rokon2813 Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I am in the process of getting a few parts made for the sickle bars. Wondering if I should make a bunch, or just a few. I'm sure prices will be a factor, and I don't have them yet. I have some original parts at a shop for them to figure out if they can do them economically. 1; knife bar, the bar that the knives are riveted to 2; sickle head, part bolted to the knife bar that drives it 3; clevis assembly, drive part off the crank 4; pivot end rod, also called the dog bone 5; pulley mount bracket 6; divider rod assembly Any interest in these or anything else ??? I am not "taking orders" just trying to decide if there is enough demand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurleyii Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I have a couple broken fingers needing replacment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 quote:Originally posted by hurleyiiI have a couple broken fingers needing replacment id="quote">id="quote">As far as I know, fingers (rock guards) and knives are still available here...http://www.sickleservice.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
720nut Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Dan, maybe sickle head and knife blade depending on price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTD01 Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Id be interested in a knife bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dentwizz Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 The clevis assy is one that I've had trouble keeping running. Knife blades too. Definitely the pulley bracket and cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcbuckley Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I am looking for a pull bracket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I would be interested in the sickle head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmtoybuilder Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 knife bar and head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 Some more info.I found pulleys to go with the brackets, they are ordered, in transit.These brackets are functional but not perfect.The slotted holes need to be cleaned up, and the space for the pulley is a little wider than I would like.So nothing available yet, but getting closer. The knife bars and sickle heads, I am not at all happy with quality or material, so these will need to be redone (No time frame).Both of these parts break, and they used lighter steel, so in my opinion they are no good, or only good for a "show only" unit. I do have one guy who is going to try them on a show unit and see how it works. Again, the quality needed was not there. Divider board (swathboard) brackets and divider rods may be available soon. My thought on the swath board itself is, those can probably be made yourselves at home with nothing more than a circular saw or table saw, and shipping would be prohibitive on a board, so I will probably only make the ones needed for my bars.I do have a drawing if someone needs it.Clevis assemblies are still "in process".I have had a couple requests for knives and fingers. Both are available from sickle service. I can order and stock some, but can't see customers paying a marked up price. (I would have to cover my costs of shipping to me), when you could order them yourselves straight from them.I will probably let the shop have one more attempt at getting everything right, but have not talked to them yet.Also, at this point quantities are limited, I only had 4 of each made for testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted November 29, 2015 Author Share Posted November 29, 2015 Also, as an aside. If you think your outside end rock guard (finger) is broken, it may not be. That one is a different part number and should look "broken".As far as I can tell, you can take a standard one and cut the top off.I did not see "ends" available from sickle service, nor the 3 knives with the 3rd hole that go under the sickle head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
720nut Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 Dan, I believe the parts will work just fine on mine don't plan on running just show like we talked aboutdOd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris727 Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 It could just be the picture but it doesn't look like they even managed to drill the holes in a straight lineC I could use a couple of divider rods depending on price. My mowers still had the swath board brackets so I don't need them. I also need a pulley bracket but I need the one for an RBT and its different. I don't have one to measure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have posted a couple of these items in the NLA reproduction parts topic in commonly asked questions. http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=144007 I have 1 sicklebar with not enough parts to complete it, and had enough requests that I will be posting a few used blades and used fingers (rock guards) and other parts, in the classifieds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 3, 2015 Author Share Posted December 3, 2015 Someone mentioned to me that the knife bars were case hardened? First I've heard it and last time I bought one from someone who made one it was not mentioned. Does anyone know for sure?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Don't know about these small Habans, but the larger farm mowers used tempered steel - not the cheaper cold rolled steel. We would often heat the bar in the forge, hammer the rivets tight, and quench the whole bar in a water trough. Then tap the knives again to make sure all were tight. We didn't have a water wheel for sharpening knives, but we did have beveled stones on our electric grindstone, and were careful not to overheat the knives during sharpening to prevent them losing their temper. Hope this helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 Thanks Kent. I will have to do some more investigating. Last one I bought was from Harold Tews, don't know if he tempered them or not, and that bar is long gone so no idea how it held up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Question; does anyone have an original broken knife bar or original broken sickle head they would send me ?? To get these parts right, the heat treater would like to do some testing, and to do his tests, he needs to "destroy" the part. I would rather not destroy a good serviceable OEM part for testing. We are trying to figure out what exact steel and what hardness the factory used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregB Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I might have mine with knives on it still. I lucked into a complete with knives bar on E-bay years ago. I'll check when I get home tonight and PM you. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokon2813 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Soon, waiting on the rod ends to arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dentwizz Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 If you can, rod ends with grease fittings are so much better in the field. I have been running mine a lot this month for a 10 acre field rescue on a hill and anything wit a grease fitting is a score. Also, this year I updated the driven swingarm clevis bearing with a ball cartridge set instead of the factory needle bearing. The factory one was consistently getting overheated and binding at about 2 hrs run time in spite of maintenance, like I would have to splash water on it to cool it before regreasing. The new setup is a pair of ball cartridges (1614-zz) and they are going on 15 hrs run time with no issues whatsoever. In fact a couple days ago the bolt that went through fatigued off(original) but no damage to the bearings. New grade 8 bolt and back in business. If the new cutter bars are in my price range I will need one by the end of the season. On the cutter bar and teeth topic, has anyone used bolts or high strength locking pop-rivets successfully? It's not that I am unfamiliar with setting rivets(used to do aircraft) but I can see a pop rivet being a bit more convenient. The ones listed on mcmastercarr are rated at 600 lbs shear so I would think that would work but hoped someone might have tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill725 Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 I had an OEM knife section analyzed by a metallurgist and the material is SAE 1065 carbon steel, heat treated at 1475-1550°F, oil quenched and tempered at about 400°F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill725 Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Has any one mounted a cable lift/planetary style sickle bar on a newer Sovereign? I have a sickle bar but have never mounted it on my 2000 Sovereign. I would like to know what belt is used and see a picture of the cable lift pulley bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlH Posted July 9, 2016 Share Posted July 9, 2016 I have a planetary sickle on a 71xx. Takes a 73" belt and an attachment point for the support chain. Used a piece of angle bolted to the running boards for the support chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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