Which bar length on C22 sickle bar mower?

[Makanizm]

Hi,
I now have two sickle bar mowers that I will combine into one good one. One is 4.5' and the other is 5' bar length and trying to figure out which one to go with on the overhaul. The tractor engine is strong and the four acres I will mow is flat with no rocks and in fescue but with several obstacles I will be maneuvering around.

Are there preferences over one or the other? Any value difference? Tractor power requirements? maneuverability? Just wondering what the thinking is over which bar length to choose? I understand all things being equal the 5' is more productive.

Thanks,

[Bill Hudson]

You have the answer, “5’ is more productive.”

[Don McCombs]

Go with the 5 footer. Use one of these on the end of the bar.

[Makanizm]

Thanks! I'll rebuild the 5' bar. Getting components from Webb Cutting Components.

[smallfarm]

I am wrong more more often than I am right. I was under the impression that the 5 foot bar went on the later cubs with the supposedly higher horsepower and higher rpm rated motor. I also believe that they took two different size pulleys.

[Glen]

Hi,
I think the Cub 22 mower parts manual says the 5 foot cutter bar was used from 1950 and up, but it's not totally clear if that's what they mean. Maybe Jim B. can say if that is right.

The Cub engine RPM was raised to 2000 RPM during 1955, at serial number 192113.
The mower manual says the 4" upper pulley was used beginning in 1955, but doesn't give a serial number.
Before that they used a 4 1/2" upper pulley.

[tst]

the 1st sickle bar was 4 1/2 ft and used the 4 " pulley,
when they went to 5 ft sickle it used the 4 1/2" pulley

[Glen]

Hi,
Tim, you have the pulley sizes reversed from what the Cub 22 mower parts manual says.
Below is the page, number 7 is the pulleys. 457291R1 is the 4" pulley, and 451356R2 is the 4 1/2" pulley, it tells the years they were used at the right side of the page.

http://www.farmallcub.info/manuals/cbi- ... e%2079.jpg

TM Tractor sells the 4 1/2" pulley, it gives the part number in their listing, and says in it that it is for the 1947 - 1955 mowers.

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

[tst]

4 " pulley for 4 1/2ft mower
4 1/2 "" pulley for 5 ft mower, as they did away with the 4 " it was replaced by 4 1/2" early manual is different from later ones