Farmall Cub

I am having a problem with my sickle. It was working fine up till last week. Then suddenly it would vibrate and shudder after a few feet and pop off its center mounts on the tractor. I remounted it several times unable to figure out what the issue was. Well I got it on the last time and put the incredible Hulk torque on the mounting bolts. It stayed on this time but then it threw the belt. When I looked back I saw that the pulley on the sickle itself was sticking out the back about 8" I could see the drive shaft. I am able to push it back in but have not run it. The driveshaft should be connected from the pulley to the flywheel I believe. So my question, Is there a pin or key that holds the drive shaft into the flywheel on the front. If this pin or key broke would it cause the vibration and shuddering. Someone with more knowledge please post thoughts or instruction.

Thanks
Adam

There is a key. I have never had one apart. It might be easier to post a wanted ad for a new shaft/flywheel. When people cobble together a mowers from multiple units, they usually have some left over. In other words, it is not an especially rare/high value part. --Lee

Click on "PDF manuals" above, then "cub attachments", then "cub 22 owner's manual and parts list". Page 16 shows an exploded view and should help you identify what parts are missing. It may be more than just the left hand nut.

Bob

If it is just a key I should be able to aquire one of those somewhere. I shouldn't need an entire flywheel and drive shaft unless it did more damage.

I agree if it is just the key. If you follow Bob McCarty's instructions for finding the parts manual, you will find that the key is listed as a 3/8"x9/32"x1-7/16 straight key.

Adam, I just looked at my mower, the nut is in front of the flywheel, so not part of your problem. Post a picture if you can.

Bob

I've never seen a flywheel apart from shaft. I don't think they are shown as separate in parts manual. Could probably be welded in place. Or as has been stated, time to get another flywheel and shaft.

Hi,
We had one of those apart years ago. The flywheel is just a pressed fit on the shaft, as I remember. It's supposed to be tight and not come off by itself. There is a key there also.
Are you using the 3 IH tapered head bolts to hold the mower on, 2 at the clutch housing, and 1 at the rear bracket, then the top one at the rear bracket is a regular bolt. With the tapered head bolts, it should not be able to come off.

To add to what Glen said, make sure you are leaving drawbar on tractor. The bottom of that bracket needs the drawbar bracket as a spacer to keep assembly in a straight line. If you don't have drawbar bracket, you will need spacer of same thickness.

Yes I am using the tapered bolts and the drawbar I will pull it apart this week hopefully.

Hi,
While you have a Cub 22 mower apart is a good time to check the bushings in the long tube. There's 1 at the front and 1 at the rear. Just move the shaft up and down, and see if they're loose. Case IH still had them last year, haven't asked them this year. The number for it is 453183R1. I'm not sure if they are the same back to 1947, I think so, but you could ask them before buying any if you have one of the first mowers. Here is a picture of one.

Cross your fingers and toes that you don't need those bushings. Messick's shows them at $58.00 @.

Bob

LUum that is a piece of pipe with the ends eased. I will source some DOM tube and make some.

Hi,
The bushings have a split line full length, so I guess they are rolled material. They are 3 1/2 inches long.

The shaft is pressed into the flywheel, and the drive pulley is a left-hand thread IIRC.

If the flywheel is still on the front, and the pulley is 8" out the back, then the shaft is broken.

A couple years ago the front bushing went in Dad's sickle mower. We found a piece of light PVC pipe that was a near-perfect fit. Just slightly oversize.

After slotting it, it was a perfect fit, and seems to be holding up just fine. Being plastic and well greased and supported by steel it will probably never wear out.