mowing machine

[Tim in VA]

I have found a New Idea #41 sickle mower that can be used on a tractor without 3pt hitch. I don't know anything about sickle mowers. I mainly need something to cut weeds along my driveway and about 1/2 acre hillside. Are these sickle mowers any good? What do you need to look for to make sure that it is worth its money? How much do they usually cost? How would it work if you don't use a 3pt hitch? This would be going on a 1951 TO-20 Ferguson. Thanks for any information or pictures Tim

 

[johns48jdb]

the one i had that was jd, i think, had a chain or cable that ran to the draw bar and when you raised the 3 pt hitch it pulled against this cable and raised the blade. i always had trouble keeping the cable attached to the draw bar on the tractor. unless your trying to mow where its dangerous to go with a tractor and bush hog i'd get a bush hog. lot less trouble to fool with and keep blades shapened.

 

[Tim in VA]

Thanks for the info. I already have a bush hog, but it is dangerous where I am needing to use it. So do you have any suggestions on what kind of sickle mower I should go with? Thanks Tim

 

[Leroy]

I believe the 41 mower would be a later version of the 40 that is a semi mount with one caster wheel in the back. If it is it could be either hand leve lift or hydrolic cylinder lift. Your tractor is not set up for a cylinder but it can be done. As for hooking up you would use your 11 hole cross drawbar with stabilizer bars ans the stay bars as well to make a rigid hitch (THE 3POINT LEVER LOCKED DOWN SO YOU COULD NOT ACCIDENTLY RAISE IT AND BUST UP YOUR TRACTOR) then fabricket the irons yoy need to bolt the mower to the cross drawbar. Remember that it would set further back on the tractor than a 3 point would and give more side draft and would be more like the tail wagging the dog than the dog waging the tail. You might just need some weight in the front tractor tires to counter ballance the mower. And the same with all mowers sharp and adjusted correctly and they are all good.

 

[johns48jdb]

i posted this yesterday but it didn't show up. i'd get a mower that you can raise with a cylinder and one that is driven with a belt and not a wood pitman rod. it want fall down far enough to cut the bottom of a ditch out if the tractor is sitting on level ground. be safe and good luck.