Sickle Mower

[Jim Becker]

1/2 inch is way beyond the reasonable range of some shims. You are likely to have something more going on. It may be evident after you get the flywheel pulley off.

[tmays]

I thought about that, Jim, but didn’t bother to ask how he came up with the measurement. I figured it was a guesstimate from moving shaft back and forth by hand. Agree it would have to be something else going on if it is indeed 1/2”

[tmays]

ajhbike, before going further, need to clarify. By C-22, are you referring to a Cub 22? I assumed you were since this is in the cub forum

[ajhbike]

Yes to the cub 22 and the movement measurement is a guestimate....it could be 3/8 or so. But it is visibly shifting fore and aft

[Glen]

Hi,
Like they said before, the rear pulley on the shaft is left hand thread, and so is the nut on the bearing end of the pitman.
The pulleys on the mowers I have worked on usually loosen with a hit from a big hammer, on a wrench put on the hex place on the pulley. I let the wrench hang out to the right of the pulley, and hit it in the down direction. You might need to block the front weight from turning, like Dale said.

Check the bearings on the long shaft for wear, the mower can make banging sounds if they are worn.

There should be very little end play in the long shaft. It needs the right amount of washers at both ends, so the rear pulleys are aligned. Try to make it have as little end play as possible, and still turn freely. You can cut the center hole in washers out with a lathe so they are the right size for the shaft, if needed.

If you can't get the rear pulleys to align straight, the front mounting could be bent to the rear from someone hitting something with the front of the mower. Parts could need heating and straightening.

Below is a pic of one of the mower bushings, the 2 bushings drive into the tube.

[tst]

do you have correct upper pulley on the cub

[tmays]

do you have correct upper pulley on the cub

Good point. I wondered if he might’ve had a loboy pulley, but then remembered people saying loboy pulley could be used. I didn’t think about the possibility of it not being a sickle pulley

[Glen]

Hi,
Below is a listing at TM Tractor showing the Cub 22 mower PTO pulley.

The V belt groove goes to the rear, so it would be over the rear end of the PTO shaft.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/sm/589fp.htm

There was also a 4" pulley, used after the 4 1/2" pulley.

The small hole is for a cotter key through the pulley and shaft, the larger hole is for a 3/8" bolt with a lock washer and nut, to clamp the pulley down on the PTO shaft, so it is tight on the splines.

[ajhbike]

The pulley looks just like the ones offered by TM and others on the web. It is as you described with the 3/8" bolt and cotter key and I have the v belt groove is to the rear. I am actually picking up a pulley from Ron this weekend as the splines on mine are worn too much. I have wound thin bushing material around the shaft, installed the cotter key and the bolt and it is on there snug, without play or wobble. It is the lower pulley that is shifting fore and aft. But, I want the right PTO pulley so I will get that this weekend.

I understand what you have described about shaft pulley removal, the washers and the possible bend in the front hanging brackets. I will have to check all of that out. Thanks and will update.

[ajhbike]

Update: Well, I took the pulley off the shaft and found that the PO was using external snap rings for washers and there was about 1/4" of play. Put on some machine washers and snugged it up. Then I heated up the front hanging bracket and smacked it a few times with the big sledge and apparently bent it back enough so the 2 pulleys in the rear line up correctly. So mission accomplished on that part. Ran it around the yard a few times and it seems to be cutting well (except for left turns because of outer edge velocity). I have a few sections to sharpen first or replace if that doesn't work

I still have the poor threads on the torque tube bolts for the hanging bracket and I am going to try the Locktite thread repair first.

[Glen]

Hi,
Good that you got the pulleys to align better.

[Scrivet]

.........Ran it around the yard a few times and it seems to be cutting well (except for left turns because of outer edge velocity)............

Left turns with a sickle mower?

[ajhbike]

Yea, was working a NASCAR route....going to focus on a right turn only plan for the next mowing....

[outdoors4evr]

Most fields are mowed with left turns as the outer two cuts. Then turn the tractor around and mow right turns for the remainder of the field.

[ajhbike]

yep, I figured that out as the end of the mower was moving at about 20mph