolt flange bearing. I got lucky as we had some high-yield (100 ksi) sheet the right thickness being cut on our plasma table at work, so I was able to have mine done for a very reasonable price out of an extra-strong material. I'd definitely advocate for going with a newer/standard flange bearing, rather than that stupid custom bearing IH used. Even if the flange bearing wears out a little faster, I'm much happier buying a $15 bearing every few years at Napa/TSC, than I would be having to find one of those wacky IH bearings that are no longer being made, even if the IH ones do last a little longer.

If you have a fab shop with a plasma/laser table nearby, I can send you the CAD file for the template and you can send it to them to have made (though it's probably not going to be much cheaper than the one from Macknair). The 1-1/8" three bolt flange bearings are available in both a 205 and 206 size of flange. I went with the 206 to be a little larger/stronger, and I used an eccentric lock collar style of bearing rather than the set-screw (though either would work just fine).

Daniel thanks for the offer of the cad file. I don’t have a plasma cutter that would work for that application nearby. I think it’ll be a lot easier. Just giving Macknair a call. Thanks for the information. I don’t use the sickle that much. I have a brush hog. My niece has some weeds and grass by a creek that I can’t get at with the brush hog. It doesn’t hurt to use a sickle once in a while just to keep it from turning to rust.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Use 1/2 inch spacer rings to fill the gap if none found. Jim

Or two bearings.

 

[Farmall m farmer]

https://www.macknair.com/mowerparts.htm

Previous post on the subject. Scroll WAY down on the linked page. DISCLAIMER, I have no personal knowledge or experience with that company.

I was going to buy parts for my manure spreader but they were not the right parts but when I called them there was somebody on the phone he said he has been rebuilding manure spreaders for 20 years I’ve never bought parts from him but he was helpful in trying to get me my parts

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I was just replying to another poster about something similar with their C28 (same pitman). Places like Macknair (mentioned above) and Cottage Craft Works offer those plates and complete pitmans with the holes changed to accept standard flange bearings, available anywhere. I did the same thing for mine: I had a few plates laser-cut to take a three-bolt flange bearing. I got lucky as we had some high-yield (100 ksi) sheet the right thickness being cut on our plasma table at work, so I was able to have mine done for a very reasonable price out of an extra-strong material. I'd definitely advocate for going with a newer/standard flange bearing, rather than that stupid custom bearing IH used. Even if the flange bearing wears out a little faster, I'm much happier buying a $15 bearing every few years at Napa/TSC, than I would be having to find one of those wacky IH bearings that are no longer being made, even if the IH ones do last a little longer.

If you have a fab shop with a plasma/laser table nearby, I can send you the CAD file for the template and you can send it to them to have made (though it's probably not going to be much cheaper than the one from Macknair). The 1-1/8" three bolt flange bearings are available in both a 205 and 206 size of flange. I went with the 206 to be a little larger/stronger, and I used an eccentric lock collar style of bearing rather than the set-screw (though either would work just fine).

Any reason you can't just re-drill the existing plate for a standard flange bearing? I had two IH pitmans in hand yesterday as I was moving things around in the barn and didn't think to check.

 

[DanielW]

Any reason you can't just re-drill the existing plate for a standard flange bearing? I had two IH pitmans in hand yesterday as I was moving things around in the barn and didn't think to check.

Yup, I'm sure you could. You'd also need to enlarge the center hole a little for the flange to poke through. One of the reasons I went with a high-yield steel and why places like Macknair beef up the profile is because the original plates are subject to fatigue cracking. The original IH design is a carry over from the McCormick #7 and #9 horse drawn mowers that had a flange-mounted bronze bushing. Without any misalignment capability, they relied on the thin plate to flex a little to account for any misalignment. The theory made sense, but you seldom see any that haven't cracked over time from repeated flexing. I'd rather have a modern style self aligning bearing. Even though you shouldn't rely on a self-aligning bearing to continually move in it's housing, if it does and wears itself out, at least it's a standard part and is easy to replace.