[Big Horses]

Mine’s not that new…I’m thinking a #4?? The brackets have been broken before and brazed…I’m thinking I’ll go to a round bracket instead of the original “triangle” and try to gain some strength that way. Problem is that in this country it’s sure easy to get a rock in the load and that doesn’t help that old cast iron at all!
I remember having a chance at one like you have, as well as a Massey Harris that was on rubber. I went back to get them, and the guy had chopped them up for scrap….:mad:
John

[Big Horses]

Nice looking tedder, but I have no idea on the make.
John

[Big Horses]

I think I’d try to use what is there, and just fit a pole to the bracket that’s coming off the front. That would take care of all the motion necessary. I’d fasten the evener to the pole, like used on a manure spreader.
John

[Big Horses]

Hey Bill,
I’m looking for the triangle shaped brackets that hold the beater bars on the upper beater for an IH.. does yours happen to have those?
John

[Big Horses]

I don’t see any reason they shouldn’t be able to hold the mower back.
John

[Big Horses]

Exactly what you’re referring to Mac and HP51. I just wondered if they’d done that (usually) because of cutter bar length…it should change the side draft, shouldn’t it?
John

[Big Horses]

On my Big6’s, the guard around the bull gear is a flat steel guard, and you can actually see the teeth (on both of them) yet on the #6 that I have, the guard is built up on the sides, and keeps the gear teeth covered on both sides… It even fits fairly tight. I was going to go even a step further, and bring it up and over the edge, just a bit on the Big6’s. Just a thought.
The #6 and Big six’s also have the poles in the opposite notch in the frames…??? They all have about the same length of knife on them now, but I wondered if it wasn’t from a different knife length originally?
Mac, I’d like to know just how many mowers have been damaged by a steel pitman! I saw one on a PTO powered JD5 once and it had quite the bow to it…I asked the guy how it worked and he said something about getting it in a bind and it never quite worked like it used to, after that! haha

[Big Horses]

Ugh..you can keep that underground stuff! haha (I’m an above ground, non-metal guy) Billings is across the state from us, and we usually term that end as “western North Dakota” anyway….we’re over here where it’s pretty! hahaha
Good luck on the mower, and hope you find it’s just a little garbage in the bottom of the case or something simple.
John

[Big Horses]

Littlejohn, if the pitman is off, then kick it out of gear and rotate the shaft by the forward end. If it turns free, then you’ve just elimated that portion from the problem. If it sticks, possibly it’s bent. You can jamb a chunk of iron between pinion and ring gear and remove the pinion gear to pull the shaft. If I’m reading right, it sounds to me more like you have a problem in the ring gear area, but it’s tough to say without seeing and being there!
Do you have a copy of Lynn Millers Horsedrawn Mower Book? It’s worth the $$ and has some great pictures, diagrams, and explanations. I’d advise you to get a copy.
When do we get to see some pictures of your mower???
John

[Big Horses]

Some of my mowers were ‘converted’ to a crazy wheel setup by previous owners, but none of them are at the right angle/height. I do have one Big4 JD that has factory trucks, and the parts to make another truck setup. I agree that if it’s setup anywhere near correct, the weight comes off the pole.
Mac, we run full harness, as I can’t think of one field we have that doesn’t have some sort of hill to get there or back.
I wonder if the enclosed gear mower would’ve broken if it encountered the gravel like you guys did?
John

[Big Horses]

I’m sure that the enclosed gears benefited from constant oil bath lubrication, and especially as you said Geoff, when they were being drug around by a tractor! Before the development of the modern lubricants that aren’t attracting dust and abrasives, the enclosed gear would be a big leap ahead! I just smile a bit at the people that think they have to have an enclosed gear or a “high gear” or they don’t figure it’s any good.
I haven’t had any problems with gears blowing, but have heard of that as well. On something that old, anything’s possible, and we don’t know it’s whole life history…who knows.:confused:
Great input guys! I’d love to hear more!
John

[Big Horses]

I’ve used this stuff and it’s great! Not quite as toxic as the Phospho, and I think it does just as good of a job. Their stuff is really great all the way through. I use the 2 part polyurethane alot…in fact, I used to own part of the company that handled all their stuff before Stewarts got it, and I was a tech-rep for it for a few years.
John

http://www.stewartsystems.aero/products/95/steel-conversion-coating-quart

[Big Horses]

That sounds like a great deal, Littlejohn! As long as it’s apart and going to be worked on, I’d throw new seals and pull the bearings and bushing to check them…it’s alot nicer to do it now, when you’re not trying to get something done with it!
John

[Big Horses]

That’s been my opinion too, guys. I figure they lasted this long, I doubt there’s really any huge problems with them. Sure, the enclosed gears are less to keep up, but for as much as most people use them, with just a little upkeep, they’ll go forever and do a fine job of cutting when adjusted properly, yet it seems that the popular belief is that they’re something to “look down on”. This is reflected in prices at most auctions… it just doesn’t make that much sense to me, and I was wondering if I was totally missing something.
John

[Big Horses]

Sounds like he’s got alot of great stuff! He’s only about 50 miles from me, so may have to go visit one day.
I guess I’m different (or dumb), but I never did understand the total fascination with the enclosed gear mowers. Yeah, they’re great, but there’s really nothing wrong with the open gear mowers either… especially with the modern gear lubricants. That being said, I love my Big4 JD’s :p A poorly adjusted mower is a pain to pull and cut with, no matter if it’s enclosed or open geared. Lynn started to address open gears in his book, but never really does. I’d love to hear others’ opinions, especially from an “experience of operations” standpoint.
John

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