I have a mower about 75 years old running on a B tractor ( side mower). I have broken the arm on the side of the pitman arm with the ball socket on the end.. Welded back together... today i broke the ball socket itself in half... turned a new cup on the lathe, welded on the original arm and will install tomorrow.... I use this mower HARD to cut road sided, small brush, heavy weeds, etc... Broke a wood pitman arm today also..
I know the forged iron strap / sockets on the side of the pitman arm are old and beat.. Thinking about "rebuild" this winter.. Wonder if anyone has replace the two straps with half ball sockets that pinch onto to sickle bar BALL with bearing / pin / bushing or ??? Seems like the weak point is the ball socket has become elongated and you PINCH the ball with a bolt holding the two halves to the pitman arm.. I picture taking the BALL / plate bolted to the cutter bar and make a new one with two small vertical plates with a 3/4 inch bolt running horizontal between them... then make a new end for the pitman that has a bushing or bearing with the 3/4 inch hole in it, and PIN them together.. Do i really need the BALL for 3 dimensional movement ??
------------- well i went back and read the book !!!... The cutter BAR and the pitman arm are not EXACTLY in line or parallel to each other.. This is probably the reason for the "BALL" type socket on both ends of the pitman ............ i might try to "BUILD NEW" straps with the SOCKETS that actually fit the ball on the BAR.. next winter.... Still trying to figure out if there is any BETTER way.... my parts are worn out ... good time to UPDATE.
Edited by steve(ill) - 22 hours 2 minutes ago at 5:36pm
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