need help repairing a new big 4 sickle bar

I don't know how to put up a link, but if you search for Norman McNair on the net, they handle alot a horse stuff...I've ordered several times from them..There is a place further west called Balsters...I think..they carried pitmans and alot of other mower stuff..I'm blessed..hardware in town still has stuff..rebuilt my no9 at 1950 prices

Im amazed that neither are listed in Small Farmers Journal now.

I found Balsters Ph# 319 465 4141, but I think theyre out of business now,
Macknairs Ph# 717 543 5136
I found those in a 2009 issue. Good luck

I thing I have ALWAYS hated was flipping the catch latch on the pitman over the ball on the sickle. I have, for 30yrs replaced it with just a bolt with a couple nuts and lock washers. BUT, on my tractor mower, I kept the latch. IO know that back in olden times they made a tool to flip that latch, but I never saw one. Today, it took me as much time took get the latch flipped as it would have taken to put a bolt through the sides and run a couple flat washers, lock washers and nuts.
PLUS, IF I had done so, I would have likely save a couple trips from mower to tool shed.
LESSON FOR TODAY. IF you keep the latch, Run the sickle out as far as the flywheel on the other end of the pitman will let you, THEN flip it back.

Big punch works as a mini crow bar for me to flip the latch, hammer helps if it goes hard just tap the side of the punch to ease it closed.

Paul

i talked to the amish guy down the road he said build another swath board for the mccormick and take a grinder to the blades. if it moves to much us a hammer to hit something above the bar and it will help keep it in place... ps my hay is now junk. so it will just reseed and try again. got to much rain on it. its part of life so i cant complain.

When your done with the grinder, and b y the way, they charged me $60 to sharpen my 3 sickles, When your done with the grinder, Turn the sickle over, and take a file and bend the tang upwards as much as you dare, OR at a 45@if you heat it, and slide the file back and forth along the back sides of the sickles. This will remove any curled edges you might have made with the grinder on the front side.
With the sickle in, you can see the hold downs on the back side of the sickle bolted in with the rock guards. There will be 4 to 6 of them. Hit them down to where you can slide a piece of paper between them and the sickle. When you get ready to use the mower, lay the sickle down, and pour some old motor oil used over the bar, then move it forward a bit. Thatl lubricate it and oil any possible friction spots.
SeveraL people here cut there hay while we were in the May rains. Didn't know why they couldn't wait till june. Weve dried out some now since June started. Im still praying for rain.

the storm hit us so now my garden is flooded and its to wet and muddy to do anything at all.

Sounds like a good time to build a swath board

indeed lol. after i rebuild the rear end in the jeep and fix the roof on the shop. storm almost blew it off