Sickle Mower

[Red Rooster]

Does anyone know if there are bolts that can substitute for the rivets used to attach knives on a cub sickle bar mower. If so, is there a source for purchasing online? If bolts aren't available is there an online source for the correst rivets? Thanks!

[tnestell]

I don't know about using bolts, but the solid rivets should be available at any farm supply store. I put them in from the bottom, placed this on a solid piece of steel (anil part of a bench vise) and flatten with a ball pein hammer. The rivet shaft expands and makes a very tight connection. I don't believe a bolt would be as strong. Ted

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

When using rivets, use a large hammer and hit them hard. That swells them into the holes and makes thim tighter. If you just head them rather than using a big enough hammer to flatten them they will loosen.

[welderrx]

Sloan express or Valuebilt can get them for you online, I picked mine up at Tractor supply, I converted over to bolt ons since my big mower already had them on it any way. I needed all new hold downs anyway so I got the new high clearance ones but I think you might be able to grind the originals for clearance because they seem pretty close. T.J.

[rondellh]

I have seen kits before at the tractor supply stores that converted the rivets with a special slined shoulder bolt. I thought them way too pricey considering the ease of finding the rivets at any farm supply or tractor dealer. also it is quicker in my mind to replace the knives with the rivets and a hammer than to screw with bolts.

[welderrx]

I got hooked on the bolt ons after we got a new replacement knife for the haybine that came with the bolt on's. The best feature about them is that you dont have to remove the knife to change a broken section. If your not depending on your cub to get the hay down and only using it for an occaisional job stay with the rivets, but after about 25 years out in the elements my mower needed everything replaced any way, my uncle backed it in behind the shed and dropped it on the ground after my cousin tore it all up on a pipe surveyors stake. T.J.