Sickle Mower Drag Bar differences

[Bob McCarty]

The rod hooks onto flat stock that is welded onto the square bar that goes into the implement tube. On some the flat stock is about 3" long, on others 7" long which would put the drag bar closer to the ground. Is there an application difference for the two lengths? The parts manual doesn't differentiate other than listing two part numbers.

[Jim Becker]

Going from memory here. As near as I could tell, they started with the short bar. Then a couple years in they changed to the long bar.

[SamsFarm]

I thought the short bar goes on the L22 and the long bar goes on the Cub22.

[Bob McCarty]

I thought the short bar goes on the L22 and the long bar goes on the Cub22.

I don't have any L22's and have both lengths. Jim, can you think of a reason for the change?

[tst]

the loboy and cub are different, you have one of each

[Bob McCarty]

the loboy and cub are different, you have one of each

The parts manual shows one # for 1948, and a second # for after 1948, but doesn't describe them. TM's pics don't show the drag bar on the L-22.

[tst]

the drag bar is different length also between cub and loboy

[tst]

the anchor bar on the cub 22 is long

[Jim Becker]

I thought the short bar goes on the L22 and the long bar goes on the Cub22.

Yeah, you would think so. But the parts catalogs don't show that. All the catalogs from '55 on show the same part number for both the Cub-22 and the L-22. The only part number changes to that part were to increase the revision number. So they considered the latest part (R4) to be an acceptable back fit for both models. The early illustrations in the Owner's Manual look like the short bar. The L-22 illustrations look like the long bar.

The round drag bar itself is another story. They list a part number change during 1948 and continue to list the earlier part number for service of the earlier mowers. There is a third drag bar/part number for the L-22.

[muleboss]

Bob I went out and took these pictures for you. Maybe this will show what you are asking

I know nothing about them

[SamsFarm]

Small, medium and large!

[Bob McCarty]

Bob I went out and took these pictures for you. Maybe this will show what you are asking know nothing about them

Thanks for the pictures Bob, I didn't notice the length difference. I'm sure I have the top two. Now I just don't know why the change was made and if the shorter version (middle picture) works or causes problems when mowing.

[Jim Becker]

I have never seen an explanation of the change to the bracket. The only theory I have come up with is that it moves the front of the drag bar closer to in line with the flywheel shaft. It would reduce change in cutter bar lead as the mower moves up and down. It doesn't seem like the lead change would be enough to justify changing the part.

In muleboss's pictures, the top two drag bars look close to the same length. The third one is so much shorter that I suspect it was shortened by somebody that put the bracket in the wrong end of the front mounting socket then couldn't figure out how to make it fit. Note the hook on the end also goes the opposite way as the others.

[muleboss]

Yes here is another picture showing top bars as same