Need some B sickle bar mower Users/Experts

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   Alright guys I am a big fan of using the 2 sickle bar mowers I have for the B's but we have run into something that I need some help with. We are planting some warm season grasses up in northern PA at our cabin through DCNR and a game management/habitat program. The grasses need to be mowed multiple times during the summer, but they need to be mowed of 8 inches high with a sickle bar mower. Now around home mowing alongside the road we never needed to make any adjustments because it would float along the ground and be just fine, but this is a little different. The bar needs to be 8 inches off the ground to mow with so that it doesn't cut the grass back too hard that it won't come up again. A few questions I have are:
How can I adjust the sickle bar mower to cut 8 inches high the whole way across the bar? When I raise it to the highest setting with the lever that raises and lowers the bar, it is 8 inches, but it is at an angle. Is there a way to level out that angle to make the bar 8 inches from tip to tip? 

I see many different fine adjustments down towards the tractor end of the bar that seem like they would change that sort of thing, but I didn't want to touch them and risk screwing something up and not being able to get it back to a good regular setting to mow with. I have a PDF file manual but haven't had any luck finding anything in there. Anybody care to pitch in their recommendations or thoughts?

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morton(pa) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Lancaster, PA Points: 1234	Post Options Post Reply Quote morton(pa) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Need some B sickle bar mower Users/Experts Posted: 24 Mar 2010 at 8:23pm
	Alright guys I am a big fan of using the 2 sickle bar mowers I have for the B's but we have run into something that I need some help with. We are planting some warm season grasses up in northern PA at our cabin through DCNR and a game management/habitat program. The grasses need to be mowed multiple times during the summer, but they need to be mowed of 8 inches high with a sickle bar mower. Now around home mowing alongside the road we never needed to make any adjustments because it would float along the ground and be just fine, but this is a little different. The bar needs to be 8 inches off the ground to mow with so that it doesn't cut the grass back too hard that it won't come up again. A few questions I have are: How can I adjust the sickle bar mower to cut 8 inches high the whole way across the bar? When I raise it to the highest setting with the lever that raises and lowers the bar, it is 8 inches, but it is at an angle. Is there a way to level out that angle to make the bar 8 inches from tip to tip? I see many different fine adjustments down towards the tractor end of the bar that seem like they would change that sort of thing, but I didn't want to touch them and risk screwing something up and not being able to get it back to a good regular setting to mow with. I have a PDF file manual but haven't had any luck finding anything in there. Anybody care to pitch in their recommendations or thoughts?

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Dusty MI Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Charlotte, Mi Points: 5058	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dusty MI Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 Mar 2010 at 10:52pm
	We had a neighbor who had a New Idea trailer PTO mower. When he used it to clip pastures he had a pair of shoes that went on the ends of the sickle bar that held the sickle bar up off the ground a ways. I would think you could make some for your mower. Dusty
	917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express"

JoeO(CMO) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Cent Missouri Points: 2694	Post Options Post Reply Quote JoeO(CMO) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Mar 2010 at 12:30am
	As Dusty mentioned, increase the height the bar operates by welding extensions to the bottom of your present shoes so the bar would ride over the ground or by using a rotary cutter would do the job. What warm season grasses are you planting?

BrettPhillips Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Strasburg, VA Points: 808	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrettPhillips Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Mar 2010 at 9:10pm
	A "Pasture Clipping Attachment" was available from Allis Chalmers that consisted of a bracket that replaced the outer shoe skid with a cast iron wheel that was about 6" in diameter. I don't remember the range of adjustment that was available, but it is probably within the range that you are looking for. The tough part is finding one that is complete, but I'm sure that you could fabricate something similar that would work. Should you find an original from a later mower, it will work just fine since all AC mowers used the same setup as far as I can tell. Edited by BrettPhillips - 25 Mar 2010 at 9:11pm

morton(pa) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Lancaster, PA Points: 1234	Post Options Post Reply Quote morton(pa) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 Mar 2010 at 9:32pm
	Hey Brett that sounds great! Do you have any pictures or diagrams of any? I don't recall seeing anything like it in my manual. That sounds like something I could easily fabricate. I'd like to avoid welding things onto the mower as much as possible.

SHAMELESS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: EAST NE Points: 29486	Post Options Post Reply Quote SHAMELESS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 3:08am
	hang weights on the end of it???? lol

BrettPhillips Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Strasburg, VA Points: 808	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrettPhillips Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 7:23am
	Here's a picture I borrowed from the AGCOPARTSBOOKS web page. I hope it's not too big...

Chris/CT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Niantic, Ct Points: 1939	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chris/CT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 8:20am
	I have a wheel [2 actually] that would work well for that project, old, heavy, well made wheels.

morton(pa) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Lancaster, PA Points: 1234	Post Options Post Reply Quote morton(pa) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 2010 at 12:08pm
	Brett, that looks great. These are great drawings to work off of when building but I would also like to see one in use mounted on a mower. If anyone has any pictures of one on a mower I'd love to see them. Or even if there are any other diagrams out there, they would help. Thanks.

morton(pa) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Lancaster, PA Points: 1234	Post Options Post Reply Quote morton(pa) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2010 at 12:29pm
	Bump. Wondering if I can get any more info or tips on this topic. Gonna soon have to hook the mower up and I thought repairs/additions might be easier while it is still off depending on what it is.

steve(ill) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: illinois Points: 82478	Post Options Post Reply Quote steve(ill) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2010 at 9:30pm
	morton, as you raise the bar with the hand lever, the outside sometimes raises faster and it is not level. on mine there is a big jack screw on the back side near the pivot pin. maybe like 1/2 inch or 5/8 screw running up and down. You can screw in out a couple turns and the outer end of the bar will drop. I think there is a lock nut on the screw. That will make the bar level. It will bounce a little if you try to cut that way without the foot on the ground. the Wheel idea would be a good idea, but in a pinch i have just leveled the bar with the jack screw and raise the hand lever a couple notches.
	Like them all, but love the "B"s.

steve(ill) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: illinois Points: 82478	Post Options Post Reply Quote steve(ill) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Apr 2010 at 9:31pm
	got to the outer end of the bar, raise it up and down several inches.. see what is stopping the bar from lowering.. that is the jack screw near the pivot point.
	Like them all, but love the "B"s.