Hello from France

[Dale Finch]

I may be wrong, but from the 2nd & 3rd photos above, it looks like the sickle mower is mounted to the clutch housing with regular implement bolts with washers, rather than the tapered bolts (without washers) that I have normally seen.

Check the brackets (under the bolt on each side) and if it has a tapered seat, it should have a tapered bolt.

Those sickle mowers vibrate a lot and can work those 5/8" bolts loose.

These are two that TM Tractors sells, & I believe you would need the longer ones. The clutch housing bolt holes are through holes into the hollow clutch housing, so longer is OK.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/gb/324fp.htm

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/sp/445fp.htm

Oh, and congratulations on what looks like a fine tractor!!

[Eugene]

What was the platform used for?

Trimming hedges.

That's in the ball park that I was thinking. Thinking orchard work, triming and spraying trees.

Still thinking about some type of platform to help trim black walnut trees to a minimum of 20 feet straight trunk. 4 foot stump, 2 each 8 foot saw logs = 20 feet. Closer to 30 feet clear trunk height would be much better - - $$$$$.

[Bob McCarty]

Eugene, Here is the text from the ad:
Sell ​​farmall cub tractor with registration certificate in very good working condition complete with plow and mower and scaffolding rack for hedge trimmer tractor in very good original starts with starter or engine crank completely redone 5 years ago Please contact me only by phone for more information thank you

[Premlal]

I may be wrong, but from the 2nd & 3rd photos above, it looks like the sickle mower is mounted to the clutch housing with regular implement bolts with washers, rather than the tapered bolts (without washers) that I have normally seen.

Check the brackets (under the bolt on each side) and if it has a tapered seat, it should have a tapered bolt.

Well I'll have a look at that thanks !

Quite chuffed with it to be honest ! I now take all the meaning of the french saying "démarrer au 1/4 de tour", which literally means "to start after a 1/4 of a turn" (don't know the actual equivalent in English !). Until a couple of days ago I didn't realise it actually took only a of a turn 1/4 of a turn to start an engine with a handle.

I've just drained the oil, removed the old filter and changed the oil for the air cleaner. Any advice regarding the fluids to use (oils, coolant, grease...). I plan on filling the engine with either 10 or 15W40 since it's what I have at hand but maybe it's not the best choice?

[Don McCombs]

15w40 is a good choice. I’m assuming that the temperatures are relatively moderate where you are.

[Premlal]

15w40 is a good choice. I’m assuming that the temperatures are relatively moderate where you are.

Definitely moderate, it ranges from 2-4°C (35-40°F) to 25°C (77°F) although we've had a couple of 30+ in the last couple of years. I guess on average we are toward 20°C.

To be honest I was expecting to put something thicker like 20w50