MOWER BAR REPAIR...HELP PLEASE

[harryscub]

I need some advice. My 5’ IH mower bar for my ‘51 cub “came apart”. Please see the photos. The drive bar disconnected from the blade during use. The blade traveled out beyond the “teeth” and is stuck in that position. The only place I can find where the blade might be jammed is against a nut at the base of the mower bar.

I am hesitant to hammer too hard on the protruding portion in an attempt to free the blade. I imagine the first thing is to free the blade. Secondly I see that to reconnect the blade to the drive bar the ball connector on the blade must fit between the (not sure what it’s called) two “tongues” at the end of the drive bar. I not sure whether those are spring loaded and pry apart or whether I should unbolt it from the drive bar.

I would appreciate any guidance of experience. Thank you.

Rick

 

[lowgearfarm]

It appears that the knife is in its vertical position. Have you tried spraying light oil along the length and then tapping the top?

 

[staninlowerAL]

Download the owners manual for the mower from the Resources link above and you can see how the pittman attaches to the ball. Yes, it is spring loaded and the instructions for attaching and removal are in the manual. Stan

 

[tmays]

I’d give the end a good whack. If you want, can use a block of wood to hammer on

 

[Glen]

Hi,

I imagine the first thing is to free the blade.

Hi,
It isn't hard to correct what happened to the mower. You don't need to remove any bolts.
Let the mower down to the mowing position, if it is up.
Let it down to the ground, so no weight is on the lift.
The part of the drive with the wood is called the pitman. Turn the drive by hand, with the engine off, so the pitman is out of the way.
You can use a length of 2 x 4 wood 6 inches or 1 foot long, and hold on the ball, down near the mower, and hammer the end of the wood in towards the tractor, and the knife bar should move.

Secondly I see that to reconnect the blade to the drive bar the ball connector on the blade must fit between the (not sure what it’s called) two “tongues” at the end of the drive bar.

Those are straps that hold the ball.
The end of the pitman at the ball is spring loaded. There is a latch there, it moves to go to the open position. Then you push the pitman down onto the ball. The straps have to spread to go over the ball, it may take some force to push it down over the ball. Then close the latch. It may be hard to turn the latch.
The straps can slip off the ball like yours did because they are worn where they hold the ball. They may need replacing if they look worn. They are still made, I think.
Below is the Cub 22 Mower operator's manual. It has 3 different mowers in it, for 3 different models of IH tractors. Use the info for the Cub 22 mower. There is a contents on page 2.
It shows how to open and close the latch on the pitman on page 6.

International 22, Cub-22, and L-22 Mowers

It looks like the inner most knife on the bar is broken, the mower might or probably plugs there because it isn't cutting well with a broken knife. The knives are still made, you can buy them at Case IH dealers, or other places online.
IH had light duty, or heavy duty knives. The Cub would probably have light duty knives.
Don't buy heavy duty knives to use on a bar that has mostly light duty knives, the heavy duty knives are thicker metal, and won't slide under the hold down clips, unless the clips are worn lots.
The inner knives need longer rivets than the other knives on the bar.
I sent you a message, you get to it at the upper right of the page.