No. 5 nearing completion!

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

Here is the progress on my No. 5 mower restoration.

 

[tim s]

Looks great Len, I'm about to start on mine, where did you get the decals...

 

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

Thanks Tim. My friend Jim Fraley, Illinois, sent them to me. He got them I think from Jorde (google them and I think you will find them).

Still have to make a grass board.

Great old mower. This one is one that I mowed hundreds of acres with many years ago, so ithas a lot of history for me.

Thanks for asking.

LEN

 

[tim s]

We had several of them growing up, the one I have now is in great condition, just needs sprucing up, I'm gonna disassemble it and sand bast it clean, plan on using it to trim with and show on one of my 60's..I bought a "very" nice grass board at an action a few years ago, but it's a New Idea, nice enough to hang on the wall,,thinking about changing it over to Deere color I think they are near exactly the same...

 

[41Frank]

I have also mowed many acres with one,about the end of August when the ragweed pollen would be foging and the thorn neddles would flaten the tires in our timber pasture. This pasture is now part of the Clinton Lake in central IL. Part of it is under water and the rest is over grown. Don't miss the cattle at all!

 

[tim s]

I think about every one has done time with a #5 :^),,we would mow hay with a couple of them and any in-between time we would mow set-a-side land for neighbors we moved up to a #38, then on to #50's

 

[Copper Lincoln]

You are going to want that sheet metal shield that protects the flywheel on there to keep grass from wrapping around the flywheel. Wish I had mine going. Looks good!!

 

[JDG]

I think you have the mower draw bar mounted up side down.

 

[Bob Harvey]

Excellent. I used to borrow one to swath my meagre hayfield "back in the day"-worked well, I had to do some maintenance on it, because the owner used it, then just unhooked and left it by the barn. Nice job.

 

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

I measured the height as suggested in the No. 5 manual and that side up worked. I thought it was wrong too, when I started until I measured.

Thanks!

LEN

 

[tim s]

That old #5 manual has a "wide" array of match ups for a variety of different units,,even Cat dozers..

 

[Hotflashjr]

Looks great! Let me know if you need some pictures or measurements of a good grassboard. the one on my No.5 is pretty good and matches up with all the metal strapping JD put on there pretty well.

 

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

PS.. I just measured what it will be if I flip it over and it is a bit too high. Concern that the clearance for PTO will be too tight if I flip it.

My extender brackets are 3/8" steel and they are resting on top if the drawbar frame, so that sort of messes the mounting height range up a bit.

I will watch and see if there is any indication of stress on it and if so, will put a couple of thick washers under the drawbar to raise it a bit.

Thanks again!

 

[James Howell]

Nice work on your #5 mower.

Making a grass board is fairly easy if you have a pattern and the hardware.

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Having an OEM grass board was very helpful.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Hugh McKinney]

If you need one, I have got the rod that holds the sickle bar up, when it is in transit. It is threaded on one end, hooked on the other, and has the special "single wing" wing nut that comes with it. Just sayin'. Hugh McKinney, 318-465-0797

 

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

Thanks Hugh! I think I have one lined up but if you have the measurements that would be great. I know it is about 38 by 7 but don"t have the angle points. I have the hardware where it connects, but will replace the spring.

Thanks all!

 

[Len Bull, New Haven, VT]

GREAT pics! Thanks!

 

[Hugh McKinney]

You know, upon further inspection of your photos, I realize now that you already have the part that I have...it is actually about 52 inches long, and it is the rod that goes through the sickle bar, as shown in one or two of your "after" photos. Sorry it wasn't what you needed, the whole thing looks great!